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

Chapter Ten

“Y ou did what?” Charlotte asked Louisa, her shrill voice betraying the annoyance she was feeling.

“I asked my brothers what they knew about Lord Ashford,” Louisa replied with a shrug as she took a sip of her tea.

The day after their morning call on Lady Sheffield, Charlotte and Edith were seated in the drawing room of Louisa’s home in Grosvenor Square. Louisa’s mother had allowed her daughter to decorate the room in shades of peach, and with the addition of emerald green-patterned wallpaper, the effect was harmonious and elegant. She couldn’t picture Louisa’s four rough-and-tumble brothers in such a serene setting.

The young women had recently come down from the attics, where they’d inspected a multitude of stored furniture.

She didn’t know why Louisa had asked for their opinion on the furniture for Thorne’s as her friend appeared to know precisely what fittings she wanted for the lending library. A footman followed his mistress around the only two rooms in the attics not occupied by servants, pulling dust covers off items and replacing them at Louisa’s whim. The furniture left uncovered was to be delivered to Thorne’s Lending Library via a wagon.

“What did your brothers tell you about the marquess?” Edith asked eagerly. She glanced at Charlotte and grinned. “We might as well find out.”

“To begin with, Lord Ashford lives in this square. Just across the park.” Louisa paused for effect, a triumphant smile on her lips.

“And?” she asked carelessly, hiding her impatience.

“He has only one sibling, a sister. Supposedly a beauty who is in no hurry to wed. There are rumors the lady is quite high-spirited. His father died years ago. His mother is still alive, and she is quite eager for her son to marry and have a family.”

Louisa looked far too pleased with herself. One thing she’d said stuck in Charlotte’s mind.

“I’ve never heard Lord Ashford mention a sister,” she replied, worrying her lip.

The other girl responded, “She is currently in Bath. Gossip says she was exiled from London by her brother.”

Could his sister be the female Lord Ashford was worried might be in Lady Lamb’s novel? Perhaps the lady had shown the same behavior Lord Ashford found so damning in Charlotte’s case. If that were true, the marquess was a hypocrite.

“And what excuse did you give your brothers for asking about Lord Ashford?” she asked, tamping down a desire to ask for more information about the marquess’s sister.

“I merely said I thought the man was interested in you, Charlotte, and I was curious about him.” Louisa took another sip of tea.

Charlotte expected Lord Ashford did not travel in the same circles as Louisa’s brothers. She could think of no reason the marquess should find out Louisa had been asking questions about him.

“I don’t see how any information you found out about Lord Ashford will help Thorne’s Lending Library remain in business,” she said wryly.

Louisa smoothed a hand over the skirt of her dress. “I merely wanted to help you find out more about the marquess. You seem quite enthralled by the man.”

Charlotte chose to ignore that comment. It was a little too close to the truth. “Did your brothers also tell you what William was up to at Eton?” she asked her friend abruptly, changing the subject.

“They did.” Louisa didn’t look concerned that she hadn’t shared the information with Charlotte. “I wouldn’t have mentioned it to Edith if I hadn’t been so shocked by your brother’s marriage proposal.”

Charlotte didn’t respond. Try as she might, she could never stay annoyed with Louisa for long. Despite her friend’s often abrasive personality, Louisa had always been a loyal companion. Edith sampled a filbert biscuit while Louisa serenely sipped her tea. A clock ticked away on the mantelpiece as footsteps in the corridor outside the room could be heard.

She ate a ginger biscuit before recounting her recent conversation with William about his time at Eton. “I hope my brother told me the truth. I can hardly approach Lord Ashford at home to discuss the matter. And I can’t write him. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“One of my brothers told me he often sees Lord Ashford walking a dog at our private park here in Grosvenor Square. We could go along one morning and accidentally run into him,” Louisa suggested.

She nodded in agreement. “That is an excellent idea. Shall we try tomorrow?”

“It’s as good a time as any,” Louisa replied.

“Don’t forget we have to meet Miss Tilford and her brother Baron Harbury at the lending library tomorrow afternoon,” Edith said.

“Who is Miss Tilford?” Louisa asked, selecting a Millefruit biscuit from a bone china plate on the tea tray.

Edith replied, “We met her at Lady Sheffield’s home. Lady Julia was displaying her usual nasty manners, but her friend Alicia Tilford was just lovely. Lady Cairs told Alicia’s brother Nathaniel several nice things about the lending library.”

The friends ate in companionable silence for a few minutes.

“Did you get the new curtains hung yesterday?” Charlotte asked Louisa.

The other girl nodded. “I did. I also had my maid do a bit of dusting in the shop while I distracted Mr. and Mrs. Thorne in the back room.”

“Well done,” she said with a grin. “Thank goodness Mrs. Thorne has allowed you to redecorate the lending library. I never realized how shabby it looked inside.”

