Read Online How to Seduce a Scot by Christy English - Free Book Online

looking at a future that Catherine knew would never be. Catherine felt a strange longing for it, and thought of Mr. Waters’s warm, dark eyes, and his steady, reassuring hands as he bound up her cut.
    â€œWhere would you and Margaret live, if I were in the north, Mother?”
    â€œWell, here of course, pet. Your father provided for us amply, as you well know.”
    Catherine felt her stomach sink, and it did not rise to hope again. Her mother looked at the same figures she did, and saw their dwindling resources. She simply refused to believe them. She was certain, as she stated time and time again, that their holdings in the City would revive one day, and all would be well.
    Not likely, the solicitor had told her. Still, her mother listened to no one but her own opinions, which were based on fancy rather than fact.
    Catherine squared her shoulders. She would have to look after the family affairs well enough for both of them.
    â€œIt’s time for supper, pet. Quit your fretting and come into the dining room. Cook has outdone herself again. It’s roast beef and braised potatoes with onions tonight!”
    â€œBeef,” Catherine said with a heart that was sinking even further. They had not been able to afford beef in months. When her father had died, they had agreed to retain every servant they could, for the members of their household were like family. With careful economy, the family had managed quite well in the country. But now that her mother had come to London, she clung to every available luxury as if Papa still lived, and money still flowed freely. Catherine was not certain how to break her of her new spendthrift ways.
    â€œThe butcher had a fine cut all ready for us, and I said, why not? My girl only debuts in London once. Let us dine at home in style.”
    Catherine did not answer her, but Mrs. Middlebrook did not seem to notice her sudden silence. “It’s too bad your Alexander could not stay to supper. Well, we’ll give a party and host him and his family another time. Come, Margaret,” her mother said, gesturing toward the stairs where the dining room waited above.
    â€œYes, Mama,” Margaret said. She stopped at her sister’s side and squeezed her hand. “Mr. Robert lent me new sheet music. He said that Beethoven is fine, but that it might be fun to learn a Scottish tune. What do you think?”
    â€œThat sounds lovely, sweetheart. Go on ahead. I have to speak with Mrs. Beam.”
    Margaret blithely lifted her skirts to her knees and took the stairs two at a time, not noticing the grim look on their housekeeper’s face. Jim had disappeared from the entrance hall, so they were alone.
    â€œMiss Catherine, I am sorry to trouble you before you’ve eaten your supper, but…”
    â€œIt’s urgent,” Catherine said. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Beam?”
    The older woman had been housekeeper even when Catherine’s father was a boy. Along with the rest of the household, Mrs. Beam had come up from Devon to take care of the family in London. Though Catherine’s inheritance went far in the country, it seemed that London prices were eating it up almost as fast as Mrs. Middlebrook ate delicacies.
    â€œIt’s the butcher’s bill, miss. We’ve no money to pay it.”
    â€œThe last of the quarterly allowance is gone already?” Catherine asked. Dread began to grow in her heart, making her stomach swoop within her like a bird in flight.
    â€œIt is, miss. I paid the baker for the next month ahead of time, so we’ll have our daily bread, but your mother ordered the beef without mentioning it to me. I am very sorry, Miss Catherine.”
    Catherine ignored protocol and took her housekeeper’s hand in hers. “Do not apologize for what you can’t control, Mrs. Beam. I will speak to my mother again, and see if I cannot get her to economize. I do not want to fall into debts in London that my husband will