Page 24 of The Lyon and His Promise
She fingered the fabric of his sleeve. “I worry you’ll regret your decision to be seen with me. It’s a constant fear of mine that I will never be enough and only become a burden to you and your family.”
“Josephine…” Gyles wished in that moment that he could take her inhis arms. Instead, he turned to face her. “You were always enough for me, my lady.”
Her soft brown eyes inspected him as if she was ensuring he spoke the truth. When another small smile graced her features, he gave her one of his own. When the next strands of music from the musicians indicated another dance was to begin, Gyles escorted Josephine onto the dance floor. They began the patterns of the dance, and Josephine’s smile was infectious. The evening was going to be a great success, or so he hoped. It was everything he ever wanted for Josephine… and for himself, if he were truthful about his feelings. He could only pray that good luck would continue to be on their side.
Chapter Eighteen
The next weekpassed in a whirlwind of activity for Josephine. Simon took her to several balls where she would find Gyles anxiously waiting his turn to dance with her. Although she would have preferred to spend every dance in his arms, protocol made them prudent, and she reluctantly was only allowed the maximum two. Unfortunately, she was still having a difficult time being accepted by the majority of Society. Time didn’t seem to be on her side.
She had vacated Cassandra’s townhouse amidst tears and heartfelt farewells. Cassandra had already assumed Josephine would be moving into her own home but had been pleasantly surprised she would move in with her brother after he hired a respectable companion. Cassandra had stated the obvious that Josephine could hardly be caught coming and going from an area of town where it was well known women with a tarnished reputations resided. Now that Simon had accepted her back into the family, half the battle was over… or so Josephine kept telling herself.
Her carriage hit a bump in the road and abruptly brought her out of her musings. Looking out the window, she saw their destination up ahead, the Oxford Street Book Palace & Tea Rooms. She returned hergaze to her companion. “We’re here, Mrs. Crompton.”
“I could do with a cup of tea,” Jane said as the carriage came to a halt. A footman opened the door and the two ladies alit down the steps to the front door of the bookshop. A bell rang out when they entered, and a woman came to welcome them.
“Good day, ladies. I’m Amelia Clemens. Would you like tea or are you only browsing for a new book today?” she asked with a welcoming smile.
“Both, actually,” Josephine answered. “Mrs. Crompton, why don’t you find a table and order us some tea and cakes. I shouldn’t be too long finding something new to read.”
Josephine excused herself and began making her way through the shelves not knowing what she was really looking for. The library at her new residence was well stocked so she didn’t necessarily really need to purchase another book. But she still browsed several sections running her gloved finger along the spines. She stopped when the whisperings of someone on the other side of the shelf caught her attention. The women didn’t make any attempt to lower their voices.
“I’m telling you, Abigail, you need to stop meddling in other people’s business. This has gone entirely too far,” said one woman.
A sound that was half laugh, half snort, escaped what Josephine assumed was the other lady.
“The extra bit of coin that continues to line our purses is well worth the effort to give Samuel Clemens newsworthy gossip we learn about theton,” the other woman declared.
“You’re impossible. Hiding out in his sister’s bookshop is going beyond decent.”
“How else would we have learned of the budding romance between the Marquis of Wickes and thatfallenwoman, Prudence? Why, the tearoom was abuzz with the news,” Abigail exclaimed with a light laugh.
“You don’t know for certain she’s fallen,” Prudence insisted, andJosephine held her breath wondering what the other woman would reply.
“It was bad enough when she ran off years ago to get married without her brother’s blessing, but then there was her affair with Adrian de Courtenay. Of course, she’s fallen!”
“But if the rumors going around now are correct, she’s redeemed herself in the eyes of her brother and several members of Society. I heard that the Marchioness of Saxton is a good friend.”
“Ha! As ifthatwoman had a sterling reputation prior to her own marriage,” Abigail said in a sarcastic tone. “Why that woman’s reputation was even worse than Josephine Bouchard’s!”
“You best be careful, Abigail, or you’ll end up an old single lady with a bad a reputation for being a gossipmonger.”
“I’m certain Mr. Clemens will pay double the amount he normally pays us for such fabulous tittle-tattle on the Marquis and Mrs. Bouchard,” Abigail said ignoring the other woman’s warning.
“You’re going to be the death of me, sister,” Prudence replied with a huff. “No wonder we can’t find husbands. You’re too busy snooping into the lives of everyone else.”
Josephine turned from the bookcase to look at the other shelf when she heard the swish of the two women’s dresses as they approached the end of the aisle. Morbid curiosity got the better of Josephine as she silently confronted the pair. The Danvers sisters… even Josephine was well aware of this pair, and she dreaded whatever would show up in tomorrow’sTeatime Tattlerwhen they got through writing their gossip.
“Ladies,” Josephine murmured with a nod of her head. She wouldn’t let these two women get the best of her although from the sound of the protests from Prudence, she had at least one person partially in her corner.
A huff left Abigail and she pulled her sister’s arm as if Josephine was as tainted as her reputation led people to believe. She gave a heavysigh giving up on a book and went to join Jane in the tearoom. Glances at the other seated ladies only caused Josephine to once again doubt she would ever be able to change the minds of these snobby aristocrats.
Jane poured her a cup of tea and the tinkling of the bell on the front door marked the arrival of another customer. She couldn’t hide her surprise when Gyles entered the tearoom with his mother. When his eyes met hers, she gave a silent plea for him to not approach. He completely ignored her subtle warning and gave a bow when he stood at their table. They stood and dropped into a curtsey.
“What a pleasure to see you here, Mrs. Bouchard. Mrs. Crompton. I just knew that was your carriage outside waiting for you,” he said with a bright smile. “Mrs. Bouchard, I believe you remember my mother, the Duchess of Davenport.”
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Your Grace,” Josephine said quietly. She was completely unprepared to encounter a duchess during an afternoon tea, especially here of all places.
“It has been some time, Mrs. Bouchard. I hope you are well,” Clementia proclaimed with what appeared as a look of approval. What had Gyles said to his mother to win her over? Whatever it was, Josephine was grateful.
