No amount of warring thoughts brought Graham any closer to the truth of the matter, which he frankly did not know. He sighed and put his thoughts firmly back on the present. Miss Browne was a clever young woman and he felt certain she would not fall for any shenanigans from Lord Stanhope.
*
James sat in the parlour looking at the penny portrait that Miss Browne had gifted him with. He had seen the same portrait hanging at the studio on Bond Street, and he thought it looked so uncannily familiar that he had bought a print. It was apparently very popular and James could see why. There was just something about the curves of her silhouette that drew the eye.
Sometimes those dreadful penny portraits were hardly recognisable, but this one was clearly Miss Browne through and through. She would be the talk of the town with a portrait like this. James smiled.
As he sat at the table with some paper that he was writing a guest list on, James absentmindedly began drawing on the penny portrait. On a whim, he painted a mask over her face, much like the one his mystery heiress had worn.
“That is a very striking resemblance, Miss Browne,” Lord Stanhope whispered to the portrait. “I do believe that I have found my mystery woman.” It fit. Miss Browne clearly knew Lord Easterly, as he had met the rather stern man as he had come out of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lennox.
Yes, it all clicked into place in Lord Stanhope’s mind. She was his mystery heiress. Why had she lied about having met him?
Several things came to mind that might stop a young lady from acknowledging an acquaintanceship. James pondered if it was because she had gone to the ball without a chaperone or some other such thing? He did not hold that against her. He rather liked her spirit if that was the case.
His eyes went back to the guest list he was putting together for a tea party. It had been his brother’s gentle nudging toward such a mundane get-together that had spurred James into actually going through with such a thing. However, the idea of inviting his heiress now intrigued him. Oh, to have all of his lovely ladies over to a splendidly polite tea. What fun would that be?
James could think of a few different ways that it might be rather amusing, and it allowed him to socialise with both Miss Browne and Miss Easterly at the same time, which was a treat. Oh, the wonders of society, James mused with a smile.
He rang for a servant. When the maid came into the room, he thrust the piece of paper at her. “Take this paper to my brother. It is the guest list for the tea party. I am sure he will want to approve it.” He rolled his eyes at the last part.
The maid took the paper with a look of apprehension. If she had been bolder, perhaps the maid would have asked why he did not take it himself. As it was, the young woman curtseyed and was swiftly gone to do as James asked.
James stretched out in the chair and smiled to himself. This was going to be a very interesting tea party. Women were a fickle lot, and Miss Easterly seemed rather flighty at times. Yet, there was something intriguing about both Miss Easterly and Miss Browne. Of course, Miss Browne was even more enticing now that James knew who she really was.
All he had to do was figure out why she was hiding her identity from him and others. Did Mrs. Lennox know? Surely she must.
James frowned as he leaned back and looked up at the ceiling with its ornate moulding. Was it her status as an orphan that made her so bashful? It would be wise of those close to her to keep her somewhat cloistered to protect her fortune.
James supposed that must be what it was all about. There were footsteps, loud clanging footsteps that James knew could only belong to his brother. A moment later, Branson came through the vaulted opening that connected the parlour to a sitting room.
“Why did you send a maid to bring this to me? Do you not think you should have done so yourself?” Branson’s irritation was evident in his voice, and the way his shoulders leaned forward as if he might just want to snatch James up by the collar, as he had done when they were children.
James looked at his brother’s display of aggravation through bored eyes. “Come now, it is merely a list of guests. Do I honestly need to bow and curtsey every time I need some little favour from you? You were the one who came up with this idea.”
“You invited half of London to a tea party, James,” Branson said as he waved the paper around dramatically.
James lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “So, cut the numbers down. I only really care about Miss Browne and Miss Easterly being in attendance.”
Branson sighed and pinched his nose. “No. You will cut the list down. No more than ten people, James. It is a tea party, not a banquet.” Branson tossed the paper onto the table. “Do not mistake my kindness for meekness, Brother.”
James watched Branson storm back out of the room and pursed his lips as he eyed the paper. He sighed and drew the paper to him as he sat up straight. It was a simple enough thing to pare the list down, and making that vein bulge out on Branson’s forehead had been reward enough for James.
*
“Lord Easterly has sent a letter asking when or if you would like to return to their household, if only for a visit?” Mrs. Lennox smiled as she handed Charlotte the letter.
Charlotte read over the neat script. “He is dear man,” she said with warmth. “I do not know how his sister will find me now that I have abandoned her.”
“Friends often go through trying times,” Mrs. Lennox said with a frown. “Do you still consider her a friend?”
