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Authors: Christie Kelley
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Whitely’s face was pinched and pained as if Somerton had hurt her in some manner. Perhaps Lady Whitely had an infatuation with him. It wasn’t that odd, she might be older but Somerton had his charms. Victoria knew that far too well.
“Victoria, I am not certain you recognize the significance of what I am saying. You must not under any circumstances encourage even a friendship with Lord Somerton.”
“As you wish.” And it wasn’t a lie. Victoria had no intention of encouraging a friendship or any other relationship with the man. All she had to do was tolerate him for a week. She could feign indifference around him, and hopefully he would believe she had no interest in him. Once their week passed, she would only see him at a few functions.
“I’m sorry, Victoria,” Lady Whitely murmured. “I would tell you more if I could but I cannot. Please just take my advice with this man.”
“Lady Whitely, I owe you everything and more. If you ask me not to see Lord Somerton, then I shall do my best not to. I cannot help if he is at a function of one of my friends. But I will not encourage him.”
Lady Whitely rose and walked toward the small fireplace. “If only that would stop him. Once he decides on a woman, he will do everything in his power to have her. I should hate to see you become his mistress, Victoria.”
She hated lying to her but had no choice in the matter. Lady Whitely must not discover her plans for next week.
“Lady Whitely, I will never be Lord Somerton’s mistress. Or any other man’s for that matter. I have eight children to care for. When would I find the time?” she said with a laugh.
Lady Whitely laughed softly. “Very true, my dear. They keep you very busy.” She sat back down on the sofa and finally smiled at Victoria. “How is she?”
“She is very well.”
Lady Whitely looked toward the door wistfully. “I saw her a week ago from my window. She is becoming so grown-up.”
“And more beautiful every day. When the time is right, I will find a sponsor for her. She deserves a Season and a man who will treat her well.” Victoria hoped Avis or Jennette would sponsor the child when the time came. If not, she had no idea how to accomplish such a thing. But it did not matter right now. She had to get everyone ready for her week away.
And pray Lady Whitely didn’t discover with whom she was going.
Chapter Seven
Victoria sat back against the comfortable carriage seat and sighed. She’d never been away from the children and would miss them terribly. Leaving them this morning had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done. All of them had tears in their eyes and made her promise she would return before Christmas.
Thankfully, Somerton had found a very suitable woman to come in and assist Maggie to keep the children under control. They could survive one week without her. Or at least Victoria tried to tell herself that.
They had driven for about an hour and other than a brief comment, the man across from her was silent. Perhaps he had many things on his mind. Although, as she looked over at him, his eyes were shuttered tight and his breathing even as if he slept. She had no idea how he could sleep in a moving carriage.
Then again, Somerton had probably left London before, unlike her. Victoria tucked the fur robe over her shoulder and glanced out the window. The buildings of London were now in the distance and ahead lay fields of white from the light falling snow. A few small houses and inns were coming into sight but mostly the scenery held her captive.
Excitement filled her as they drove farther away from the only place she had ever known. Her mind bounced with curiosity about the estate to which they traveled. She had heard some descriptions of Lord Selby’s estates from Avis, but Victoria could never imagine the enormity of it all. Having grown up in squalor, her very modest home on Maddox Street seemed huge.
“What are you thinking about?” Somerton’s voice sounded
“Victoria, I am not certain you recognize the significance of what I am saying. You must not under any circumstances encourage even a friendship with Lord Somerton.”
“As you wish.” And it wasn’t a lie. Victoria had no intention of encouraging a friendship or any other relationship with the man. All she had to do was tolerate him for a week. She could feign indifference around him, and hopefully he would believe she had no interest in him. Once their week passed, she would only see him at a few functions.
“I’m sorry, Victoria,” Lady Whitely murmured. “I would tell you more if I could but I cannot. Please just take my advice with this man.”
“Lady Whitely, I owe you everything and more. If you ask me not to see Lord Somerton, then I shall do my best not to. I cannot help if he is at a function of one of my friends. But I will not encourage him.”
Lady Whitely rose and walked toward the small fireplace. “If only that would stop him. Once he decides on a woman, he will do everything in his power to have her. I should hate to see you become his mistress, Victoria.”
She hated lying to her but had no choice in the matter. Lady Whitely must not discover her plans for next week.
“Lady Whitely, I will never be Lord Somerton’s mistress. Or any other man’s for that matter. I have eight children to care for. When would I find the time?” she said with a laugh.
Lady Whitely laughed softly. “Very true, my dear. They keep you very busy.” She sat back down on the sofa and finally smiled at Victoria. “How is she?”
“She is very well.”
Lady Whitely looked toward the door wistfully. “I saw her a week ago from my window. She is becoming so grown-up.”
“And more beautiful every day. When the time is right, I will find a sponsor for her. She deserves a Season and a man who will treat her well.” Victoria hoped Avis or Jennette would sponsor the child when the time came. If not, she had no idea how to accomplish such a thing. But it did not matter right now. She had to get everyone ready for her week away.
And pray Lady Whitely didn’t discover with whom she was going.
Chapter Seven
Victoria sat back against the comfortable carriage seat and sighed. She’d never been away from the children and would miss them terribly. Leaving them this morning had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done. All of them had tears in their eyes and made her promise she would return before Christmas.
Thankfully, Somerton had found a very suitable woman to come in and assist Maggie to keep the children under control. They could survive one week without her. Or at least Victoria tried to tell herself that.
They had driven for about an hour and other than a brief comment, the man across from her was silent. Perhaps he had many things on his mind. Although, as she looked over at him, his eyes were shuttered tight and his breathing even as if he slept. She had no idea how he could sleep in a moving carriage.
Then again, Somerton had probably left London before, unlike her. Victoria tucked the fur robe over her shoulder and glanced out the window. The buildings of London were now in the distance and ahead lay fields of white from the light falling snow. A few small houses and inns were coming into sight but mostly the scenery held her captive.
Excitement filled her as they drove farther away from the only place she had ever known. Her mind bounced with curiosity about the estate to which they traveled. She had heard some descriptions of Lord Selby’s estates from Avis, but Victoria could never imagine the enormity of it all. Having grown up in squalor, her very modest home on Maddox Street seemed huge.
“What are you thinking about?” Somerton’s voice sounded
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