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Authors: Christina Dodd
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transition must be to them. Their father and I must spend time in London until we have the business settled, and I… I am considering a licentious affair with Lord Bucknell.“
Charlotte blinked, wondering if her ears had deceived her. ”An… affair?“
”With Lord Bucknell.“ Adorna’s husky voice still sounded as placid as if she discussed the weather. ”I haven’t ever had an affair, so it is a course to be wisely considered.“
She seemed to be waiting for a reply, so Charlotte stammered, ”I… yes, I imagine an affair should not be rashly entered into.“
They entered the corridor that led to the kitchen, and one of the footmen came barreling through the door holding a silver tray stacked with napkins. Tall, young and gangly, he came to a halt at the sight of them and bowed.
Charlotte had never been so glad to see anyone in her life.
”Harris!“ Adorna poked at the tray. ”Where are you going with all those napkins?“
”The children are eating out on th‘ terrace, my lady, an’ if I know me children, an‘ I do, one of them’ll spill th’ milk.“
”No doubt you are right,“ Charlotte said. ”It’s kind of you to think of them.“
”My son is going to take supper with the children and Miss Dalrumple, so another place must be set,“ Adorna said.
Harris bowed and backed toward the kitchen. ”I’ll take care o‘ it, m’lady.“
And some imp Charlotte didn’t know she contained made her say, ”It would be no work for him to set two extra places.“
Harris paused.
Adorna immediately laid the flat of her hand against her forehead. ”I would love that, but my son and I just arrived from London, and I’m fatigued.“
Charlotte relented at once. ”A tray in your chamber, then.“
”That would be lovely,“ Adorna said.
Harris nodded and backed toward the kitchen.
In a thoughtful tone, Adorna said, ”Charlotte, you are not as guileless as you would have me think.“
Charlotte didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. ”Forgive me, Adorna. I cannot imagine what spirit got into me.“
”The spirit of mischief, of course. It is to be expected when one spends time with children.“
As they walked back toward the terrace, a maid paused in her rush to pass them while balancing another place setting on a tray. She curtsied toward Adorna, then turned toward the terrace. Another came past at a more dignified pace, holding her tray high and taking care not to tilt the meal that resided beneath the covers. She, too, curtsied, then turned toward the stairway and Adorna’s bedchamber.
Adorna nodded at the girls, but continued her discourse in a matter-of-fact tone. ”This affair I’m considering is a very adult activity.“
The perambulations of her conversation left Charlotte blinking.
”Have you ever indulged in one?“ Adorna asked.
”One… ?“
”Affair,“ Adorna said patiently.
Uneasily Charlotte wondered if Adorna was testing her or if, perhaps, she had fallen into some strange, weird dream. ”No, ma’am.“
As they came to the corridor that ran between the terrace and the stairs, Adorna frowned at her. ”You don’t approve.“
”Lady Ruskin, it is not for me to approve or disapprove your actions.“
”You’re calling me by my title again. You don’t approve.“
”My lady. Adorna. Really, I would not presume—“
Adorna held up her hand. ”That’s fine. I will go to my lonely bedchamber and there eat my solitary meal.“ She turned and walked away.
And Charlotte, with no understanding how she had offended, hurried after her. ”Please, ma’am, I didn’t mean—“
Halting, Adorna took Charlotte’s hand. ”Dear, I’m storming off in a huff. It rather loses its impact if you go with me.“
”I… yes, of course it would.“
”Besides, you know that business about eating a solitary meal is bosh.“ She patted Charlotte’s hand. ”I really am weary. You go ahead to the terrace, and I’ll see you tonight.“
”Tonight?“
She fluttered
Charlotte blinked, wondering if her ears had deceived her. ”An… affair?“
”With Lord Bucknell.“ Adorna’s husky voice still sounded as placid as if she discussed the weather. ”I haven’t ever had an affair, so it is a course to be wisely considered.“
She seemed to be waiting for a reply, so Charlotte stammered, ”I… yes, I imagine an affair should not be rashly entered into.“
They entered the corridor that led to the kitchen, and one of the footmen came barreling through the door holding a silver tray stacked with napkins. Tall, young and gangly, he came to a halt at the sight of them and bowed.
Charlotte had never been so glad to see anyone in her life.
”Harris!“ Adorna poked at the tray. ”Where are you going with all those napkins?“
”The children are eating out on th‘ terrace, my lady, an’ if I know me children, an‘ I do, one of them’ll spill th’ milk.“
”No doubt you are right,“ Charlotte said. ”It’s kind of you to think of them.“
”My son is going to take supper with the children and Miss Dalrumple, so another place must be set,“ Adorna said.
Harris bowed and backed toward the kitchen. ”I’ll take care o‘ it, m’lady.“
And some imp Charlotte didn’t know she contained made her say, ”It would be no work for him to set two extra places.“
Harris paused.
Adorna immediately laid the flat of her hand against her forehead. ”I would love that, but my son and I just arrived from London, and I’m fatigued.“
Charlotte relented at once. ”A tray in your chamber, then.“
”That would be lovely,“ Adorna said.
Harris nodded and backed toward the kitchen.
In a thoughtful tone, Adorna said, ”Charlotte, you are not as guileless as you would have me think.“
Charlotte didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. ”Forgive me, Adorna. I cannot imagine what spirit got into me.“
”The spirit of mischief, of course. It is to be expected when one spends time with children.“
As they walked back toward the terrace, a maid paused in her rush to pass them while balancing another place setting on a tray. She curtsied toward Adorna, then turned toward the terrace. Another came past at a more dignified pace, holding her tray high and taking care not to tilt the meal that resided beneath the covers. She, too, curtsied, then turned toward the stairway and Adorna’s bedchamber.
Adorna nodded at the girls, but continued her discourse in a matter-of-fact tone. ”This affair I’m considering is a very adult activity.“
The perambulations of her conversation left Charlotte blinking.
”Have you ever indulged in one?“ Adorna asked.
”One… ?“
”Affair,“ Adorna said patiently.
Uneasily Charlotte wondered if Adorna was testing her or if, perhaps, she had fallen into some strange, weird dream. ”No, ma’am.“
As they came to the corridor that ran between the terrace and the stairs, Adorna frowned at her. ”You don’t approve.“
”Lady Ruskin, it is not for me to approve or disapprove your actions.“
”You’re calling me by my title again. You don’t approve.“
”My lady. Adorna. Really, I would not presume—“
Adorna held up her hand. ”That’s fine. I will go to my lonely bedchamber and there eat my solitary meal.“ She turned and walked away.
And Charlotte, with no understanding how she had offended, hurried after her. ”Please, ma’am, I didn’t mean—“
Halting, Adorna took Charlotte’s hand. ”Dear, I’m storming off in a huff. It rather loses its impact if you go with me.“
”I… yes, of course it would.“
”Besides, you know that business about eating a solitary meal is bosh.“ She patted Charlotte’s hand. ”I really am weary. You go ahead to the terrace, and I’ll see you tonight.“
”Tonight?“
She fluttered
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