Charlotte thought about that. “I want to say yes, but she has not acted much as a friend to me. I do not wish her any harm, but I do not know that I wish her the best either.”
Mrs. Lennox chuckled. “At least you are honest about it. Still, Lord Easterly is an influential man and up until now a fair benefactor.”
“I wish Lord Easterly all the best. He has done much good for my family, and me.” Charlotte thought of how the man had brought her brother’s body home, even though he had not had to. She could not scorn his invitation. “I shall visit them. After all, your husband shall be leaving abroad soon, and I do not wish to take away any time from you that you could use to spend with him.”
“You are very kind, Charlotte,” Mrs. Lennox said, and Charlotte smiled at the use of her given name. The woman was usually quite formal, but clearly, this was her way of saying she had grown to hold affection for Charlotte, and it warmed her heart to hear it.
Charlotte embraced the woman in a hug that caused much merriment from Mrs. Lennox as the woman hugged her back. “I shall miss our talks.”
“I shall miss them as well. Now, you must get ready for your visit. If for any reason you need to stay with us longer, please do not hesitate.” Mrs. Lennox stepped away and gave Charlotte a smile. “Come, let us write a letter in return to Lord Easterly and then we shall set about making arrangements.”
Charlotte nodded. They sat down and wrote the letter with little trouble. Mrs. Lennox was an astute and knowledgeable woman when it came to social interactions. It was easy to do things with her guidance.
It was not until they had finished, and Mrs. Lennox went to have the letter sent off via messenger, that Charlotte became nervous. Amanda would certainly be ill with her as she had left so abruptly. Charlotte wished now that she had had the courage to reach out to Amanda and mend things.
Lord Easterly would have certainly made excuses in her stead, as he had for Amanda to Charlotte. But Amanda probably took them to heart as little as Charlotte had. No. She knew Amanda had not said those words or sent those warm regards.
Charlotte pushed down the nervousness that welled up. She would be fine. Lord Easterly would not invite her to come back if he thought it would cause trouble, would he? She was sure he would not.
She looked at her room here at Mrs. Lennox’s. Being here had been so peaceful. She did not know if she could truly take Amanda if the woman began treating her as just another servant again.
Perhaps Amanda had never truly viewed her as a friend? Charlotte could only speculate, and her father ha
d always looked down on such things. Creating rumours and conspiracies in one’s mind never led anywhere good, so they were best avoided.
Charlotte set to work on arranging her clothes so that she would be ready when they received word from Lord Easterly’s household. She was determined to keep her mind clear and on the task at hand.
When Mrs. Lennox returned she handed Charlotte a letter. “The courier had just brought this as I was about to send the letter to Lord Easterly.”
Charlotte took the envelope and broke the seal. She did not readily recognise the family crest. Her question was answered when she saw the letterhead was that of the Earl of Brunswick.
Lord Stanhope had written to invite her to a tea party at his family estate. Charlotte’s heart leapt at the thought of it. She might not have been in love with the man, but she did find him exciting.
She smiled at the letter and ran her finger along Lord Stanhope’s signature. “I have been invited to a tea party by Lord Stanhope.”
Mrs. Lennox smiled. “Sounds promising, that is if you deem to go?”
“I find Lord Stanhope a pleasant and entertaining companion. I think a tea party sounds like fun.” Charlotte folded the letter back up together. “I shall need to tell him of my changing address.”
Mrs. Lennox waved her hand as if to dismiss such a thing. “You can simply tell him when you send the RSVP, or you can tell him when you attend the party. He certainly will not send you a correspondence before then.”
Charlotte nodded as she put the letter on her dressing table. “I suppose I shall just keep myself busy with getting organised.”
“Do you need any help? I or one of the maids could certainly pitch in?” Mrs. Lennox rubbed her hands together as if she were eager to get started.
Charlotte gave the woman a smile. “Thank you. I do not truly have that much to pack, and I do not know how long it will be before we hear from Lord Easterly. I think I can manage.”
“If you need anything you know where to find me,” Mrs. Lennox said as she conceded with a gracious incline of her head.
It took two days to receive a reply from Lord Easterly. He would have a carriage sent to bring her to their estate in two days’ time. Charlotte did not mind that. She was ready to go and only had to pack away the few dresses she had used in the last few days.
The tea party would be the morning after her return to the Easterly family. She did not know how that would work out. She did not know if Amanda had given up her designs on Lord Stanhope and she felt a twinge of guilt.
Charlotte stamped the guilt down. She did not have a thing to be guilty for. She was just as worthy of the man as Amanda, and it was Amanda’s fault she had originally crossed paths with him anyway.
