Page 47 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
“It is not at its conclusion, but it will be before long and I think my sister needs to learn a lesson about how she behaves in public before she goes back to the next London season,” Lord Easterly said in a matter of fact manner that left Charlotte no doubt that he was serious.
Charlotte nodded. “I shall get myself ready to travel.” She left Lord Easterly to his business and went back upstairs. She had no bags to collect, but she took a moment to collect her thoughts as she sat on the bed. She was going home.
A sense of relief washed over her. Lord Easterly was not going to make her go back to London. Of course, she would have to face Amanda if he insisted on bringing her home, but that was something she could worry about later.
*
As soon as he had made the arrangements for Miss Browne to return to Berwick Manor, Graham bid the woman farewell and headed to London. His thoughts lingered on the previous night and the kiss, but he was also worried about the innkeeper’s wife. The woman was a known gossip and she would have plenty of people to whisper to with the amount of travellers that went through the inn every day.
Graham gave it two days to be all over London. Miss Browne might have been surprised at his ready agreement to her going home, but Graham knew she would be better there away from society and its wagging tongues. A rumour as juicy as this one would make the gossip rags and society papers, and Graham had no interest in exposing Miss Browne to the full force of that.
At the London estate, all he really wanted to do was take a rest. But there he had other things to do. It was nearly evening again by the time he made it, but he still called Amanda into his study. Graham was in no mood for her silly antics as she harrumphed into the room.
“It is nearly time for us to eat,” Amanda grumbled as she fell into one of the chairs with indignation.
Graham absentmindedly picked up a pen and rolled it over his fingers, flitting it from one to the other as he did when he thought. “Believe me when I say that I am far hungrier than you, dear sister. I have been riding all day.”
“And I would think you would be eager to go to the dining hall,” Amanda said in exasperation.
Graham hardened his gaze at his sister, who seemed to finally take notice of his disposition as she stilled her fidgeting. “In the morning, or as early as the household can prepare, we shall be returning home.”
“What? The season is not yet over!” Amanda practically howled with the injustice of it all.
Graham was not moved by her outburst. “Over the course of this season you have shown me that you are not ready to be out in society. I had thought you grown, but I can see that my absence at war did you far more harm than I realised.”
“What are you on about?” Amanda stood up, her nostrils flaring.
Graham told her calmly, “Your antics at Lord Stanhope’s tea party, for instance. Your treatment of someone you call a friend is appalling and unworthy in a lady of your stature, Amanda. We do not throw stones at others for we are not without sin, Sister.”
Amanda looked down at her feet. “Is that why she ran off?”
“No. She left to return home because you told her that you would be humiliating her again and she could not stand anymore. She would rather take her chances with highwaymen, Amanda.” Graham slammed his fist on the desk. “I have been too soft-handed with you. That ends now.”
Amanda gasped. “What about my suitors? What will I tell people?
“You will tell them nothing,” Graham responded with another slam of his hand on the desk. “I shall send out letters explaining our return home. If your suitors are that enamoured, they can seek an audience with you there.”
Amanda folded her arms and pouted. “I do not suppose there is anything I can do or say to change your mind.”
“Nothing whatsoever,” Graham replied. “You may go to your eagerly awaited meal.” He waved his hand towards the door.
Amanda pressed her lips into a thin line at the dismissal as she spun on her heel and stomped towards the door. Graham pinched his nose between his fingers as his sister slammed out of the study.
By the next morning, the household was in an uproar with the sudden departure. The staff were in a frenzy trying to get everything ready for Graham and Amanda to leave as soon as possible. Graham knew it had been a foolhardy wish to think they would be ready to go so soon.
He walked around the house and kept an eye on the staff after he had written his letters excusing the family’s sudden absence from the season. It looked quite possible that they could depart the following day. Graham was feeling quite good about it all, until Amanda came flouncing into his study while he was having tea.
“Brother, you made the papers, although I daresay that Miss Browne got the worst of it,” Amanda announced as she flung the paper in front of him.
Graham muttered, “So soon? That woman at the inn certainly runs her mouth quickly.”
“So it is true then?” Amanda looked at him appalled.
Graham waved off her condemnation. “We did not sleep in the same room, nor did we engage any other activities, Dear Sister. I merely got us a room and left it at that. The innkeeper’s wife simply saw Miss Browne without a chaperone.”
“Well, it is her own fault,” Amanda spat.
Graham scoffed. “It is no more her fault than mine that we were in that situation. I could have forced her to return at once to London.”
