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Authors: Sasha Cottman
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plans with Eve to get her agreement to visit Langham House this morning.
‘If that is the case, then why does it feel that our visit to Lord Langham’s home should be accompanied by hounds? You are hunting Avery Fox down in his new abode,’ Eve said.
‘Nonsense; we are simply visiting Clarice and enquiring as to her health,’ Lucy firmly replied.
Lucy had bet on the newer of her two sister-in-laws being home this morning and sent an earlier calling card. While Clarice had looked well enough at the dinner party two nights earlier, Lucy was prepared to take a chance on her not venturing from home in the early hours of the day.
‘I’m sorry I won’t be able to accompany you to the shops today, dear girls. You will have to excuse me, but I am still very much indisposed most mornings,’ Clarice said.
Seated with her hands held tightly together, the bags under her eyes and a green pallor revealed the depth of Clarice’s current struggle with morning sickness. She smiled at them both, but said nothing more. By society’s rules, neither of the two unwed misses should have any knowledge of such things.
Lucy privately begged to differ.
David and Alex, who were both out for a mid-morning ride in Hyde Park, would likely have conniptions if they discovered Lucy had spent a whole rainy afternoon thumbing through the pages of the
Kama Sutra
which India-born Millie had given her. The erotic pictures within the book left little to the imagination.
‘That’s perfectly all right; Eve and I just wanted to come and see you. I especially wanted to thank you for the lovely dinner we had the other night.’
A tray of sweet buns and a pot of tea were served by a footman. Clarice didn’t bother with any of the food.
The three ladies sat back in their chairs and were soon deep in conversation about the family’s seat in Scotland.
‘You will love Strathmore Castle; my father says it’s the best castle in all of Great Britain,’ Eve said. Lucy nodded in agreement.
Clarice waved away the sweet bun Lucy offered her.
‘Thank you, no. I’m struggling to keep anything down this morning. And speaking of Scotland, David and I have been discussing the journey north for the past few days. I’m sorry, but it is likely we won’t be coming up until Christmas. David needs to spend time at our estate in Bedfordshire, and I’m certainly not well enough to travel that sort of distance.’
If Christmas it was, so be it. As long as they were all together as a family.
‘Hogmanay will be wonderful, Clarice; no one does it as well as we do. All the members of the Radley family venture up from London. And everyone from the village comes. The party lasts well into the next day. We even have fireworks which light up the side of the mountain,’ Lucy said.
Clarice rose gingerly from her chair.
‘Excuse me, will you, my dear friends?’ she whispered and quickly left the room.
‘Is she all right?’ Eve asked after Clarice had left the sitting room.
‘Yes; Mama says the first few months are the worst,’ Lucy replied. She put down her cup of tea and surveyed the room.
I wonder if he is at home this morning.
She felt the sharp sting of guilt. How could she be thinking of Avery Fox when poor Clarice was so terribly indisposed?
I am a horrible person.
Eve reached over and tapped Lucy on the arm.
‘I doubt there is anything you or I could do for poor Clarice, so why don’t we see if your Mr Fox is at home?’
Lucy huffed. ‘He’s not my Mr Fox! Besides, I don’t think we should; it wouldn’t be polite. What happens if we meet Lord Langham? What do we say if he finds us prying about his house?’
The idea was both delightful and wicked in its prospect. Compelled by the opportunity which had suddenly presented itself, Eve rose quickly from the couch and headed out into the hallway. Lucy followed closely behind.
Stealing along the hallway, stopping every so often to examine one of the many paintings which decorated the walls,
‘If that is the case, then why does it feel that our visit to Lord Langham’s home should be accompanied by hounds? You are hunting Avery Fox down in his new abode,’ Eve said.
‘Nonsense; we are simply visiting Clarice and enquiring as to her health,’ Lucy firmly replied.
Lucy had bet on the newer of her two sister-in-laws being home this morning and sent an earlier calling card. While Clarice had looked well enough at the dinner party two nights earlier, Lucy was prepared to take a chance on her not venturing from home in the early hours of the day.
‘I’m sorry I won’t be able to accompany you to the shops today, dear girls. You will have to excuse me, but I am still very much indisposed most mornings,’ Clarice said.
Seated with her hands held tightly together, the bags under her eyes and a green pallor revealed the depth of Clarice’s current struggle with morning sickness. She smiled at them both, but said nothing more. By society’s rules, neither of the two unwed misses should have any knowledge of such things.
Lucy privately begged to differ.
David and Alex, who were both out for a mid-morning ride in Hyde Park, would likely have conniptions if they discovered Lucy had spent a whole rainy afternoon thumbing through the pages of the
Kama Sutra
which India-born Millie had given her. The erotic pictures within the book left little to the imagination.
‘That’s perfectly all right; Eve and I just wanted to come and see you. I especially wanted to thank you for the lovely dinner we had the other night.’
A tray of sweet buns and a pot of tea were served by a footman. Clarice didn’t bother with any of the food.
The three ladies sat back in their chairs and were soon deep in conversation about the family’s seat in Scotland.
‘You will love Strathmore Castle; my father says it’s the best castle in all of Great Britain,’ Eve said. Lucy nodded in agreement.
Clarice waved away the sweet bun Lucy offered her.
‘Thank you, no. I’m struggling to keep anything down this morning. And speaking of Scotland, David and I have been discussing the journey north for the past few days. I’m sorry, but it is likely we won’t be coming up until Christmas. David needs to spend time at our estate in Bedfordshire, and I’m certainly not well enough to travel that sort of distance.’
If Christmas it was, so be it. As long as they were all together as a family.
‘Hogmanay will be wonderful, Clarice; no one does it as well as we do. All the members of the Radley family venture up from London. And everyone from the village comes. The party lasts well into the next day. We even have fireworks which light up the side of the mountain,’ Lucy said.
Clarice rose gingerly from her chair.
‘Excuse me, will you, my dear friends?’ she whispered and quickly left the room.
‘Is she all right?’ Eve asked after Clarice had left the sitting room.
‘Yes; Mama says the first few months are the worst,’ Lucy replied. She put down her cup of tea and surveyed the room.
I wonder if he is at home this morning.
She felt the sharp sting of guilt. How could she be thinking of Avery Fox when poor Clarice was so terribly indisposed?
I am a horrible person.
Eve reached over and tapped Lucy on the arm.
‘I doubt there is anything you or I could do for poor Clarice, so why don’t we see if your Mr Fox is at home?’
Lucy huffed. ‘He’s not my Mr Fox! Besides, I don’t think we should; it wouldn’t be polite. What happens if we meet Lord Langham? What do we say if he finds us prying about his house?’
The idea was both delightful and wicked in its prospect. Compelled by the opportunity which had suddenly presented itself, Eve rose quickly from the couch and headed out into the hallway. Lucy followed closely behind.
Stealing along the hallway, stopping every so often to examine one of the many paintings which decorated the walls,
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