Once Upon a Time Travel by Sariah Wilson

Author:Sariah Wilson [Wilson, Sariah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kindle Press
Published: 2017-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THINGS I’M GOING TO INVENT IF I GET STUCK IN 1816

First aid classes (I wonder if Hartley will let me demonstrate CPR on him?)

“Please talk some sense into your aunt,” I said to Hartley when he returned with our ice cream. I dug in but was disappointed. This was definitely not Ben & Jerry’s. It was still ice cream, and still better than no chocolate, but their chocolate was weird. Like it needed milk and sugar. Maybe I could invent that, too.

“What scheme has she hatched now?” he asked as he sat down.

“The Duke and Duchess of Warfield go to Gunter’s every afternoon the sun is shining,” Charles said. “Danvers discovered that for me this morning. Apparently, their daughter loves ice cream.”

Well, of course she did. Because ice cream was the best thing ever.

Even though the taste was off, it occurred to me that it might be due to it being pure food. I’d noticed that my skin was healthier, clearer. That I’d lost weight. There were no preservatives or additives in my food, no pesticides. It was probably the first time in my life I’d eaten real, actual food on a regular basis.

“So what’s her story?” I asked Charles. I needed some background detail if they expected me to try and befriend her.

“Lady Louisa was the only child of a wealthy earl. Her mother was known for her influence amongst the Whigs and as one of society’s most popular hostesses. Her parents wished her to marry into the royal family so that she could influence—”

Hartley interrupted. “Although why anyone would wish that on their sole offspring is beyond my comprehension.”

Charles continued as if Hartley hadn’t spoken. “As you can surmise, Lady Louisa was quite the thing. Beautiful, wealthy, impeccable heritage. She fell in love with the very poor Duke of Warfield, and her parents forbade the match. So Lady Louisa arranged to be deliberately caught in a compromising situation with the duke, which set off a series of other young ladies following suit and also being ‘caught.’ The rash of forced marriages they had that summer.” She shook her head, but I saw the hint of a smile.

I watched as the duke reached out for the duchess’s hand, gazing at her adoringly. It was enough to make anyone’s heart flutter. “I think it’s sweet when people are that in love.”

Except for maybe Tin Man Hartley. “Grand passion is a refuge for those who have no imagination or little else to do.”

What? A man down on true love? What a surprise. I only just refrained from rolling my eyes.

He went on. “Their feelings for each other are unnatural.”

“Unnatural?” They’d probably be shocked at the places my mind went. “How?”

“The duke and duchess are never out of each other’s sight. They are annoyingly and openly affectionate with each other. And they both relentlessly dote on that child. They’ve refused to engage a nurse or governess for her.” He said it like this was the most scandalous and unbelievable thing ever.

“That actually sounds pretty natural to me.

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