*
Amanda was fuming. Not only had her brother the audacity to invite Charlotte to live with them again, now she found out that Charlotte was also invited to Lord Stanhope’s party. She glared across the breakfast table at Charlotte.
“I do not know why you even wish to go, Lotte. These things are usually dreadfully droll.” Amanda sipped her mint tea and eyed Charlotte.
Charlotte’s big doe eyes looked at Amanda, and for the life of her, Amanda thought there could never be a duplicitous thought in the woman’s head. Yet, Amanda knew otherwise now. Despite Charlotte’s claims that she saw nothing for herself and Lord Stanhope in the future, the woman was eager enough to accept the gentleman’s offers.
Charlotte sighed and put her teaspoon down on her saucer. “Why is it so important to you that I do not go?”
“It is not that it is important to me, but as someone of your stature should know, it is really not a place for you.” Amanda tutted and shook her head. “I do not want you to embarrass yourself, Lotte.”
Charlotte’s eyes flashed as she narrowed her gaze at Amanda. “Am I back to being your servant again?”
“You have never gone above that station unless it was in your mind,” Amanda reminded Charlotte. “Do not look at me like that, Lotte. I only tell you this because of our friendship and Lord Stanhope’s reputation. Think of him and what it would be like for it to get out that he was courting a maid.”
Charlotte blushed. She sputtered out the words, “Amanda that is most crude. We are not courting, nor close to it. We are merely acquainted.” She straightened her back and eyed Amanda steadily. “Is this about him or about how you feel?”
“You always take offense when none was intended. I offered you a room as my guest and you took offense. I gave you the job you wanted and treated you as such, and again you were offended.” Amanda shook her head and set her tea down. “I do not think it is me who needs to worry about how she feels, Lotte.”
Amanda stood up and left the room before Charlotte had a chance to recover from Amanda’s bruising words. Let that soak into the silly woman’s head.
It was just as well that Graham was absent from breakfast due to an early morning meeting. He would have surely tried to make peace. But really, it is better that things be out in the open. Lord Stanhope deserves a real lady, not some fraud trying to better her station in life.
Amanda did not feel bad in the least about it, not even when she met Charlotte downstairs an hour later to go to the tea party at Lord Stanhope’s. She had to admit that part of her was disappointed that Charlotte had not chosen to simply stay home. It did not matter, as there were other things to do to put a surly maid in her place.
The carriage ride was a quiet one. The only time anyone spoke was when Amanda’s aunt made small talk. Eventually, the woman gave up and Amanda thought the better of her for it.
When they arrived, Amanda stepped out of the carriage and breathed in the lovely fragrance of the flowers that grew along the edge of the driveway. A couple was exiting a carriage just ahead of them and Amanda smiled. The more witnesses the better.
Charlotte and her aunt made their way out of the carriage and walked towards Amanda, who waited just before the steps to the front door. As they approached Amanda said, loud enough for all to hear, “The servant’s entrance is around the side of the house, Lotte. We shall meet you inside.”
The look on Charlotte’s face was the perfect blend of disbelief and outrage. Amanda’s aunt looked at Charlotte expectantly. Charlotte ducked her head and fled around the corner of the house. Amanda just did manage to hide her satisfied smile.
“Really, you think she would not have to be told,” Amanda said with a sigh. “Shall we, Aunt?”
Chapter 7
Graham was late out of his meeting and had to go straight from there to the home of Lord Stanhope, where he was to meet his sister and Miss Browne. As his carriage passed the park, he noticed a familiar form and tapped the roof of the carriage for the driver to stop. When the carriage was pulled to one side of the road he got out.
The driver looked over the edge of the carriage at him curiously. “Find a place to park and await me,” Graham said absentmindedly. The driver nodded and cracked the reins to take the carriage to a safer spot.
Graham turned his attention on the crumpled form on the bench ahead of him. “Miss Browne?”
She looked up at him. Her tear-stained face tore at his heart. “Lord Easterly,” she whispered as she dabbed at her face with her handkerchief, as if she could clean away the evidence of her tears.
“Are you well? I was passing on my way to Lord Stanhope’s tea party when I saw you sitting here.” Graham regarded the woman with puzzlement. “I thought you were with my aunt and sister?”
Miss Browne nodded. “I was. I just had to get some air.”
“So you came here alone?” Graham looked around and found his first observation was indeed correct. The young woman was quite alone, and in public no less. “Surely something had to happen to make you choose to spend time here on this bench instead of at the party?”
Under the Seductive Lady's Charm: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 14
