The Lady's Spell: Historical Regency Romance Novel by Fanny Finch

Author:Fanny Finch [Finch, Fanny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Starfall Publications
Published: 2023-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Seventeen

Clara

“Then he gave me this.” Betchey gestured toward the necklace around her throat. Clara forced a smile for her friend as they rode down the path, back toward the house.

“Your beau is a kind man indeed, Betchey.” Clara admired the relationship between her friend and Horatio’s valet. James was clearly proving himself not only a devoted suitor, but one with true kindness. He made the effort to come and see Betchey most days in some capacity or another, and he frequently turned up with gifts. They could be chocolates, the simplest of things, and then the latest gift was this necklace, something that must have cost him a fair amount as a valet, yet he had been determined to do it anyway. “He is devoted to you.”

“It seems mad for such a short time we have been courting.” Betchey toyed with the silver pendant at her throat, looking down and admiring it.

Feeling something of a tightness in her chest, Clara pushed away the envy she felt bubbling there.

I will not be jealous of my friend. I should be deliriously happy for her!

Clara found that though she was happy for her friend, the envy remained still. It grated at her and was only reinforced by the memory of what Horatio had declared when he had last come to the house for tea.

He will never look at me as he looks at other women. Ever. I was ridiculous to even think he would consider me.

Suddenly, the healer’s package all felt rather foolish. Clinging to the reins of her horse as she turned the mare’s path toward the stable, she considered what was left in the package. All the tonics, tricks, and perfumes she had tried had done little. There were very few things left to even attempt, and one of them was the belladonna tea infusion.

Perhaps it is time to abandon my endeavor.

As she clambered down from the horse in the courtyard, she asked more after Betchey and James, glad to see her maid go on at such lengths about her happy courtship. It brought into focus once more how different James was with Betchey, to how Horatio was with Clara. It was quite apparent he only ever wished to be her friend.

Betchey’s happy ramblings about James paused as they entered the house through the side door into the sitting room. Marianne was in the sitting room, attending to some embroidery in her lap, and looked up at their approach.

“Ah, there you are, dear,” she said with a smile as her gaze met Clara’s own. “We shall leave for the ball in an hour.”

“Oh, the ball.” Clara came to a sudden stop, for she had quite forgotten the event.

“You had not forgotten it?”

“I’m afraid I had.” Clara shrugged as she walked past her mother, heading for the door with Betchey. “My mind has been distracted I suppose.” Marianne chewed her lip, looking a little worried at Clara’s words.

“I notice that Mr. Fitzroy hasn’t come to ride with you the last couple of days,” Marianne’s sudden words had Clara pausing in the doorway.

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