Louisa replied, “The furniture will be delivered this evening. Instead of attending Lady Norwich’s musicale, I thought I would oversee the placement of the new furniture.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea. Why don’t we help you?” Charlotte asked, turning her attention to Edith.

Edith nodded eagerly. “I would love to spend the evening at Thorne’s. A musicale is not particularly my cup of tea.”

“It’s settled then.” Louisa raised her teacup high. “Since shifting heavy furniture is deemed more palatable than attending the musicale, we shall all go to Thorne’s this evening.”

* * * * *

A shford had just decided to visit Cecil at home when a footman announced Baron Harbury.

He got to his feet and waved his friend to one of the burgundy damask side chairs arranged in front of the mahogany pedestal desk in his study. “Good afternoon! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m on my way to break in a new pair for my curricle,” Nathaniel answered as he dropped onto the side chair. “I thought you might like to come along to rotten row.”

Ashford retook his seat behind the desk. Bright sunshine poured in from the only window in the room. A ride in the fresh air was just what he needed to clear away the cobwebs. “Sounds capital. I admit I’m at loose ends. Would you care for some refreshment before we go?”

Nathaniel shook his head.

“I’m glad we have a moment to speak alone,” Ashford said, sitting forward in his chair. “You wrote a bill last year that would have made it easier for returning war veterans to qualify for pensions. It didn’t pass. Why do you think it failed?”

The baron raised a brow. “It failed because parliament didn’t want to approve funds for such a far-reaching proposal. There was a lack of concern in both houses. Why the sudden interest in the bill?”

He understood why Nathaniel would ask such a thing. Ashford felt sitting in parliament was his duty, but he’d never introduced a bill or made arguments for one.

“I’ve recently encountered two veterans I knew from my time on the peninsula.” He paused to collect his thoughts. “Both men have fallen on hard times. I believe we can do more for the enlisted men who served our king.”

“Do you want to introduce a new bill?” Nathaniel asked, his tone surprised.

He shook his head. “I’m not sure merely passing a new act will benefit these men. They need employment. Let me think on it. There must be hundreds of veterans in London who are seeking work.”

“Let me know if I can be of assistance.” Nathaniel smiled. “I like this new altruistic side of you.”

Ashford leaned back in his chair, not replying.

“It looks like I’m going to become better acquainted with your Lady Charlotte,” the baron said casually and then ruined the effect with a mischievous grin.

He ignored his friend’s use of the word ‘your’ in front of the young woman’s name. “And you think I would be interested in this news?”

“Perhaps.”

Ashford stared at Nathaniel, his eyes heavy-lidded, ignoring a sudden pang of jealousy. Lady Charlotte was free to spend her time with whomever she chose.

“All right, I’ll tell you.” Nathaniel shook his head. “Good heavens! You’re becoming as grumpy as Cecil.”

He waited patiently. Or not so patiently, as he realized he was tapping one of his booted feet on the hardwood floor.

“My sister happened to attend a tea at Lady Sheffield’s with Lady Charlotte and one of her friends. Alicia liked the two ladies immensely, and we’re to meet them at Thorne’s Lending Library this Wednesday.” Nathaniel paused. “You’re welcome to come with us.”

“And why would I do that?” he asked lazily, not meeting the other man’s gaze.

Nathaniel snorted. “Come now! It is obvious you are attracted to the woman.”

He frowned darkly. “Is it?”

“I’ve never seen you take an interest in any woman’s activities as you have with Lady Charlotte.”

Ashford studied the face of the rosewood bracket clock resting on the corner of his desk for a moment before looking up at his friend.

“Even if I were interested in the lady, there are some difficulties with the connection,” he replied carefully.

“Do tell,” Nathaniel said with raised brows, leaning forward in his chair.

What could it hurt? “Her brother was a thief when we were at Eton.”

Nathaniel whistled. “Never say so. You know this for sure?”

Ashford described the moment he discovered William in Cecil’s room, pocket watch in hand.

“That is quite damning evidence,” the baron said once Ashford finished speaking. “Did the young man explain why he was there?”

“He did not. I never told Cecil about the incident. You know how driven he was at school.” Ashford raised his hands. “He would have had the boy caned.”

His friend nodded in agreement. “Or expelled.”

Ashford continued, “There is also the matter of Lady Charlotte loitering outside White’s. Her behavior was reckless.”

“And you think Lady Charlotte is unsuitable because she visited St. James’s Street?” the baron looked at him closely, his voice incredulous. “I do recall you chased bridge saboteurs with Cecil despite neither of you being asked to do so by a government agency. Some would see your own behavior as reckless.”

Ashford chose to ignore Nathaniel’s valid point as he had no plans to accompany Cecil on any further adventures.

“Coupled with her brother’s difficulties, an alliance with the family would be unseemly,” he replied blandly.

Nathaniel shook his head. “You’re doing your best to find a reason not to court the girl.”

