The Earl's Temptation by Emma. V Leech

Author:Emma. V Leech
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

"Wherein two months have passed, and a broken heart is in no way mended, but a little lightened."

Dorothea and Seymour stood side by side at the drawing room window and looked down at the charming picture in the garden. Seymour frowned, though, knowing there was a deep and heartfelt sadness beneath the superficial beauty. Céleste was walking with the little spaniel pup barking and chasing around in circles at her feet. Dressed all in yellow muslin with embroidered daisies over the bodice, Céleste looked as though she too was blooming along with the rest of the garden which was a riot of spring bulbs and bright colours. She picked up a ball and threw it for her excitable pup. But her expression was wan and listless, and she had done everything the Aunts had asked of her and had sat, uncomplaining through endless lessons on deportment and the proper behaviour of a young lady. She had also made a great effort to lose her French accent, though that was proving harder to accomplish.

"She's dreadfully lonely," Dorothea said with a sigh.

"Hmmm," Seymour replied, non-committal, her grey eyes intent on the apparently bucolic scene. "Have you heard from Alex?"

Dorothea shook her head, her faded ringlets more white than blonde now dancing around her face. "No, not since you scolded him for trying to interfere."

Seymour tutted and turned away from the window, returning to the plush sofa and gave her attention to the tea things that had been laid out for them. With neat and precise movements that were at odds with her advancing years she followed the ritual with meticulous attention. Admiring the pretty white blue and gold Limoges porcelain tea set which her nephew had sent her, as thanks for her help with Céleste's entrée into polite society, she prepared a cup to her sister's preferred taste and handed it to her.

"I did not scold him," she said, returning to the conversation now the important business of preparing tea had been attended to with due diligence. "I merely pointed out that there was little benefit in sending her to us if he was going to criticise our efforts at every turn."

She glanced up at Dorothea to find she had pursed her lips in a familiar fashion. It meant she disagreed with her sister but was unwilling to speak out.

"What?" Seymour demanded, setting her tea cup down with slightly more of a clatter than she had intended.

Dorothea opened her mouth, clearly hesitant.

"Oh, honestly, Dorothea, I won't eat you!"

Her sister gave her a look that clearly disputed that fact but decided to brave it anyway. "I just happen to agree that her accent is rather charming."

Seymour scowled and Dorothea rushed on. "I mean to say that ... Yes she must learn the correct manner of speech and appropriate subjects of conversation ..."

Snorting, Seymour shook her head in remembered outrage. The girl had shocked them both to their bones when she had accidentally dropped a tea cup the day before and cursed in a manner that rendered them both speechless.

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