Lottie nodded. “Yes, I changed my name from Charlotte to Lottie when I moved to Bath.”
“However, your mother was most distressed to learn you had married without inviting her, either.” Mother frowned and Carter almost laughed at the look on his wife’s face. She looked like a small child taking a reprimand from her nurse.
“Did my mother tell you we are estranged?”
His mother again waved away her statement. “No matter. A mother is a mother.” She looked directly into Lottie’s eyes. “Forever.”
“My dear, I think any further conversation should be put off until tomorrow.” His father placed his glass on the small table alongside him. “I know I am fatigued from the journey here, and it looks like everyone else can use some time to rest. We can continue this conversation in the morning.”
He looked at Lottie. “I don’t wish to insult my new daughter-in-law but my dear child you look exhausted.”
Carter glanced at Lottie, who indeed did look as though she was about to collapse. “I believe you are right, Father.” Carter stood and helped Lottie up. His father and mother immediately rose as well, and they all headed toward the stairs.
Mother stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Good night, son.” She touched Lottie’s cheek. “And you too, Lottie.” Then taking Father’s arm she made her way up the stairs. When she reached the top, she looked down at Carter and Lottie. “The usual bedchamber, son?”
“Yes. Mother. The same one.”
Carter placed his arm around Lottie’s shoulders as they made their way up the stairs. “They use the same bedchamber whenever they visit. But if you want to change that, please feel free. This is your house now.”
Once he closed their bedchamber, Lottie collapsed on the bed. “I don’t believe it.”
Carter loosened his ascot and drew it off. “Which part of this unbelievable night do you not believe?”
“You are correct. The entire night has been surreal.” Lottie groaned as she climbed from the bed and presented Carter with her back so he could unfasten her dress.
They slowly removed their clothes, just dropping them where they stood, then climbed into bed and snuggled against each other. “I may sleep for two days.” Lottie yawned.
“Me, too.”
The next morning Carter left a sleeping Lottie in bed and joined his parents in the breakfast room. “Good morning, Mother, Father.”
He took the seat at the head of the table and poured coffee into his cup and took a sip. “Lottie is still sleeping. I don’t mind telling you that she was quite anxious awaiting your visit.” He reached for the platter of food in the center of the table and filled his plate. “Were you aware of Charles’s visit the day before yesterday?”
“Yes. The ninnyhammer! How dare he come to your home and denigrate your wife? When he arrived at our house yesterday and told us what happened, I almost blackened his other eye.” Mother in a fury was a sight to behold.
Carter grinned and traded amused glances with his father. They had both at one time or another felt the sting of her displeasure.
Mother laid her hand over Carter’s. “You might face some criticism from time to time, son, but please try your best to protect that lovely wife of yours from hearing it. Soon it will all die down anyway, and some new scandal will surface to keep everyone happily engaged in sordidness.”
“I am just grateful that we don’t live in the middle of London, where with the Season going on, things would be much more difficult for Lottie.”
“She seems like a lovely young lady, Carter.” His mother smiled warmly at him. His father nodded.
“Yes. She is. Lottie is kind, caring, smart, but unfortunately due to her restricted upbringing she is not familiar with the ways of the world.”
“I sensed that from my conversation with Mrs. Danforth.” Mother spread jelly on her toast as she considered her next words. “I must admit I was a bit taken aback when we learned you had married Lottie.”
Carter felt himself stiffen, waiting for the condemnation.
“Stop looking so angry, son. I have no intention of denouncing you for this. Every mother wants her children to be happy, and one of the best chances for happiness is to marry someone you love.
“It is obvious from the way you look at Lottie and how you defend her so strongly that she has stolen your heart.”
Carter nodded and smiled, thinking about Lottie and how much he cared for her. Had cared for her almost from the moment they had first met. “Yes. I just want her to feel loved and secure. That she can go about in Society—if she wishes—and not be made to feel inferior, since she had absolutely nothing to do with why she is being shunned.”
“You’re a good man, Carter.” His father cleared his throat. “Don’t ever turn your back on her like I did with your mother. As much as I love you, and have always loved you, had I been diligent enough in caring for your mother, she would never have had a reason to look elsewhere for affection.”
Mother patted the corners of her eyes and reached over to rest her hand on Father’s hand.
“Good morning.” Lottie entered the room, a vision in loveliness. She must have risen right after he left because she was dressed, her hair fixed, and looking ready to face the day. The glow on her face was something he hadn’t seen in a while.
“Good morning, my love.” He stood and embraced her, giving her a soft kiss on her cheek.
Lottie greeted his parents and took the seat across from him. She poured tea into her cup and picked up a piece of toast. Mother looked over at her and drew herself up. He wasn’t too happy with the look in her eyes. He’d seen it too many times before.
“Lottie, dear. There is one thing I would like you to do.” She placed her napkin alongside her place and folded her hands in her lap, looking very innocent, which did not fool Carter at all.
It apparently fooled Lottie though. “Certainly, Harriet.” She smiled at his mother.