He didn’t know how to reply. It was his decision whether he wanted to pursue Lady Charlotte or not. He hadn’t thought much about marriage and usually avoided the entertainments of the marriage mart. Any attention paid to an unmarried young woman would be expected to lead to matrimony.

Eager to leave the confines of his study and the current conversation, Ashford rose to his feet and asked, “Shall we proceed to Hyde Park? I could do with some new scenery.”

* * * * *

C harlotte was ready for a night arranging furniture at Thorne’s when Edith’s carriage arrived at her home.

“That is a rather odd way to spend the evening,” her mother commented after hearing Charlotte’s plans. “Although I’m happy not to attend the musicale.”

“I want to do everything I can to keep the library open. You know how important Thorne’s is to me.” She was grateful her mother had always supported her love of reading and didn’t try to dissuade her from spending so much time at the lending library.

“Indeed I do, dear daughter.”

Her brother had not joined the family for dinner. William was already out for the evening; Charlotte wondered if he was avoiding her. She left her parents sitting companionably in the drawing room, her mother with her current needlepoint project in her lap, and her father engrossed in a book.

Charlotte took a seat on the burgundy squabs next to Edith in the town coach. She nodded to Louisa seated on the bench across from them. “The furniture has arrived at the library?”

“According to one of the footmen I had deliver it there,” Louisa replied.

When the ladies exited their carriage at the lending library, they found a hulking man loitering beside the front door. Louisa led the way past the man, her chin held high. Charlotte and Edith hurried inside the shop behind her.

Mr. and Mrs. Thorne greeted them from the center of the room. The couple stood near the collection of new furniture. Louisa’s servants must have removed the old furniture as it was no longer in the main room. Their former sitting alcove now housed the table of sundries and the shelves full of writing goods.

“Robbie had to get home to his mother,” Mr. Thorne said as he walked to the front door of the shop and turned the OPEN sign around and locked the door.

There was no mention of the man loitering outside the shop. As for herself, Charlotte had no desire to distress Mrs. Thorne if she was unaware of the man’s presence.

“The furniture looks very nice,” Mr. Thorne said to Louisa.

“I thought you could put it to good use,” Louisa replied lightly as she strode to the middle of the large room.

The ‘new’ furniture consisted of three stuffed tub chairs, a low round table, and a sopha. The pieces were constructed of rosewood, and the upholstered furniture sported fabric in shades of green from sage to moss.

“Not sure why you’re going to all this trouble,” Mrs. Thorne said with a shake of her head. “The shop will be closing soon.”

“It doesn’t have to.” Charlotte added brightly, “I’m sure trade will increase over the next few weeks.”

“I’m not so sure,” the other woman responded gruffly. She turned and walked to the open door to the backroom, entered the room, and shut the door behind her.

“She’s just worried,” Mr. Thorne said once his wife had left the room. “The shop is all we have.”

Edith turned to Louisa. “What do you need us to do?”

“We have to figure out the best way to place this furniture. None of it is particularly cumbersome. Mr. Thorne should be able to move most of it for us. I had my footmen put the sopha across from the left front window. Now the seating area is visible from the front door and windows. It should make the library look more inviting from the outside. What do you think?”

As a group, they agreed with the positioning of the sopha. Next, they placed the table in front of the chaise. Louisa directed Mr. Thorne to put one chair on the left and two on the right of the sopha to create a U-shaped sitting area, the table in the middle.

The arrangement did indeed create a cozy seating nook without blocking the view from the sopha out to the front windows.

“It looks ever so much nicer! The furniture and the curtains have transformed the room.” Charlotte smiled at Louisa. “You have quite a talent for this sort of thing.”

Louisa’s cheeks turned pink. “Thank you. I’m learning a lot from studying fashion periodicals.”

“Lady Louisa, your efforts have created an elegant atmosphere for the shop,” Mr. Thorne said, looking about him. “Thank you so much for your help, ladies. I hope it is enough to save the business.”

“I guarantee you will see more new patrons in next week,” Edith replied. She added with some hesitation, “If your wife would allow you to advertise, that would help.”

Mr. Thorne nodded. “I will speak with her again. She really can be quite reasonable.”

None of the ladies said a word to that statement.

“I do think there are too many items on that table. Clutter simply looks untidy.” Louisa pointed to the table displaying various sundries.

Mr. Thorne removed the items Louisa suggested and placed them under the sales desk while Louisa arranged the remainder of the goods to better advantage.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Thorne returned from the back room. “It all looks splendid,” she said to Louisa with an uncertain smile. “Thank you for your assistance, my lady.”

Charlotte was happily surprised by the kind words. Mr. Thorne looked taken aback himself. If Mrs. Thorne could be moved to be more amiable, perhaps miracles could happen. Maybe the shop would be saved.

She was at home in bed later that evening before Charlotte remembered the large man lurking near the door of Thorne’s when she and her friends arrived at the library. He had disappeared by the time they exited the building to return home, and she sincerely hoped she would not see him again at Thorne’s.