The Courtesan’s Daughter and the Gentleman: The Merry Misfits of Bath ~ Book Two

by Hutton, Callie

  Lottie attempted to pull her arm free, but he held on tight. “Don’t be upset, please.”

  “I am not upset. However, I need to return home. I have a student due soon.” She continued to tug on her arm, and he continued to hold on.

  “Let me help you, Lottie. Please.”

  Lottie shook her head. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Everything is fine. I am fine.”

  Time to retreat once again. If he kept this up, he would push her further and further away, which was certainly not his intent. “Then I apologize for upsetting you. That was not my intention.”

  “Nonsense. As I stated, I am not upset.” Her flushed face and trembling hand on his arm belied her statement.

  “Let us return to you home, then, so you may meet your next student.” He turned them so they headed back the way they had come. He had to find a way to calm her before he let her go or he would most likely find a slammed door in his face the next time he attempted to call on her.

  Her pace was considerably faster than before his challenge, but by the time they arrived at her building, she was a bit calmer. He even got her to smile at one of his very lame jokes.

  “May I call on you soon? Perhaps you would enjoy a visit to the Holbourne Museum.”

  The regret on her face twisted his insides. It was obvious she did not want to say no, but for some reason was about to do just that. “I am afraid I simply don’t have the time for visits and strolls, Mr. Westbrooke.”

  He reached out and touched her chin, raising her head so he could look in her eyes. “It would do you well to understand that I do not give up easily, Lottie. I am very interested in you, and I want to court you. I can also assure you I am a gentleman and would never do anything to harm you. In any way.”

  When she began to shake her head, he continued. “I know you said no before, but as I said, I am quite tenacious. Unless you tell me unconditionally that you have no interest in me at all, I will try very hard to persuade you to allow us time together to get to know each other.”

  To his shock, tears filled her eyes. “You do not want to get to know me, Mr. Westbrooke. Of that I am certain.”

  Before he could stop her, she raced up the stairs, and after a quick knock, the door was opened and quickly closed behind her.

  Two days later, Lottie and one of her newer students, Lady Edwina, the daughter of Viscount Monroe, climbed into the viscount’s carriage for a ride to Milsom Street. There they would take tea at the tearoom in Jolly’s Department Store, one of the finer stores in Bath.

  They chatted for a while, then fell quiet, just the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestones reaching them, leaving Lottie with her own thoughts. Thoughts that always returned to Carter. She liked him. Truth be known, quite a bit. It was obvious he cared for her, too. But every time her useless daydream of them being together snuck into her thoughts, she pushed it firmly away.

  Even more troublesome were the nighttime dreams that she had no control over. She was disturbed at some of the things she had dreamed about doing with Carter. Things that involved naked bodies and a great deal of touching. Maybe she was her mother’s daughter.

  The day was not as pleasant as it had been when she and Carter had taken their stroll. The sun was hiding behind the clouds and there was a bit of a breeze. A reminder that even though the year was entering spring, it was still chilly at times.

  Thinking back on their time together the other day, she was chagrined at him noticing she only wore those fake spectacles in London. It was probably a stupid thing to do anyway. Having her mother’s looks and coloring, it would take more than a pair of eyeglasses to disguise her from someone who knew her mother well.

  She didn’t realize how much she had been woolgathering until Lady Edwina said, “Miss Danvers? I believe we are here.”

  Lottie moved the window curtain aside and glanced outside. “Oh, dear. Yes, we are. I apologize for my inattention.”

  Just then the door opened, and the driver helped her down first, then Lady Edwina. They made their way into the tea shop and were directed to a table against the wall.

  There were quite a few patrons in the shop, but since this was Lady Edwina’s first foray to a tea shop as a student, Lottie gave her complete attention to the girl.

  They ordered tea with cucumber sandwiches and biscuits. Lottie explained the correct way to pour tea, and how to keep up polite conversation while she did so. Although Lady Edwina was only a year away from her debut, she hadn’t had much in the way of Polite Society instruction since her mother was deceased and her governess hadn’t encouraged her to learn the more refined arts that young ladies needed to know.

