Read Online The Dashing Miss Fairchild by Emily Hendrickson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emily Hendrickson
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Oliver on Gay Street. She has proved to be a dear, kind friend.” Clare followed Venetia into the drawing room, her energy undiminished from the exertion of the climb up the stairs.
"Do you intend to discuss the matter of little William with Mr. Talbot today?'’ Venetia plumped herself on the nearest chair as though exhausted. She languidly fanned herself to cool her flushed cheeks while watching Clare with a careful gaze.
"Of course. If he comes, that is.” Clare paused by a window that overlooked the expanse of green that rolled down the hill across from the crescent. It was a serene view, one that never failed to please her.
"With your consequence?'’ Venetia blurted out. “I think not. He will come, and you may discuss whatever was in those letters you did not show to the. Then we may perhaps settle the matter of the baby once and for all,” she said with surprising complacency, considering how she had rambled on about the matter for days on end, ever since the afternoon when they had written letters regarding little William.
"We shall see. This seems to be more and more involved. Have you had replies to your letters?” Clare turned to face Venetia, a cautious look settling on her face. “A solution may not be that simple. What if we need to investigate?"
Before Venetia could sputter a reply to that outrageous remark, Bennison entered with the morning mail.
"I suppose you will retreat to read those letters. If I must reside with you and bear the arrows sent our way, the least you might do is to share the news with the.” Venetia assumed a petulant air, again waving her fan about her. That she was annoyed with her lack of mail was easily seen.
"My brother has done a bit of sleuthing on my behalf. It seems that the young Dowager Lady Millsham has utterly vanished!''
Further discussion had to wait until Mr. Talbot presented himself at the house in the Royal Crescent that afternoon. When Bennison ushered him up the stairs, Clare was nearly beside herself with impatience.
"At last you are here,” she declared far more passionately than was her wont. “I have such news for you.” Then remembering her manners, she added, “And have you had anything from your mail, sir?"
His grin was just a shade familiar as he slanted a look down at her once safely standing by her side near the window. He glanced to where Venetia watched them with her gimlet gaze and then turned to Clare. “It can wait, I believe. What have you heard?"
"Putting all the items together, I have discovered that Jane settled at Millsham Hall with her earl, but her time there was short, indeed. It seems her husband met with a tragic hunting accident, leaving her a widow at a very tender age. And now she has disappeared."
"No word about an infant?"
"Nothing,” Clare admitted reluctantly. “However, they were married within the established time to produce William."
Venetia erupted in a fit of coughing, and Clare crossed to ring for tea.
"Really, dear Clare, such a vulgar subject to be discussing. The matter of breeding should never be mentioned in polite society.” Venetia fanned herself with vigor surprising in one near fainting.
"But then, as friends, we need not subscribe to that, surely?” Mr. Talbot crossed to chat at some length with Venetia until he saw her ruffled feathers had subsided. He turned to Clare as though in question.
The entrance of the tea tray complete with items chosen to please the gentleman forestalled any further mention of the letters. Clare was beginning to lose hope of ever having a quiet talk with Mr. Talbot. Mercy, Venetia behaved as though a there conversation with him would ruin Clare forever! To tell the truth, Clare was becoming a bit impatient with Venetia's dragonlike attitude. She was in Bath as a companion, not a chaperon.
Tea and cakes were consumed with utmost politeness, although Clare hurried with hers and bolted her tea in an unseemly rush. How fortunate it was not quite scalding.
Tea over,
"Do you intend to discuss the matter of little William with Mr. Talbot today?'’ Venetia plumped herself on the nearest chair as though exhausted. She languidly fanned herself to cool her flushed cheeks while watching Clare with a careful gaze.
"Of course. If he comes, that is.” Clare paused by a window that overlooked the expanse of green that rolled down the hill across from the crescent. It was a serene view, one that never failed to please her.
"With your consequence?'’ Venetia blurted out. “I think not. He will come, and you may discuss whatever was in those letters you did not show to the. Then we may perhaps settle the matter of the baby once and for all,” she said with surprising complacency, considering how she had rambled on about the matter for days on end, ever since the afternoon when they had written letters regarding little William.
"We shall see. This seems to be more and more involved. Have you had replies to your letters?” Clare turned to face Venetia, a cautious look settling on her face. “A solution may not be that simple. What if we need to investigate?"
Before Venetia could sputter a reply to that outrageous remark, Bennison entered with the morning mail.
"I suppose you will retreat to read those letters. If I must reside with you and bear the arrows sent our way, the least you might do is to share the news with the.” Venetia assumed a petulant air, again waving her fan about her. That she was annoyed with her lack of mail was easily seen.
"My brother has done a bit of sleuthing on my behalf. It seems that the young Dowager Lady Millsham has utterly vanished!''
Further discussion had to wait until Mr. Talbot presented himself at the house in the Royal Crescent that afternoon. When Bennison ushered him up the stairs, Clare was nearly beside herself with impatience.
"At last you are here,” she declared far more passionately than was her wont. “I have such news for you.” Then remembering her manners, she added, “And have you had anything from your mail, sir?"
His grin was just a shade familiar as he slanted a look down at her once safely standing by her side near the window. He glanced to where Venetia watched them with her gimlet gaze and then turned to Clare. “It can wait, I believe. What have you heard?"
"Putting all the items together, I have discovered that Jane settled at Millsham Hall with her earl, but her time there was short, indeed. It seems her husband met with a tragic hunting accident, leaving her a widow at a very tender age. And now she has disappeared."
"No word about an infant?"
"Nothing,” Clare admitted reluctantly. “However, they were married within the established time to produce William."
Venetia erupted in a fit of coughing, and Clare crossed to ring for tea.
"Really, dear Clare, such a vulgar subject to be discussing. The matter of breeding should never be mentioned in polite society.” Venetia fanned herself with vigor surprising in one near fainting.
"But then, as friends, we need not subscribe to that, surely?” Mr. Talbot crossed to chat at some length with Venetia until he saw her ruffled feathers had subsided. He turned to Clare as though in question.
The entrance of the tea tray complete with items chosen to please the gentleman forestalled any further mention of the letters. Clare was beginning to lose hope of ever having a quiet talk with Mr. Talbot. Mercy, Venetia behaved as though a there conversation with him would ruin Clare forever! To tell the truth, Clare was becoming a bit impatient with Venetia's dragonlike attitude. She was in Bath as a companion, not a chaperon.
Tea and cakes were consumed with utmost politeness, although Clare hurried with hers and bolted her tea in an unseemly rush. How fortunate it was not quite scalding.
Tea over,
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