Read Online Josette by Danielle Thorne - Free Book Online Page A

snatched her wrap from off of a chair and patted her hair down in the reflection of a clock face. “How excellent of her to come,” she said, worrying that the nephew had, too. She shut the library doors behind her and crossed the hall with fingers clutching the fringe on her shawl.
    Voices from the drawing room made her pause until Hannah bustled past. “Lady Berclair's come,” she said breathlessly.
    “So I’ve been informed.” Josette could not find the courage to ask if Carter had as well. She pushed the door aside and entered, heart thrumming.
    Lady Berclair sat on the rose settee with Caroline beside her. The pair was dressed in velvet, and Caroline wore a blue pelisse that made her auburn hair gleam. Captain Carter, to Josette’s relief, was not present. She curtsied and took a chair opposite her mother and listened to Amy's chatter.
    “Goodness, child, you are well informed for a girl who must stay at home.”
    Ignoring Lady Berclair's hint that she should still be in sack cloth and ashes, Amy rattled on. “The weather is not too fierce this year. And mother says an occasional concert is not out of the way of things.”
    “We plan to have all of our friends to dine on Christmas,” announced Lady Berclair. “You will be spending a subdued holiday I presume?” She cast a baleful look at Lady Price, and Josette's mother nodded.
    “Well you are welcome,” Lady Berclair dared, but it held no encouragement.
    “We plan to spend a quiet evening,” Lady Price insisted. “And your sister, she will come from London?”
    “Yes,” Lady Berclair replied.
    Caroline made an amusing face for the girls' benefit, showing her opinion of the intended company. Her mother was saying that her sister's family and two married cousins, one with young children, would put in appearances.
    Josette could not resist chiming in. “Miss Berclair will have the opportunity to enjoy herself with the children.”
    The young woman bit her lip before coolly responding, “I love children as much as small animals, but in their proper place.”
    “I thought you were allergic to cats?” Amy asked. I put Aster out as soon as I saw you'd arrived.”
    “How thoughtful,” Caroline smiled, but it was more of a smirk in Josette's opinion.
    Edward who had been observing the feminine ritual of gossip no longer seemed able to restrain himself. He stood behind Josette's chair and leaned into it as he addressed Caroline.
    “You are a great horsewoman, I understand. My uncle says you joined the ladies at the first hunt of the season.”
    Caroline smiled, pleased, but did not blush at all. “Mr. Price, you should have joined us.”
    “I had rehearsals,” he said apologetically and motioned toward his own cousins.
    “Edward’s writing a play,” Amy tattled.
    “Indeed,” said Lady Berclair with her lips pruning. She turned on Edward like a distracted bull. “I knew your father, you understand.”
    “Yes, your ladyship. I am ever aware. My mother has written and made mention of it to me.”
    “Your father used to hunt with my husband. Efficient man. He never concerned himself with the theater folk.”
    “And he trained a bitch pointer for him.”
    “He was good with animals.”
    With soft words, Lady Price changed the course of the conversation in her firm way. “And your nephew, Captain Carter, how does he find the season?”
    “My nephew has taken leave.” Lady Berclair divulged this as if it wounded her. “He received his letter from Whitehall and 'wasted not a minute' as those sailors so coarsely say.” She frowned as if this were a disability of some sort. “But he enjoys the hunt.” She motioned toward Caroline whose chin rose. “Other than that his conversation does not please me, and he's very poor at cards.”
    Josette watched Caroline carefully and saw her simper again. She decided she was a conceited girl and that it was not as impetuous a judgment as she had doled out against Carter. Anxious to know and for some