“Have Carter take you to London and visit with your mother. She has a lot of information that you are unaware of and need to know.”
16
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Lottie twisted the handkerchief in her hand as she and Carter made their way to her mother’s house. They had secured a hackney after leaving the train from Bath to London. The vehicle swayed as it rode over ruts in the road, then was stopped for a while in traffic.
So as not to give her mother heart failure, she’d sent her a wire announcing their visit. She also did not want to arrive at her mother’s house while she entertained a ‘customer.’
“Not so. This is a very good idea. You will never be content with your life until you face your mother and hear what she has to say.” Carter had been trying to keep her calm since she had decided to make the visit. Lady Huntingdon had been quite insistent that a talk with her mother was something she needed to do. Besides that, she missed Mama very much.
She twisted the handkerchief some more and looked out the window. Since she’d only been to her mother’s house once before, on the day of that horrendous visit, she had no idea how close they were.
“You’re a strong woman and you can do this.” Carter moved across the space and sat alongside her, pulling her against his side. “Whatever happens, I am here with you.”
And that was perhaps the only thing that kept her from fleeing the carriage and running back to the train station. Carter was her anchor in a whirlwind of emotions. She loved him so much and found it hard to believe he loved her back.
Five minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of what she recognized as her mother’s door. Her heart began to pound, and her stomach muscles cramped. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes. You can.” Carter jumped out first and turned to help her out. She hesitated and he raised his eyebrows.
“All right.” She slid forward on the seat and took his hand. Together they climbed the steps and before they even reached the top step, the door opened. Not by the man she remembered from bef
ore, but by her mother.
Mama looked tired and had lost some weight. Before they could even greet each other, a man stepped up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder.
He was an older man, with black and silver hair and twinkling blue eyes. Had she not met him here she might have even liked him. His smile was warm and genuine. But he was here in Mama’s house, even though she knew Lottie was coming for a visit.
Lottie turned to go back down the steps when Mama said. “Wait, Charlotte. Please.”
Carter took two steps down to where she was and took her hand. “We’ve come all this way, sweetheart.”
Taking a deep breath, she walked back up the steps and entered the house.
Her hands twisting, Mama said, “I have tea and sandwiches in the drawing room.”
Lottie nodded and waited for her mother to proceed. Having only visited once, she had no memory of where the drawing room was.
The four of them walked down the corridor and turned into what Lottie remembered as the room where the party had been held. She shuddered and Carter squeezed her hand.
Once they were all seated, Mama said, “You look good, Charlotte. It appears marriage agrees with you.” Her voice was steady and calm, but her paleness and how tightly she clasped her fingers in her lap told a different story.
Lottie bit her tongue with the sharp retort she had. Since everyone was so adamant that they have this talk, she might as well remain cordial. Mama could have her say, and she and Carter would leave on the next train to Bath.
Carter had mentioned that he’d notified his staff at his London house that they might be spending the night. She doubted it, but it was probably best to have somewhere to go if the ‘visit’ lasted longer than she expected it would.
“Thank you, Mama. Marriage does agree with me.” She turned to Carter and saw the love and caring in his eyes and almost cried. But then her emotions were running rampant at the moment.
“Allow me to introduce Mr. Franklin Monroe.” Mama’s eyes lit up when she turned to the man seated next to her. Lottie felt as though she wanted to bring up her breakfast.
“I am pleased to meet you, Mrs. Westbrooke.” Mr. Monroe smiled at her and Lottie wanted to scream. They were all acting so normal, so different from what she had expected. What she had expected she didn’t really know, but this very dignified man seated next to Mama was not part of her imaginings.
Lottie nodded and gestured to Carter. “My husband, Mr. Carter Westbrooke.”
Mr. Monroe rose and shook Carter’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Westbrooke.”
Carter nodded. “A pleasure.”
My, aren’t we all being so very prim and proper.
They fell silent and Mama waved at the tea cart. “Tea?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Lottie wanted anything to prevent conversation between them all. She still couldn’t understand why Mama had Mr. Monroe join her for this visit.
“Young man, it’s well past the noon hour. Would you care for a brandy instead of tea?” Mr. Monroe stood and addressed Carter.
“Yes. Actually, a brandy sounds good.”
Lottie was not surprised to see Mr. Monroe acting as host. He apparently had some status here. He poured two brandies and brought one over to Carter.
Mama began to pour tea for her and Lottie. She was as graceful as she remembered, her delicate hands deftly pouring, adding sugar and cream and passing the cup to Lottie.
She then filled a small plate with a few sandwiches and passed them around. Lottie was happy to have the tea, but with her stomach in knots, she didn’t think she would be able to consume food for days.
Once again silence reigned. The men sipping their brandies, the women their tea, and everyone pretending they were enjoying their plate of sandwiches.
Mama looked over at Mr. Monroe. Knowing her mother so well, Lottie recognized her plea for help.
Mr. Monroe cleared his throat. “I would like to say that as of last month, your lovely and charming mother has become my betrothed.”
It was then that Lottie looked at her mother’s hand and noticed the tasteful diamond and ruby ring. “Betrothed?”
