Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Caroline forbade herself from thinking too deeply about the course of events the evening before and how solicitous Tristan had been, but in the moment, it had felt like something more than friendship.
It always would, she imagined, since he’d always been a reckless flirt.
Depositing warm touches, lingering glances, and compliments of an overly flowery nature.
But still…something about it was different.
The way he’d leaned and spoken in her ear had driven prickles of awareness over her skin.
His concern for Kitty’s relationship was particularly sweet—though unnecessary. Kitty had said herself Lord Bengard had spoken with her father at length. If there was something to discover, Mr. Fielding would have done so.
All these thoughts swarmed her mind as she stood with her maid outside Hookham’s Circulating Library.
The air had a chill that caused her to be grateful she’d worn her thickest pelisse, the long arms and drape of fabric keeping her warm.
Lottie’s blonde hair peeked out from her worn bonnet, making Caroline take note.
She would purchase a new one for Lottie for her birthday, so long as she had a husband and funds by that time.
“How is Sarah’s arm?” Caroline asked
Lottie cringed. “Slow to heal. She is determined not to accept charity, so she’s been doing anything she can with her good hand. Dusting and polishing, mostly. Mr. Pomfrey has been creative in finding ways to occupy her.”
“I noticed she had organized Mama’s sewing basket,” Caroline said.
Lottie laughed. “She can organize yours as well, if you’d like.”
“If you need to occupy her further, by all means.”
“Thank you, Miss Caroline, for letting her come.”
Caroline smiled. “It was nothing. You are the one who must now share a bed.”
Lottie shook her head. “Not to me or Sarah. To us, it was everything.”
A carriage rolled down Bond Street, stopping just in front of the library. The groom hopped from the back and circled the conveyance to open the door, offering his hand to the woman inside. Caroline watched expectantly, surprised when a gray-haired matron exited the carriage.
She frowned. Kitty was now nearly a quarter-hour late, which was unlike her.
“Have you waited long?” a familiar voice asked from behind her.
Caroline turned, finding her friend standing on the paving stones, her maid behind her with her attention on her shoes. Kitty’s cheeks were ruddy, as though she’d spent a good deal of time in the cold already.
“Not terribly,” Caroline said. “But I will welcome the warmth inside. Shall we go in?”
“I will accompany you, but I don’t think I shall borrow a book today.”
Caroline knew a moment of confusion. “Why did you select this as our meeting place in your note, then?”
“The location.” She smiled, her hazel eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “I know how dearly you like to read, you know.”
“I shall be quick in my selection.”
“Oh, please do. Then we can look at bonnets.” Kitty pressed her gloved hands together as though in prayer. “I’ve grown dreadfully tired of mine.”
Caroline led the way into the library. Dark paneling covered the walls in the same shade as the high bookcases.
Ladders were situated against two of the walls with brass hooks.
It smelled of leather and paper, igniting a sense of anticipation in Caroline’s chest. She loved the prospect of a new book.
“Have you forgotten about Mr. Dennison already?” Kitty asked. “I’ve only seen you twice this week, and both those times you were in the company of Mr. Shepherd.”
“He is an old friend.” Caroline focused on the books lining the shelf in front of her.
She was grateful she had never told Kitty about her girlish feelings for him.
Mama was the only person aware, and she would never break confidence.
“Our houses in Surrey are quite close, so our mothers are dear friends. But I have not seen Mr. Shepherd in many years. He has been traveling, I believe, and we don’t tend to run in the same circles in Town. ”
“I would have thought your circles overlapped significantly.”
“Not if he avoids polite society in favor of gentlemen’s pursuits.”
Kitty took her by the wrist lightly. “That is precisely what I hoped to speak to you about. Lord Bengard has the grandest notion.” She lowered her voice and spoke excitedly. “He would like to take me to a masquerade.”
Uneasiness crept through Caroline’s stomach. Had she dismissed Tristan’s observation too quickly? “What has your father to say on the matter?”
She reared back slightly. “He would never permit it. But Lord Bengard’s sister would happily attend as chaperone, and he told me I ought to invite you as well, for he would like to know my friends. I felt it was the most famous idea. What do you think? Please say you will come.”
“My mother wouldn’t like it.”
“I thought you were beyond the need to ask your mother for permission.” There was a hint of challenge to Kitty’s tone, for she knew Caroline felt old enough to dictate her own life.
“I will need to think on it.”
Kitty’s smile returned. “I knew you could be persuaded. We cannot go until Friday next. I don’t know how I’ll wait so long! But we must begin thinking of our gowns now. We’ll need masks to match them, of course.”
An expense Caroline could ill afford. She set her focus on selecting a book to borrow, but the task had been soured by this conversation.
What was her duty as a friend in this instance?
