Page 99 of The Lyon Whisperer
The two women paused in their perusal of the table offerings to send her welcoming smiles.
In another moment, Nancy swept into the drawing room.
Lady Harriet rose from behind her massive desk. “Excellent. Let us commence.”
“It’s been anage since we were all together thanks to the long break taking several of you out of town for the holiday, and, of course, our dear Amelia’s nuptials. I know I speak for both of us when I tell you Margaret and I missed you all, and our lively discussions, very much,” Lady Harriet said in her rich, matron’s voice.
She and Margaret exchanged smiles of commiseration.
“Before we broach the subject of our last reading, Margaret and I have news to share.”
“Oh?” Charlotte asked, sipping tea from a delicate china cup.
“Do tell,” Georgina urged, straightening her wire spectacles before reaching for a small, honeyed cake.
“We received a letter from Miss Gwendolyn Barns, our honorary member from Little Giddingford.” Margaret held a sheet of parchment before her, and glanced over what appeared to be a hand-written missive. “In it she says she means to visit us very soon.”
Excited murmurs greeted this pronouncement.
Margaret eyed the ladies over the parchment. “Evidently, the London publishing house where she works as an editor, albeit under her late father’s name, denied her recommendation they publish the work by C.L Kerwin which we read several months back.”
“The Ensnared Heiress, you mean?” Georgina asked.
Margaret and Harriet nodded solemnly.
In exchange for their comments and insights, they had been invited to read the pre-published work of fiction depicting a British heiress, seduced into marriage by a monstrous, yet outwardly charming member of theton.
The young lady soon finds herself married to a womanizing, sadistic man who not only mistreats her, but also takes control of her inheritance, leaving her a virtually impoverished prisoner.
Realizing she has no legal recourse, and no ability to leave, she devises a plan to get her husband committed to a mental institution.
“Why would they deny the story publication?” Amelia asked. “It’s well written, and, more to the point, riveting.”
“It’s also thought-provoking and calls into question the current laws concerning a married woman’s right to manage her own property,” Harriet replied, dryly.
“What does Miss Barns hope to accomplish by coming to town?” Nancy asked, her caramel eyes huge as she stirred sugar into her tea.
“The letter doesn’t say,” Margaret answered, refolding the parchment. “But she has agreed to stay with us, and we will all be glad to finally meet her in person—I daresay, especially Lady Georgina.”
Georgina nodded her assent. “I can’t believe I shall finally put a face to the name of my editor. I have faith she’ll prevail in her quest to publish C.L. Kern’s novel. As I recall, she had a devil of a time getting my first romantic novel published.”
“And look what blockbusters each of your books have turned out to be,” Nancy said proudly.
Amelia reached over and squeezed Georgina’s hand. “We are all so very proud of you, Georgina. Despite several baseless rejections, you pursued your dream of being an authoress, and now enjoy much deserved success. I adore your romantic tales. I can’t imagine where you get your story ideas. Simply brilliant.”
Georgina flushed. “Thank you, Amelia.”
“Does anyone else have news before we discuss the readings?”
Amelia glanced around. She raised one hand. “You must all swear to absolute secrecy,” she said.
Everyone nodded solemnly.
“I’m helping Chase investigate a case of arson.”
After a moment of stunned silence, an excited chorus of questions rang out, ranging from what type of investigating she was doing to where and how it all came about.
Finally Lady Harriet held up one hand for silence. “Perhaps, Amelia, you should start at the beginning.”