  “Miss Danvers, how lovely to see you.” Lord Sterling stood next to their table, a look in his eyes that frightened her. Before she could react to seeing him, he leaned in next to her ear. “Or should I call you Miss Danforth?” He stood back and grinned not knowing, or perhaps not caring, that he’d just crushed her entire world.

  Lady Edwina looked toward her as if she expected Lottie to introduce her to his lordship. All Lottie could think of was getting out of the tea shop without bringing any notice to herself.

  She called on all her years of training to stiffen her back and glared at the man. “I am sorry, my lord, but I am instructing this young lady in the finer art of Polite Society and I must ask you to leave us alone.”

  Sterling threw his head back and laughed, loud enough to attract the attention of just about everyone in the room. “You are instructing a young lady on Polite Society? How very amusing. Does your courtesan mother know this?”

  “Miss Danvers?” Lady Edwina looked back and forth between her and Lord Sterling with confusion.

  “It is nothing with which to concern yourself, my lady. However, I feel we must cut short our lesson for today.” Before the poor girl could react, Lottie stood and headed toward the door. She stopped the man who had seated them earlier, not sure where their waiter was. “I’m afraid my charge and I must take our leave.” She withdrew a few coins from her reticule with a shaky hand and gave them to the startled man.

  Lady Edwina had caught up to her by that time and they both made their way out of the tea shop.

  “Wait!” Lord Sterling was on their heels, and Lottie wished him to perdition.

  He had the nerve to grasp her arm to stop her. “I want to speak to you about something that might be to your benefit.”

  Lottie closed her eyes, then turned to Lady Edwina. “My lady, please proceed to the carriage and I will meet you in a minute.”

  Still looking bewildered, the girl nodded and headed toward the carriage parked a few steps away from the store’s entrance. Once Lottie was sure Lady Edwina had entered the carriage and the door closed, she turned to Lord Sterling.

  “My lord, I have no idea why you continue to annoy me. Please know that I do not wish to speak with you, nor have you approach me in public.”

  He leaned back on his heels, his hands in his pockets. “Come now, Miss Danvers. Or whatever your name is. I knew from the first time I saw you that you looked familiar. You are Mrs. Danforth’s daughter. And please do not deny it since you look exactly like her.”

  There was truly no way to go but forward. She raised her chin and attempted to look bored. “And if I am?”

  “Then I would like to offer you my protection. I can set you up with a house, a carriage, and all the fine clothes and jewelry you wish. Right here in Bath.”

  The anger coursing through her almost had her striking the man. However, with the few people who were on the public street, and especially those who watched with interest, she merely lowered her voice. “I am not for sale.”

  Before he could respond, she practically ran to the carriage, climbed in and tapped the ceiling for the driver to proceed.

  “Are you well, Miss Danvers?” Lady Edwina studied her carefully.

  “Yes, my lady. I apologize for cutting our lesson short, but I can assure you we will do it another time. Ple
ase forgive me.” She took out her handkerchief and patted her upper lip.

  That was about all the words she could get passed the large lump in her throat. She managed to hold onto her composure until they arrived at the Monroe townhouse, where Lottie wished Lady Edwina a good day and immediately left her to walk—and practically run—to Berkshire’s house.

  Addie had been busy with the bookstore since her return to London and a few weeks had actually passed since Lottie had last seen her. For now, she needed someone she could trust to pour her heart out to.

  Once Lottie had been instructed by the butler to proceed upstairs to Addie’s sitting room alongside her bedchamber, she hurried up the steps and entered the room, knowing her face was blotchy from crying. She twisted her handkerchief in her hands.

  Addie stood and reached out her hand. “What’s wrong, Lottie?”

  Lottie took in a shuddering breath, having just come to the decision as she climbed the stairs to the bedchamber floor. “I have to leave Bath.”

