Educating Elizabeth (Blue Orchid Society, #4) by Jennifer Moore

Author:Jennifer Moore [Moore, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2023-09-11T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Rain poured down, extinguishing any hopes of visiting the forest. Elizabeth stared from the window of her bedchamber, picking at her breakfast tray and watching the drops slide on the glass with unfocused eyes. Lord Chatsworth had kissed her the day before. He had kissed her. Lord Chatsworth, the flirt, the cad, the man who never allowed a serious thought to take up residence in his mind, whose smile was worshiped by London Society, the man who teased relentlessly. He had kissed her. And what was more, she had kissed him back.

She was still attempting to sort her thoughts on the matter. Was it possible to be both drawn to a person and repelled by them at the same time? She knew she shouldn’t have allowed the kiss. She should have stopped it, been furious, accused him of being a scoundrel. But in the moment, she’d wanted nothing more than to be close, to feel his lips on hers. Was she so lonely? Or were her earlier opinions of Lord Chatsworth so very changed? She couldn’t tell. Everything felt so muddled, and whenever she thought of their kiss, her heart swelled and she wanted to sigh or throw something or perhaps swoon.

She chided herself. It was all foolishness. Lord Chatsworth certainly thought nothing of it. He probably kissed every woman he could when the opportunity presented itself. It was likely simply a habit of his and she merely a conquest. Her cheeks burned as she thought of him writing her name on a list as he did with the different bird species. Was she simply a tally in his book?

Humiliation spread, hot in her belly. Well, if that was the case, she would not let him see that the kiss had meant something more to her. She would make a list of her own. So far there was only his name, but Lord Chatsworth didn’t need to know that.

Above all she wouldn’t allow him to see that the kiss had affected her. Holding her head high, she left the room and made her way to the library. As she’d expected, Alice was inside, reading to Mrs. Snowden, who sat beside her, knitting.

The girl’s face lit up when Elizabeth stepped into the doorway. “Good morning, Miss Miller.” She was making such progress with her speech that Elizabeth could hardly make out any trace of her Black Country accent.

“Avast!” Elizabeth said. “Is that Captain Sharkfin?”

“Aye,” Alice said. She brandished an imaginary sword, raising it into the air, then pointing it toward the sofa. “Sit down, scurvy dog! And I will read to you about the cape penguins of South Africa.” She lowered her booming voice. “They are very charming.” She turned around the book, showing an illustration. “See here? They look as if they are wearing dinner coats.”

Elizabeth greeted Mrs. Snowden and sat on the sofa, settling in for what she knew would be a barrage of facts about the animals and their behaviors, habitats, and characteristics.

After an hour Mrs. Foster came into the room, carrying a tray of sandwiches.

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