has always done well in school,” Emilie said loyally. “I wouldn’t have passed Mathematics were it not for her.”
“What I meant was, with the Arabian Bubble and everything ... well, let’s just say it’s quite a surprise you’re the first of our class to be engaged. And don’t think that hasn’t frosted Lady Julia’s turned-up nose.” Abigail’s smile was triumphant, as if she had produced a baron herself. “I hear she actually threw china.”
“Lady Julia is far too well bred for that,” Claire said. Though she could certainly believe it.
“Maybe she wanted Lord James for herself,” Abigail mused.
“If she wanted him for anyone, it was for Gloria Meriwether-Astor. That girl is looking for a title to go with all her father’s money, and Julia made no secret out of how amusing it would be to find one for her.”
“I’m sure the gentlemen appreciated that,” Emilie sniffed. “What are they, Bengal tigers to be bagged and mounted?”
This produced a round of giggling, and Claire felt herself flush as heads turned toward them. “I must be getting back to my charges before they order everything on the menu. Emilie, I trust I may write?” You must get to the mail before your mother does.
“Yes, do.” Never fear, now that I know what she’s been up to. “I hope I may come and call?” Don’t visit our house, though. She’ll toss you out just as she did before .
“My situation doesn’t allow it, but I would love to meet for tea. I must attend my duties at the laboratory in the mornings, but I am free in the afternoons.” Please don’t deny me your friendship. I could not bear it.
“I shall look forward to it.” Never. We are friends forever .
When she got back to her table, the Mopsies were digging into a plum trifle, one on either side of it. “D’you think Granny Protheroe could make summat like this, Lady?”
It took a moment for Claire to cross the gauzy border between old life and new. Granny Protheroe. The cottage. Yes.
She arranged her skirts and addressed herself once more to her soup. “I’m sure she could. People can surprise you with what they know.”
So the news of her engagement was out. She had not said a word, so James must have taken it upon himself to announce it. And since Emilie did not move in his circles, it must indeed be all over London if it had filtered down to her.
Well, she had accepted James’s proposal knowing that this could work to her advantage.
What she had not expected was how trapped it would make her feel.
*
“The boots are a touch on the large side, but no matter.” Dr. Craig tried to see more of herself than the single cracked mirror in Claire’s room would allow. “I shall wear thicker stockings. You have a good eye for fit.”
“Now that you can go about, you can exchange them,” Claire replied. She did have rather a good eye. The skirt could have been made to order. There was even a little room for the scientist to gain some weight.
“I shall not waste my time on boots when I have a debt to pay.” Dr. Craig abandoned the mirror. “Shall we begin?”
“I am taking the children to church this morning, but we may certainly begin this afternoon. Then tomorrow morning I shall introduce you to Mr. Malvern, my employer.”
“I have given some thought to your awkward position. I shall merely say that I have been released, and in the interests of science offer my modest talents to his venture.”
“Do you think he will believe it?” Claire couldn’t help but think that the coincidence of timing might be considered suspicious.
“From what you have told me, I think he is becoming desperate at his inability to harness electricks for his purposes. Expediency will overcome suspicion, you may depend upon it.”
Claire rounded up the Mopsies—giving them strict instructions that on no account were Sunday pockets to be picked—and Willie. Jake was lounging on the porch overlooking the river when they emerged.
When
“What I meant was, with the Arabian Bubble and everything ... well, let’s just say it’s quite a surprise you’re the first of our class to be engaged. And don’t think that hasn’t frosted Lady Julia’s turned-up nose.” Abigail’s smile was triumphant, as if she had produced a baron herself. “I hear she actually threw china.”
“Lady Julia is far too well bred for that,” Claire said. Though she could certainly believe it.
“Maybe she wanted Lord James for herself,” Abigail mused.
“If she wanted him for anyone, it was for Gloria Meriwether-Astor. That girl is looking for a title to go with all her father’s money, and Julia made no secret out of how amusing it would be to find one for her.”
“I’m sure the gentlemen appreciated that,” Emilie sniffed. “What are they, Bengal tigers to be bagged and mounted?”
This produced a round of giggling, and Claire felt herself flush as heads turned toward them. “I must be getting back to my charges before they order everything on the menu. Emilie, I trust I may write?” You must get to the mail before your mother does.
“Yes, do.” Never fear, now that I know what she’s been up to. “I hope I may come and call?” Don’t visit our house, though. She’ll toss you out just as she did before .
“My situation doesn’t allow it, but I would love to meet for tea. I must attend my duties at the laboratory in the mornings, but I am free in the afternoons.” Please don’t deny me your friendship. I could not bear it.
“I shall look forward to it.” Never. We are friends forever .
When she got back to her table, the Mopsies were digging into a plum trifle, one on either side of it. “D’you think Granny Protheroe could make summat like this, Lady?”
It took a moment for Claire to cross the gauzy border between old life and new. Granny Protheroe. The cottage. Yes.
She arranged her skirts and addressed herself once more to her soup. “I’m sure she could. People can surprise you with what they know.”
So the news of her engagement was out. She had not said a word, so James must have taken it upon himself to announce it. And since Emilie did not move in his circles, it must indeed be all over London if it had filtered down to her.
Well, she had accepted James’s proposal knowing that this could work to her advantage.
What she had not expected was how trapped it would make her feel.
*
“The boots are a touch on the large side, but no matter.” Dr. Craig tried to see more of herself than the single cracked mirror in Claire’s room would allow. “I shall wear thicker stockings. You have a good eye for fit.”
“Now that you can go about, you can exchange them,” Claire replied. She did have rather a good eye. The skirt could have been made to order. There was even a little room for the scientist to gain some weight.
“I shall not waste my time on boots when I have a debt to pay.” Dr. Craig abandoned the mirror. “Shall we begin?”
“I am taking the children to church this morning, but we may certainly begin this afternoon. Then tomorrow morning I shall introduce you to Mr. Malvern, my employer.”
“I have given some thought to your awkward position. I shall merely say that I have been released, and in the interests of science offer my modest talents to his venture.”
“Do you think he will believe it?” Claire couldn’t help but think that the coincidence of timing might be considered suspicious.
“From what you have told me, I think he is becoming desperate at his inability to harness electricks for his purposes. Expediency will overcome suspicion, you may depend upon it.”
Claire rounded up the Mopsies—giving them strict instructions that on no account were Sunday pockets to be picked—and Willie. Jake was lounging on the porch overlooking the river when they emerged.
When
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