  “Leave Bath! Why?” She patted the space alongside her on the lovely flowered settee.

  Lottie sat and dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. “Because I just came from Milsom Street where I was taking tea with one of my students.” Another deep breath. “Lord Sterling walked into the shop and greeted me.”

  Addie waited patiently for Lottie to pull herself together. “Yes?”

  “Don’t you see? I can’t stay in Bath. Lord Sterling has moved here permanently.” He hadn’t said as much, but since she’d seen him so often and he offered her a house in Bath, he must be a permanent resident.

  Addie took her hand. “And?”

  “He knows my mother. Everyone in London knows my mother. Now everyone in Bath will as well. I must leave.”

  She hopped up to escape and Addie grabbed her skirt. “Wait. I don’t understand.”

  Lottie attempted to pull away, but Addie held firm. “You came to tell me you have to leave Bath. I will not let you go until you explain why. And not just because Lord Sterling, who as far as I know has very little consequence, knows your mother.”

  Lottie tried to say the words, but it took her a minute to actually say them out loud to her best friend who had no idea. “My mother is Mrs. Danforth.”

  Stunned silence followed the words echoing around the room. Addie sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, no.”

  “Yes. I’m sure you’ve heard the name. Everyone who is anyone in London among the ton knows her name. Even among young girls making their debuts, who should never know about such things, Mrs. Danforth’s name is whispered in ladies’ retiring room.”

  Lottie stood and paced in front of Addie. “The most well-known courtesan in London is my mama.”

  “But why must you leave Bath? You have friends here and a business.”

  Lottie snickered. “Do you honestly believe the parents of the girls I’ve been instructing on how to conduct oneself in Polite Society will continue to allow me anywhere near their daughters? My living is gone. I must move again to where no one knows me, nor will ever know me.”

  With those words and the stunned expression on Addie’s face, she fled the house with the full intention of packing her belongings and taking the first rail out of Bath.

  To where she had no idea.

  9

  The next morning Lottie was interrupted in her packing by a knock on her door. Mr. Everson, the man who guarded the front door to her building, stood there, looking a tad uncomfortable. “Miss Danvers there is a gentleman and lady awaiting you downstairs. They insist they must speak with you immediately.”

  Exhausted from no sleep the night before, she was a bit confused. She frowned and placed her brush, comb, and small mirror in her satchel. “Did they give their names?”

  “Lord Monroe and his daughter’s governess, Mrs. Temple.”

  His lordship and the governess! Lottie’s stomach cramped and her heart sped up. It was truly amazing how fast bad news could appear on one’s doorstep. “Tell them I will be there momentarily.”

  She pulled the mirror back out of her satchel and examined herself. She looked pale and scared; the few freckles scattered across her nose standing out. There was no way out of this. She took a deep breath and left her flat.

  “Good morning, my lord. Mrs. Temple.” She had met the governess when his lordship had engaged her to groom his daughter for her presentation to Society. Now the woman sat on the dark brown sofa, glaring at her.

  They both rose.

  “I’m afraid it is not a good morning, Miss Danvers.” Lord Monroe looked uneasy as he addressed her.

  “I will come right to the point,” Mrs. Temple said. “I have been lovely Lady Edwina’s governess for years. I have protected her from the more sordid things in life. She is a sweet, innocent, young girl. However, it appears you had no hesitancy in speaking with one of your paramours while having tea with my charge.”

  Lottie sucked in a breath. Although she certainly had something to hide, she could not let that remark pass. “I am sorry Mrs. Temple, but first of all the gentleman—she almost choked on the word—who spoke with me yesterday was not, has never been, and will never be, my paramour. I have done nothing to be ashamed of, nor would I ever expose a young girl to the part of life to which you refer.”

  “Do you deny that your mother is a well-known courtesan in London?” Lord Monroe asked.

  Well, then. Let’s get right to the point, shall we?

