Page 46 of A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance
It was a strange feeling after only experiencing grief for so long. But Caroline had to admit to herself that she was eager to travel to the coast and perhaps share some private time there with William, much like they used to when they were younger.
Chapter 24
William was pacing back and forth in the sitting room, listening to Grendel hum as she worked on a needlepoint project. His father sat in a chair by the fire, reviewing different papers. William had to hand it to the man.
For someone who’d lived all his life in the country, he’d settled into life in town quite well. He enjoyed reading all sorts of news articles and they often talked about the war against France in the evenings—as though they were always born into wealth and had enjoyed such leisurely activities.
As William paced, he looked through the letters he’d received that day. They consisted of more invitations to various dinner parties and social gatherings. His popularity amongst the elite had only seemed to grow ever since his last dinner party. Some lords wanted to discuss matters of business with him while others offered up their daughters for consideration.
William smirked, thinking that the courting rituals of the upper class were more like business dealings. An entire marriage could be decided upon through letters, without the two individuals intended to one another ever meeting.
The only thing that remained in William’s mind was which events he should attend with the hopes of inviting Caroline to join him. It was still too soon for her to even consider being seen out in society. And if he started to appear with her more frequently, people would start to speculate. No, William knew that it was all too soon—but he didn’t want to attend any social function if it wasn’t with Caroline.
“You’re going to mark up the carpet if you continue to pace so,” said his father, causing William to stop suddenly and look up from his hand full of letters.
“Forgive me. I didn’t realize I was,” William said as he forced himself to sit down and return to rereading the letters.
“What are you so bothered by?” his father asked.
“I have many letters to reply to, all of which have invited me to one thing or another. Yet, I don’t want to attend any of them if it will not bring me closer to Caroline,” William explained.
“Son, you’ll have to maintain your reputation in society. With rank comes responsibility. You should pick and choose a few to attend just to keep up appearances.”
“I just feel that it is all for naught if it does not give me some sort of benefit.”
“‘Tis a great benefit, because you’ll be seen better in the eye of society when your own engagement to Caroline is announced in the papers. Everyone will think it is a good match simply because of your status.”
“My word, this all sounds rather boring,” Grendel spoke up. “Attending dinners with others simply to have a reputation. It would be dreadful if the company was boring. And most wealthy people are quite dull.”
William and his father couldn’t help but chuckle at the older woman’s words. William understood that Grendel had been raised with a very different lifestyle and that luxury later in life would not change her mind when it came to certain things.
“I agree, they can be rather boring affairs,” William confirmed. As they were talking, the sitting room door was opened and the butler came walking in with a tray which held a letter.
“My word, another letter?” his father asked as the butler came towards William and offered him the tray. William took the letter and thanked the butler before looking at the letter in his empty hand to determine who had sent him a letter in the middle of the day. He set his other opened letters aside once he realized the author of the letter, a smile playing at his lips.
“It’s from Caroline,” William explained as he quickly opened it and read the few sentences contained inside. His smile only grew larger as he continued to read.
“Well, what does it say?” his father asked after a while.
“Caroline wrote to give her thanks for the gifts I had sent her. She explains that the Murphys will be travelling to the coast to enjoy the refreshing seaside. Caroline then encourages me to also make my way there, giving details of the local tavern that has a good reputation,” William explained.
“That seems rather forward,” his father remarked.
“Yes, yet she explains that Miss Gwendolen has made the same suggestion to her beau, Lord Sergio.”
“Seems like the young ladies are up to their own plans,” Grendel said, drawing William’s attention to the older woman. He saw the way she was smiling pleasantly as she worked on her needlepoint.
“It will be easier to converse with Caroline outside of town. And it should be cooler on the coast,” William said. “We could make plans to leave in a few days.”
“No, son. This sounds like an adventure you must take on your own. Grendel and I are very much comfortable here in town. I can easily send one of the footmen for my elixir, and Grendel shouldn’t be travelling when it is so hot outside,” his father explained.
“Are you sure? Both of you? I’ve never liked the idea of leaving you two alone,” William said, truly concerned for the welfare of his family.
“We can certainly take care of ourselves, William,” Grendel assured him with a chuckle. “We were well enough when you went out to sea.”
“Yes, because I made sure you were well looked after by Daniel. All that would remain this time are the staff members.”
“And they are all capable people,” his father said. “Write to Caroline and tell her that you’ll make your way to the coast so that you two might spend time together without all the pressure of being in town.”
