Page 13 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

“Just in case you want to see what you would be missing without the effects of cold water.”

“Your mother would be ashamed,” she said, then hurried from the room to follow Frampton.

Simon laughed and fell on the bed. “True,” he said to himself. But Lady Charlotte Talbot brought out the worst in him.

CHAPTER 5

Oh, that man!Charlotte’s cheeks burned. And speaking of fire, had she jumped from one impossible situation to another? Had she lost her mind? How could a man who only saw the sunny side ever understand her? He probably never faced a hardship in his life. She had no desire to marry and be controlled by any man, especially an insufferable buffoon like Simon Beckham.

Why, he would probably gallivant off to a bawdy house before their signatures on the register had even dried.

Argh!

Once in her room—which was indeed some distance from that rake—she wrote a letter and gave it to Frampton to deliver. “Make certain it goes into my maid’s hands directly, Frampton.”

“I shall deliver it myself, my lady.”

Of course he would. He was the only servant, save for possibly the cook, in the house. “Frampton.” She stopped him before he left. “Why are the other servants gone?”

“Mr. Beckham requested it.”

“To keep his illness secret?” Was his situation really so dire?If she married him, might she truly become a widow in short order? As heartless as he believed she was, the thought didn’t comfort her.

Frampton hesitated. “I’m not at liberty to say, my lady. Will there be anything else?”

She shook her head and waved the butler off, admiring his loyalty and ability to be discreet, something she sorely required.

Two hours later, she grew restless and decided to go to the library and retrieve a book. Knowing both Honoria and Drake as she did, there would be an abundance of reading material available. As she walked toward the staircase and past Mr. Beckham’s door, loud snores sounded from within.

She sighed. Of course, he would snore—loudly. She brightened, remembering she wouldn’t have to share a bedroom with him, and proceeded downstairs.

Although not as grand as the library at Hartridge House, Burwood’s seat in Dorset, the selection of books was extensive. She browsed the shelves, looking for something more entertaining than cerebral. Honoria always praised Jane Austen, although Charlotte found romances to be overly sentimental and unrealistic. However, she supposed that was the point of them. She pluckedPride and Prejudicefrom the shelf.

Opening the book, she read the first line.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

She barely resisted the chuckle. Perhaps Miss Austen did have her thumb on the pulse of society after all. Before long, she had settled into a comfortable chair and fully immersed herself in the story. Although, truth be told, she understood the austere Mr. Darcy much more than the gregarious and sometimes impertinent Elizabeth. One could hardly blame a refined gentleman such as Mr. Darcy to take affront to her family’s lack of decorum. However, Charlotte did admire Miss Bennet’s wit.

Elizabeth Bennet, in Charlotte’s estimation, had much in common with the insufferable Mr. Beckham.

Argh!When would she stop thinking aboutthat man?!

“My lady,” a male voice called from the doorway.

Charlotte peered up from the book, pleased to see Frampton had retrieved her maid. “Rose.” Charlotte made note of the page number, then closed the book. “Thank heavens you’ve arrived.” She turned toward Frampton. “Did my brother ask any questions?”

“No, my lady. His valet said his lordship would be at Parliament for some time.”

Rose shook her head. “He was not pleased with your decision to leave his household.”

“Well, he will continue to be disappointed, because I’m not returning. Now, were you able to retrieve any of my belongings?”

“Yes, my lady. A few.”

Frampton said, “Miss Rose and I carried the trunk up to your room.”

A hand on her back, Rose frowned. “It was heavy. Why are there no footmen here?”

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