She didn’t know what the best course of action was, but by the time she had chosen a book, noted it with the clerk, and walked outside again, both maids trailing behind them, she had decided it was incumbent upon her to say something.
“Kitty, wait.”
Her friend turned an open expression on her. “What is it?”
“Your Lord Bengard seems a perfectly amiable gentleman.”
“Oh, but he is. You shall see once you’ve spent more time in his company.
He is forever trying to buy nice things for me, and it hardly matters that I reminded him we must be engaged before I could accept any of them.
He still manages to send the most magnificent flowers to my house after every ball. ”
Caroline’s smile was small. “He does sound perfect for you. It is only…I heard a report on his character that caused me some apprehension on your behalf. Are you certain you know him as well as you think you do?”
Kitty’s lips pressed together. “You must have been speaking to Angela Cartwright. She cannot accept that his affections are no longer with her.”
In truth, Caroline hadn’t any notion who had given Tristan leave to think what he did.
Kitty didn’t need confirmation, however. “He loves me now. Angela will say anything to ruin my chance at becoming a viscountess. You know how long she has despised me.”
“I know you and she are not the greatest of friends—”
“You are understating the matter.” Kitty frowned. “Oh, I do not like this. Please put it from your mind. I am not so blind as to be utterly taken in, I promise you.”
Caroline had no choice but to accept this. “Very well.”
Kitty sighed. “That was mildly upsetting. I never like to think of Angela Cartwright if I can help it. Shall we purchase new bonnets?”
Caroline smothered her chuckle. If any of her friends could look after themselves, surely it was Kitty. Still, the mild uneasiness would not leave her, but she dutifully shoved it aside. “Yes, I think that is a lovely idea.”
James was sitting in the parlor with a folded newssheet and cup of tea when Caroline returned from shopping empty-handed, save for her borrowed novel, Cecilia. He glanced up at her, his blue eyes tracking her motion across the room.
“You’re not out with your friends?” she questioned, taking the seat across from him.
“We are meeting for dinner this evening.” He glanced at the newssheet, then set it on the sofa beside him. “Father sent a letter. He must have posted it not long after I left. It would seem he’s found a new investment opportunity.”
“You seem displeased.”
“We have nothing to invest, Caro. It cannot be a good thing.”
“If that is the case, surely he won’t be at liberty to join the investment.”
James blinked at her. “Do you not understand what this could mean for your dowry?”
Caroline grew still, uneasiness climbing her body like a slow-moving fog. “What would it mean, James? Speak plainly.”
“Father has no legal settlement organized. If he means to place any sum in this investment, he would be forced to take your dowry to do so.”
Her pulse raced. No legal settlement? That meant her dowry was not a true dowry at all, but merely a sum of money in the bank. “Surely he would not take any action without consulting Mama.”
James lifted a golden eyebrow. “I do not think he consults anyone when he makes decisions. He merely thinks of what he would like to do and hopes for the best.”
Caroline was stunned, her mouth slightly ajar but forming no words.
“I will write to him,” James said, “but you must prepare yourself for the worst. I would not rely on something that could very well disappear.”
“My dowry,” she said quietly, still unable to fully grasp what her brother was telling her.
He gave a slight scoff. “My inheritance has long ago dwindled to nothing. Father makes poor choices, and he is ruining our future prospects.”
“James,” she whispered. “When you told me you came home to find a wife, you were in earnest.”
“A rich wife would be ideal.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m a blasted fortune-seeker. But what choice do I have? If we do not find funds soon, we’ll be forced to lose this house.”
Her throat grew dry. “Mama and I have already been economizing.”
“Which I am grateful for, but it is not enough.”
Caroline sunk into her chair, her fingers running over the ridged leather spine of her book. “What has Mama to say to all this?”
“I’d rather not worry her.”
“Yet you will worry me?”
His head tilted as he looked at her. “Mother doesn’t have the constitution for news such as this, as you are perfectly aware.
But you must be informed of the possibility.
Until Father writes officially, however, you have no reason to continue on any differently from how you have been in regard to the gentlemen you were courting. ”
“Gentleman,” she corrected. “A singular gentleman. Mr. Dennison, who has cut all acquaintance with me because he believed me to be deceiving him. I cannot, in good conscience, deceive him further.”
“Then refrain, but if you can do anything to secure the match with him, I suggest you do so.”
James didn’t need to remind her of the reasons she needed to marry soon.
She had the ability to bring in money just as he did, and she was on her fourth Season.
Her prospects had dwindled to one man who believed her to be a liar, and a toadish man who had only offered for her in order to win a wager.
She wasn’t old, but she was certainly edging nearer to the shelf with every passing day.
Caroline opened her book and ran her eyes over the title page, willing her mind to be distracted, but she could not remove James’s warning from her thoughts.
It was her steady companion for the rest of the day.