Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library (The Rogue’s Alliance #1)

Chapter Nine

T hat afternoon Charlotte drove to Edith’s home in her father’s town carriage, and then both girls continued on to Lady Sheffield’s modest townhouse on the edge of Hounslow Heath.

“Do you know Lady Sheffield well?” Edith asked.

“We’ve met a few times. The lady and my mother came out the same year.” Charlotte paused. “Mother agrees that the lady’s daughter, Julia, is not a pleasant person to be around.”

Charlotte had rarely spoken to Lady Julia at the season’s entertainments. It was hard to keep an open mind about the girl as she’d seen her unkindness toward others first-hand. She must remember they needed more patrons for the lending library. It would not do for her to alienate members of the ton .

When they arrived at the Sheffield townhouse, a footman in black and buff livery took their outerwear; another escorted the ladies to the drawing room.

Their hostess Lady Sheffield was a petite, plump woman, the remnants of youthful beauty still evident in her features. “Lady Charlotte! Do come sit down and tell me, is your mother in good health? I haven’t spoken to her in an age.”

Charlotte dutifully approached the woman and introduced her to Edith. Their hostess poured tea and sorted the teacups. When the new arrivals were seated with cups in hand, Lady Sheffield looked about her. “Where is my daughter? Oh, there she is. Trading on dits with that silly girl Alicia Tilford. Julia! Do come here and meet these young ladies.”

Lady Julia said something to the girl beside her. She then walked to stand beside where her mother was seated, a pained smile on her face.

Their hostess made the introductions. “Julia, may I present Lady Charlotte and Lady Edith. I’m surprised we have not bumped elbows at more entertainments this season as all three of you girls made your debut this year.”

Charlotte refrained from mentioning that the lady’s daughter had seen her at many events and shown no desire to get to know her. Although, to be frank, Charlotte hadn’t gone out of her way to make friends with the other girl.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Charlotte,” Julia said civilly, little pleasure noticeable in her words or facial expression. “I am already acquainted with Lady Edith. I hope you are well, Lady Edith.”

She and Edith responded courteously. It was a shame that Lady Julia was so rude. Julia was a diamond of the season but by all accounts had received few offers of marriage. With the airs she put on, you would think her father was a duke rather than a viscount.

Perhaps Charlotte’s desire not to fit in put other debutantes off. Despite her dislike of Lady Julia, Charlotte would behave as she should in polite society. After all, there were other young ladies present who might be persuaded to visit Thorne’s.

She spied a copy of Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth on a mahogany side table. “Lady Sheffield, are you a great reader?”

The woman waved a languid hand. “Not I but my daughter. She is often at Hookham’s.”

This was Charlotte’s chance. How to speak glowingly of Thorne’s without alienating Lady Julia? “Hookham’s is a lovely establishment. I frequent Thorne’s Lending Library, although it is less fashionable. Its location near Gunter’s and Hyde Park is ever so nice.”

She heard a soft squeal, and the young lady Julia had been talking to earlier hurried over. “Thorne’s Lending Library? My brother Nathaniel is to take me there very soon. Lady Cairs told him it is the place to meet interesting young people of our set.”

“I’m Lady Charlotte, and this is my friend Lady Edith. We are often at the lending library. It would be lovely to see you there.” Charlotte smiled at the young woman, ignoring Lady Julia’s scowl.

The girl dropped a shallow curtsy. “And I’m Miss Alicia Tilford. It is wonderful to meet you.”

Alicia had a pleasant face and easy manners. The orange blossom scent she wore was as joyful as her countenance.

“If Nathaniel believes you should go to Thorne’s, I will be happy to accompany you, Alicia.” Lady Julia had shown no interest in the conversation until Miss Tilford mentioned her brother.

Charlotte was thrilled Lady Cairs had indeed told others about Thorne’s. There were two other young women present, and soon the entire party was chatting about upcoming activities of the season, ignoring their tea almost entirely.

She thought Julia didn’t look pleased with having to share Alicia with Edith and herself, but Charlotte didn’t much care. The grasping Julia could have Nathaniel all to herself. She was only concerned with saving her beloved library, not with finding a husband.

“Well done!” Edith said to Charlotte when they were on their way home in the town coach. “Miss Tilford and her brother will look in at the library next week.”