  “No, I don’t deny that since it is true. However, I see no reason to continue this conversation.” She turned to leave, but Lord Monroe said, “You are dismissed. I no longer require your services.”

  Since Lottie was planning on leaving today anyway, she was about to notify all her student’s parents. She had hoped—apparently unsuccessfully—that they would not find out the real reason for her abrupt departure.

  “I understand.” There wasn’t much more to be said about that.

  “Have you no honor, Miss Danvers?” Mrs. Temple pointed her finger at Lottie. “I cannot imagine why you would take young girls as your charges when you come from such a sullied background.”

  Close to tears, Lottie said, “I am sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Temple, but I do not have a sullied background. I was raised in a private girls’ school in France. I have done nothing to warrant your disdain.”

  “Your mother is a whore!”

  Lottie’s shame turned into anger at the ugly word. “How dare you! My mother took care of me all her life. She paid for an exclusive girls’ school and even made the trip from London to France to see me twice a month. You know nothing about my mother.”

  “I know all I need to know. She paid for that school with ill-earned money.” Mrs. Temple waved her finger. “You are a disgrace. You should not be allowed near young girls.”

  Lottie waved at the doorway. “Please leave. You have said what you need to say.” Before they had a chance to go, Lottie stalked from the room and raced upstairs.

  She entered her flat and leaned against the door. She took in huge gulps of air, attempting to keep the tears at bay, but lost that battle and slid down the door to sit on the floor. She pulled her legs up to her chest, leaned her forehead on her knees and sobbed.

  Two hours later, she looked around her flat, making certain she had removed all of her most important things. It was impossible to pack everything she had accumulated in her time in Bath. Some of the lovely decorations she’d found at the vintage store would have to remain. As well as all her books.

  She could only carry her clothes and grooming products. Perhaps she could post a note to Addie and ask her to have the rest of her things packed up and sent to her once she had a new home.

  Rather than have another scene like the one earlier in the parlor downstairs, Lottie took the time to write notes to all her students’ parents. Although considering her visit from Lord Monroe and his horrid governess, in time most would learn why she left in a hurry. However, she stated in her letters that a family emergenc
y had come up and it had been necessary for her to leave Bath.

  Her rent was paid up for the rest of the month, so she left a note for Mrs. Ponsoby, her landlady, relating the same story about a family emergency. Hopefully, since she still owned the flat for a couple more weeks, it would give Addie time to get her things out of the rooms before Mrs. Ponsoby rented to another tenant.

  With one last look around, she drew on her cape, hat, and gloves, and picked up her satchel. She had loved this flat and had made it into a very comfortable home. Her very first home, considering she lived at school most of her life. But deep down inside, she always knew one day she would have to leave it.

  Mr. Everson was at the door, as usual. He viewed her with sympathy, which told her he had heard everything that had transpired between her and her visitors.

  “I must leave for a family emergency.” She raised her chin, looking him in the eye. Although she was sure he knew why she was leaving, she kept up with the story she had written in Mrs. Ponsoby’s note.

  “I am sorry to see you leave us, Miss Danvers. You are a lovely young woman and I’m sure you will do well wherever you go.” He bowed and offered a slight smile.

  Tears threatened again at his kind words, but before she turned into a watering pot, she handed him the note for her landlady. “Please give this to Mrs. Ponsoby.”

  “Of course.”

  Lottie nodded and left the building. As much as she hated to do it, her next stop was the bank so she could withdraw the funds from the checks Mama had sent each month.

  She had no idea where she would go, but definitely somewhere as far away from London and Bath as she could. Most likely France. There was little reason to believe anyone there would know Mrs. Danforth. In the small village close to her school, Mama was known as Mrs. Danvers, the loving and devoted mother to Miss Charlotte Danvers.

  “Sir, you have a very persistent Lord Berkshire demanding to see you despite it being an improper time for making calls.” Carter’s butler, Manfred, was abruptly shoved aside by Grayson who barreled into Carter’s bedchamber while he was still in bed.