Read Online His Michaelmas Mistress by Marly Mathews - Free Book Online
Authors: Marly Mathews
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Breakfast Room.
She didn’t know who she would enlist to play chaperone.
Violet and Lily usually stuck with each other, and Simon wasn’t much help either. As for the other children at Lark Hall, she doubted any of them would want to tag along with her.
Her closest companions, Rose and Iris were married now, and she doubted that either one of them would pop in before she left, and she didn’t know if she felt like taking a ride out to Maidstone Manor, or Wylye Hall. She would probably have to settle for Ruby. Ruby was a dear little thing, but she hardly said a word, and was afraid of the bloody world.
Julia felt a little left out. Rose and Iris had found their happiness, and left her behind. Bitterness welled in her mouth. She couldn’t resent them for what had happened to her. It wasn’t their fault that Charles had returned from the dead, nor it was it their fault that her big brawny bridegroom had decided to call off their wedding. Fanny had followed her from the Breakfast Room. For whatever reason, she had decided to become her little friend.
What she needed today was to find someone who was a peep of day boy, or girl. She needed someone who would readily kick up a lark with her, and unfortunately that someone wasn’t Ruby Massey.
She could keep putting off the inevitable, but at some point, she’d have to meet with Charles. She couldn’t bear it if he tried to pull her back into his embrace. She would have to keep him at an arm’s length, so she would need a good chaperone. Now…who would she pick for that coveted position?
*****
“Mama,” Richard sighed.
“Yes, Son?”
“I think we really ought to have told her about how that bit of gossip concerning her, Freddie and Lord Charles showed up in The Times. Uncle Edward shall know about it, and possibly, Lord Cary, and Lord Everley, might know as well. It would be disastrous if she were to find out from someone outside of Castleton Court.”
“I don’t think we need to worry her about that. She needn’t know that she is the center of the ton’s current on-dit. She has already putting herself through enough misery. I won’t see her unhappiness doubled or tripled. And devil take those old bloody biddies who reported the gossip to that newspaper.”
“They might not be old, Mama. There are young women that report gossip to the newspapers as well. What if someone tells Julia about it when she is out gallivanting around Wiltshire?”
“She doesn’t pay any attention to newspapers, and neither do any of her chums. She will stay clear of it. Trust me on that, dear.”
“If you say so…but I want no part of it, Mama. If she finds out, you shall be the one left holding the bag, not I.”
“Oh, Richard. You are so amusing. Julia won’t get in high dudgeon with me.”
“You think so, eh?”
“I know so, Richard. I am her mother.”
“Sometimes to her deepest chagrin,” he muttered, beneath his breath.
“What did you say, dear?”
“Nothing, Mama. Nothing at all.”
Chapter Seven
The lace had been sent out, and the footmen had an invigorating afternoon ahead of them.
Julia hadn’t bothered to send any to Lark Hall, as that was the first stop she intended to make once her curricle was brought round.
She watched with pride as her red and cheery looking curricle was brought round. Oh, how she had missed her afternoon rides, and while she wasn’t quite up to racing yet, she intended to do so shortly. The men she raced against needed a good reminder about what a competent driver she was. And, she needed a little bit of extra spending money.
“There you are, my lady,” the groom said. “Would you like one of us to accompany you?”
“No…no, I shall be quite safe on my own.”
“Aye, my lady.” He looked a little uncertain, but when she sighed heavily, he departed. She wasn’t helpless. And yet…
“Fine, on second thought, you may come with me.” She didn’t normally take a Tiger with her, but she supposed
She didn’t know who she would enlist to play chaperone.
Violet and Lily usually stuck with each other, and Simon wasn’t much help either. As for the other children at Lark Hall, she doubted any of them would want to tag along with her.
Her closest companions, Rose and Iris were married now, and she doubted that either one of them would pop in before she left, and she didn’t know if she felt like taking a ride out to Maidstone Manor, or Wylye Hall. She would probably have to settle for Ruby. Ruby was a dear little thing, but she hardly said a word, and was afraid of the bloody world.
Julia felt a little left out. Rose and Iris had found their happiness, and left her behind. Bitterness welled in her mouth. She couldn’t resent them for what had happened to her. It wasn’t their fault that Charles had returned from the dead, nor it was it their fault that her big brawny bridegroom had decided to call off their wedding. Fanny had followed her from the Breakfast Room. For whatever reason, she had decided to become her little friend.
What she needed today was to find someone who was a peep of day boy, or girl. She needed someone who would readily kick up a lark with her, and unfortunately that someone wasn’t Ruby Massey.
She could keep putting off the inevitable, but at some point, she’d have to meet with Charles. She couldn’t bear it if he tried to pull her back into his embrace. She would have to keep him at an arm’s length, so she would need a good chaperone. Now…who would she pick for that coveted position?
*****
“Mama,” Richard sighed.
“Yes, Son?”
“I think we really ought to have told her about how that bit of gossip concerning her, Freddie and Lord Charles showed up in The Times. Uncle Edward shall know about it, and possibly, Lord Cary, and Lord Everley, might know as well. It would be disastrous if she were to find out from someone outside of Castleton Court.”
“I don’t think we need to worry her about that. She needn’t know that she is the center of the ton’s current on-dit. She has already putting herself through enough misery. I won’t see her unhappiness doubled or tripled. And devil take those old bloody biddies who reported the gossip to that newspaper.”
“They might not be old, Mama. There are young women that report gossip to the newspapers as well. What if someone tells Julia about it when she is out gallivanting around Wiltshire?”
“She doesn’t pay any attention to newspapers, and neither do any of her chums. She will stay clear of it. Trust me on that, dear.”
“If you say so…but I want no part of it, Mama. If she finds out, you shall be the one left holding the bag, not I.”
“Oh, Richard. You are so amusing. Julia won’t get in high dudgeon with me.”
“You think so, eh?”
“I know so, Richard. I am her mother.”
“Sometimes to her deepest chagrin,” he muttered, beneath his breath.
“What did you say, dear?”
“Nothing, Mama. Nothing at all.”
Chapter Seven
The lace had been sent out, and the footmen had an invigorating afternoon ahead of them.
Julia hadn’t bothered to send any to Lark Hall, as that was the first stop she intended to make once her curricle was brought round.
She watched with pride as her red and cheery looking curricle was brought round. Oh, how she had missed her afternoon rides, and while she wasn’t quite up to racing yet, she intended to do so shortly. The men she raced against needed a good reminder about what a competent driver she was. And, she needed a little bit of extra spending money.
“There you are, my lady,” the groom said. “Would you like one of us to accompany you?”
“No…no, I shall be quite safe on my own.”
“Aye, my lady.” He looked a little uncertain, but when she sighed heavily, he departed. She wasn’t helpless. And yet…
“Fine, on second thought, you may come with me.” She didn’t normally take a Tiger with her, but she supposed
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