The other two young women at the tea had made vague references to visiting Thorne’s.

She nodded. “Alicia suggested Wednesday afternoon. I believe she mentioned her brother was a baron.”

“Lady Julia has obviously set her cap for Alicia’s brother,” Edith replied with a giggle and then sobered. “She was not especially nice to us.”

Charlotte sighed. “No, she wasn’t. I do like Miss Tilford, although she talks a lot and seems rather flighty.”

“Most people think I’m flighty,” Edith replied softly, clasping her hands in her lap.

“You are kind to everyone. You also have the sweetest laugh and smile.” She paused to reach across the carriage and pat Edith’s cloth-covered knee. “If that is considered flighty, then we all should be so!”

Edith beamed at Charlotte’s words, her customary cheery mood again in evidence. “Oh, Charlotte, you are such a good friend. You are also too kind. I hope your brother knows what a wonderful sister he has.”

She sobered at the change of topic.

“I wish William would find a worthy activity to occupy his time. He has finished at school and seems content to meander through life.” She shook her head, a groan passing her lips. “Father doesn’t engage William in the running of the estate in Kent. I worry my brother will find no direction in life.”

“He does appear to worship Lord Ashford,” Edith replied thoughtfully. “Perhaps the marquess could help your brother find a vocation.”

Charlotte clapped her hands together. “That is an excellent idea, Edith! But how to get them together? William is not one to put himself forward. He acts as if he is ashamed of something.”

“There was a rumor at Eton...” Edith looked down at the hands in her lap and bit her lip.

With her heart in her throat, she asked, “Concerning William?”

Edith nodded. Looking up, she replied, “According to Louisa, your brother was browbeaten into playing pranks on older students. Nothing too serious, I believe.”

She must speak to William and find out what he’d been up to at Eton. Would her brother tell her the truth about the rumors?

Once Edith was returned home, Charlotte returned to her family’s townhouse in Hanover Square. The sky was full of dark clouds, and she hurried into the townhouse as a brisk wind tore at her skirts and bonnet.

Her mother was seated in the parlor when Charlotte entered the room. She asked her daughter about her afternoon and how her mission to save Thorne’s Lending Library progressed. She brought her mother up to date with her activities, leaving out any mention of Lord Ashford or James Landry. As William did not return home until it was time to dress for the evening meal, she would have to speak to him before he went out again.

William and their father joined the ladies in the drawing room after dinner.

“Charlotte?” her father asked, studying her face. “You appear preoccupied tonight.”

She was surprised he noticed. He was not an unkind man, merely very often lost in contemplation of one book or another. As her mother was not a great reader, she supposed her love of reading was inherited from her father. William rarely opened a book, merely visiting lending libraries to spend time with his friends.

“I’m sorry, Father. I’m just a little tired.” She smiled tightly at her brother. “William, how did you spend your day?”

Her brother replied enthusiastically, “At Tattersall’s and the club. My friend Buchanan purchased a matched pair of bays for his new high perch phaeton.”

Their father was interested in hearing about the horseflesh on offer at the bloodstock auctioneer. Charlotte merely sipped her tea and made conversation with her mother until William mentioned he had to leave for an evening engagement.

She excused herself when her brother left the room, catching up to him in the corridor.

“William, may I speak to you in private a moment?”

“Of course, Charlotte.” He waved a hand towards the doorway to the parlor.

She entered the room, and he followed her.

“Please close the door,” she said quietly.

He raised a brow but complied as Charlotte took a seat on the edge of a stuffed chair. William sat across from her on a rolled arm sopha as she hesitated as to how to begin the conversation.

“What is this all about?” her brother asked with a frown.

She replied in a rush, “It has come to my attention that there is gossip about your time at Eton. That you played pranks on others.”

Although William’s frown disappeared, his expression was now wary. “Did Lord Ashford say something to you?”

She felt a moment of unease at his high-pitched response. “No, he did not. If you must know, Edith heard about the rumors from Louisa. What would Lord Ashford have to tell me, William?”

Her brother blew out a breath and his features visibly relaxed. “It was nothing. I was intimidated into playing a few pranks, but they never amounted to much. Lord Ashford helped me out of a sticky situation, and I never allowed myself to be put in that position again.”