That statement stunned her almost as much as when Lady Huntingdon told her she’d spoke with her mother. Was she to be stunned and surprised again?
Most likely.
“Congratulations, Mr. Monroe,” Carter said and raised his brandy glass to them. “Mrs. Danforth, I wish you happiness.”
Lottie just stared. She felt as though she was in a play where everyone knew their lines, but she didn’t even know what part she played.
“Charlotte, I am prepared to answer any questions you have.” Mama patted Mr. Monroe’s hand and continued. “Franklin knows everything there is to know about me, so please don’t hold back.
“We should have had this conversation a long time ago, and I blame myself every day for you learning about my life the way you did, forcing you to flee.”
“Go ahead, honey,” Carter said as he took her hand in his.
Well, if Mama wasn’t uncomfortable with everyone in the room hearing what she had to say, then Lottie was going to find out everything she thought about over the past year.
“Very well. Let’s start with my father. Do you even know who he is?”
Mama cringed and Mr. Monroe put his arm around her shoulders. That seemed to settle her. “Yes. Your father was Mr. Jerome Danvers.”
She took a deep breath. “My husband.”
The loud ticking of the longcase clock in the corner kept beat with Lottie’s heart. Both the clock and the pounding of her heart drowned out all sound. She just continued to stare at her mother. “You were married?”
“Yes.”
“I am legitimate?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? When I asked over the years about my father you told me about him. But since last year, I assumed you made that all up.”
“No. He was a wonderful man who died too young.”
Hundreds of questions raced around her mind. So many she didn’t even know where to start.
“Mrs. Danforth, perhaps it would be best if you started at the beginning and told Lottie what she needs to know.” Carter looked over at Lottie. “My wife looks a bit shocked right now, and I think just hearing your story would help.”
Mr. Monroe nodded in Mama’s direction and she began her story.
Carter took the clean handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Lottie since the one she held was almost shredded.
Mama began to speak, her voice very soft. “Your father and I were quite young when we married. We also married against his parents’ approval. I was the daughter of the local baker and his parents were landowners. Gentry.
“We were young, and in love, and very happy. Your father made his living by painting portraits.”
“My father was an artist?” Lottie turned to Carter. “I have no talent in that area.”
“Not so, my dear. I’ve seen your watercolors.”
“When he died,” Mrs. Danforth continued, “my parents were already gone, and his parents would have nothing to do with me. That was the same week I discovered I was expecting you.
“I took a job as a maid until my employer discovered I was carrying a baby and he fired me.”
“Nicely done of the man to toss out a woman who had no one and a baby on the way,” Carter said.
Mr. Monroe nodded his approval.
“I took in laundry and sewing until you were born. It didn’t pay much, but I was able to keep myself fed. At that time, I was living in an abandoned hunting lodge.”
Mrs. Danforth drew in a deep breath and Mr. Monroe took her hand in his. “A man in the small village where we were living heard of my plight and offered me a job as a wet nurse to his newborn son. He was married but separated from his wife who lived in London. He, however, had the child with him.
“It came to a point where he gave me an ultimatum. Either become his mistress or he would throw me out. At
the time, I felt I had no choice. Maybe I did, but I was so very tired, and I wanted so much to provide more than the absolute necessities for you.”
“What happened to him?”
“He grew tired of me, which happens. He set me up with a house in London and secured another protector for me. That was when I arranged for you to live with the Stevens, who I knew from my childhood.” She looked Lottie in the eye. “Over the years I’ve had only five protectors.”
“Four, my dear,” Mr. Monroe said. “I will soon be your husband.”
Mrs. Danforth looked at the man with such love in her eyes Lottie felt her own tear up.
Without thinking, the words came tumbling out of her mouth. “Why does everyone think you are such a notorious . . .”
“Courtesan,” Mrs. Danforth said, offering Lottie a soft smile. “Because of my parties. I love having music, conversation, and stimulating evenings. I enjoy inviting poets to read and lectures on books and timely events. I even secured an opera singer from Italy one time.”
Mr. Monroe cleared his throat. “May I add that I met your mother five years ago. My wife, at the time, was suffering from a mental problem and had been in hospital for years.”
He looked at Mama. “We fell in love but could do nothing about it. Last month, my wife took her own life. I immediately proposed to your mother and she accepted. After another month or so, we will be wed.”
Lottie leaned back on the sofa where they sat and stared at her mother. This past year she’d thought so many terrible things about this woman. Would Lottie have made the choices she made? It was hard to say because her mother made sure she lived the sort of life that would prevent her from ever being in a position to have to make that sort of a decision.
“One thing I want you to know, Charlotte. I love you more than you will ever know. Well, maybe not. Once you have a child of your own and hold him or her in your arms you will understand how I feel about you.” By the end of her statement, she and Mama were both crying.
They both rose and embraced, hugging, crying, and she was sure, making the two men in the room a tad uncomfortable.
The Courtesan’s Daughter and the Gentleman: The Merry Misfits of Bath ~ Book Two Page 14
