A Fallen Woman Read Free Page B

pinch-mouthed spouse.
    ‘Charity lives in a permanent state of upset,’ her sister
said staunchly. ‘I am sure that Liza and I were never in danger of
undergoing a rebuff, while George and James are already respectably
settled. Besides, the whole thing died away ages ago, something you
might know if you got out and about a bit more. If you would stop,’
she added, a little tartly, ‘locking yourself away at Thorncroft
and begin to socialize again, I am sure you would find that past
indiscretions have been quite forgotten. You have no social life, Rachel.
Do you intend to rusticate forever?’
    ‘I do,’
Rachel said firmly, knowing rather better than her sister that some
indiscretions were neither forgiven nor forgotten. It had been an
especially scintillating drama as she had been hailed the Season’s
Incomparable, the debutante who was predicted to make the most
outstanding alliance. As inexperienced as she was, Charlotte could
not know the full ramifications of her sister’s lack of wisdom.
Returning to London and going about as if nothing had happened,
especially in her spinster state, would be a dreadful mistake and
would create exactly the kind of interest for her family that she
fervently wished to avoid, especially now dear Georgie was
contemplating a career in politics. ‘I have no desire to go back to
London at the present time. Perhaps when Liza is being presented,
just so I can observe the ruckus she is likely to stir
up.’
    ‘Liza is only nine years old!’
    ‘Time
enough, then. There is no reason why I should go back, anyway. If I
am desperate for the theatre or musical entertainment then there is
always Alnwick, which offers any number of diversions -’
    ‘Oh, any
number,’ her sister agreed dryly.
    ‘ - and I have every expectation of making frequent journeys
into Warwickshire to visit my beloved sister so I daresay I shall
be quite fagged to death,’ Rachel finished with a grin.
    ‘Y ou
had better visit me frequently. I shall miss you all desperately and
will be longing to see familiar faces.’
    ‘ After six months or so, perhaps,’ Rachel demurred. ‘I have
seen you and Adam together. You will both be too besotted with each
other to notice if anybody is about for the first few months, I
daresay.’
    ‘Well…
perhaps for the first two weeks that might be the case,’ Charlotte
dimpled her agreement. She was marrying Lord Casterton, whose
family estate lay in the heart of Warwickshire. Rachel knew it
would be a wrench, having her sister so far away much of the time
but she meant every word she said. She fully intended to visit
frequently, especially as Adam appeared likely to be a thoroughly
charming brother-in-law. He had certainly been a thoroughly
charming suitor so far. He must know of her history – who did not?
– but he had never treated her with anything but warmth. Rachel
genuinely liked the man and was sure he would make Charlotte the
happiest of women. ‘Really, it will be very odd, living somewhere
other than Thorncroft.’
    ‘You will
both come back frequently and you shall be far too busy
establishing yourself at Fallowfield to pine. Imagine,’ Rachel
shook her head in mock wonder, ‘you being mistress of your own
household. And you don’t even have a mother-in-law to
quell.’
    Charlotte
giggled, but shook her head. ‘It is very sad that poor Adam’s
parents are both dead.’
    ‘It would
have been sadder if they hadn’t both been dead for nearly fifteen
years. He has had time to adjust to the loss.’
    ‘You are an unfeeling woman! The tragedy -’
    ‘Is quite lost upon me,’ Rachel admitted. ‘And yes, I am an
unfeeling woman, of that there is no doubt. But I am glad that Adam
suggested having the marriage here when he could have so easily
insisted on the chapel at Fallowfield.’
    ‘With so
little family of his own, I think he was happy to have the marriage
here. He knew it was important to Mama. And to me, of course, but
less so. Honestly, I could not