She squinted at her brother, searching his face. He looked at her, a weak smile on his countenance, and she wanted to believe there was nothing more to the story than what he’d told her.

“I am glad to hear it.” Their parents were quite liberal in allowing their children to live their own lives. If unsavory rumors involving William got back to her father, that might change.

“All that is in the past.” William quickly got to his feet. “I must be off. I’m to meet a friend for cards. Goodnight, dear sister.”

He didn’t wait for her response but opened the door to the room and hurried away.

Charlotte really did hope there wasn’t more to the rumors at Eton. She must think of a way to see Lord Ashford, to find out what her brother had been up to whilst at school. It had nothing to do with the marquess’s attractiveness or the dizzy feeling that came over her whenever he was near. She merely wanted to help her brother.

* * * * *

A shford had enough time to visit Hoby, the bootmaker’s shop in Piccadilly, before afternoon sessions. He was happy enough to be measured by an assistant rather than George Hoby himself, as the man often put on airs and had been known to treat his underlings in a mean fashion.

When Ashford left the shop, he strolled west along the pavement toward his carriage. Although the day was sunny, there was a chill in the air, the weather in April this year colder and wetter than in recent years.

A shabbily dressed man walking toward him did not make eye contact. The man wore a coat that had been mended in several places, and one of his trouser legs had a visible hole at the knee. As with Bones, this man looked strangely familiar.

“Corporal Higgins,” he called out, coming to a halt when he was nearly abreast of the man. The corporal had traveled in many of the same areas as Ashford during the Peninsular War.

The other man stopped walking. He squinted at Ashford, and a smile came to his lips. “Lord Ashford! As I live and breathe. How are you, my lord?”

“I’m no longer with the Foreign Office.” He paused. “I was sorry to hear the 95 th Foot disbanded.”

“We weren’t needed anymore. Sgt. Maj. Hutton passed recently from apoplexy, I heard it was. He was a fine man.” Higgins sounded genuinely distraught over the death of his former superior.

“I didn’t know. He was a good leader. How have you fared since coming home?” Ashford didn’t know why he asked the man such a personal question. He hadn’t known the corporal well, but Higgins was a hard worker and good with horses.

“It’s been difficult for most of the enlisted men, my lord.” Higgins stroked a hand through the short beard on his chin. “I’ve just been to the registry office to check for work. No luck today. I have no injuries from the war and didn’t serve long enough to earn a pension.”

“You were a dab hand with horseflesh as I recall,” he said lightly.

“Not much call for grooms in London right now,” Higgins replied gloomily.

“I have an open position at my estate in Kent. You’d save my estate manager from having to look for someone.” He asked as an afterthought, “Do you have family in London?”

Higgins shook his head. “I’m alone, my lord. I’d be more than happy to work in the country. London is too crowded for me.”

“Once a sennight produce from my estate is brought to my townhouse in London. When my servants return to Kent, you may accompany them.” He nodded to a spot behind Higgins. “Come along with me. My coach is just there. My driver will take care of you.”

He walked forward and Higgins turned on his heel and followed him. A footman opened the carriage door for Ashford as the corporal jumped up onto the box seat with the driver. A moment later, the carriage was in motion.

“You hired a groom off the street?” his mother asked with a shake of her head when she joined him for breakfast the next day.

“I’m familiar with him from my time in Portugal,” he replied, cutting into a slice of ham on his plate. “We always need more men in the stables at Stour House. A wagon from the estate should arrive tomorrow so Higgins won’t be underfoot for long.”

His mother took a sip of her chocolate. “The butler placed him in the servants quarters. By all accounts, Mr. Higgins has already made himself useful in the mews.”

Ashford took a bite of ham and chewed. From his perspective, The Poor Relief Act of 1815 had done little to help veterans of the war. Nathaniel had introduced at least one bill for Army and Navy veterans that never passed. He needed to speak with his friend about what he knew of the plight of the enlisted men they had either served with.

“There are numerous registry offices in Town to help people find work. Do you intend to give jobs to all the veterans you encounter in London?” his mother asked quietly.

He merely replied, “None of the registry offices cater specifically to veterans. Perhaps something can be done about that.”