Rules of Surrender Read Free Page B

Hannah knew that would clinch the argument for Charlotte. It clinched the argument for all of them. ”Such a small deception as we visited on Lady Ruskin is worth that, surely.“
    ”Yes.“ Charlotte squared her shoulders. ”When this business is established, everyone will benefit.“
    ”That’s right. And I’m sure your megrims are because—“ Hannah broke off.
    Pamela couldn’t leave it at that. ”Because why?“
    Taking a gulp of the despised brandy, Charlotte said, ”Because my new position is in Surrey.“
    ”Oh, no.“ Pamela sat down hard on the footstool. ”Of all the places in England!“
    ”It’s of no importance,“ Charlotte said, although they all knew it was. ”As always, I will do my duty, and all will be well.“
    CHAPTER 2
    Cool, fresh air blew into Charlotte’s face as the open carriage bounced down the turnpike, and she inhaled the scents of Surrey’s North Downs. Surrey smelled like roses climbing an ancient trellis, like laughter and comfort, like winters spent riding her hobbyhorse, like summer afternoons lolling on a branch of her favorite walnut tree reading. Like home.
    Charlotte had hoped never to breathe the scents of Surrey again.
    ”Is this your first trip to the North Downs, my lady?“
    Charlotte turned to her new employer and suffered a pang, just one, of envy. Without being told, Charlotte knew men still fought over the widowed Lady Ruskin. A stylish hat perched atop her blond hair, her voice dipped and rose in husky gentility and her complexion would have done honor to a much younger woman. Her large blue eyes were guileless, and she had been the most amiable of companions on the two-hour trip down from London. Yet Charlotte found it hard to believe she had two grandchildren in need of a governess.
    And without railing against fate—Charlotte considered railing against fate a waste of time—she wondered what god had guided Adorna into the newly founded school with a position tailor-made for Charlotte herself. ”I was raised not far from here, my lady,“ she said steadily.
    ”You are a relative of the Dalrumples of Porterbridge Hall, then.“
    The curiosity was inevitable, Charlotte knew, yet the truth tasted bitter on her tongue. ”The Earl of Porterbridge is my uncle.“
    Lady Ruskin nodded. ”I thought you must be that Lady Charlotte Dalrumple.“ Picking up Charlotte’s gloved hand in her own, she squeezed it. ”Your father, God rest his soul, was the earl before. My husband knew him and called him a gentleman of distinction.“
    To hear her father spoken of, and in such a kindly manner, gave Charlotte a wrench which she hastily covered. ”It’s pleasant to be back after so many years.“ Nine years, to be exact, since the occasion of Charlotte’s disastrous and decisive seventeenth birthday.
    ”Yes, Surrey is pleasant, and so close to London. Ruskin and I purchased the estate not long after our son was born so he could be raised in a healthy country atmosphere. Austinpark Manor is a quiet spot.“
    As she spoke, a brougham barreled around the bend toward them. Their coachman swerved to avoid a collision, slamming Lady Ruskin into the side of their carriage and Charlotte into Lady Ruskin. Charlotte’s trunk, hooked to the back, swayed dangerously outward, and Charlotte’s precious carpetbag banged against her ankles. The brougham raced on. As they passed, Charlotte heard through the open window a woman’s high, scolding voice.
    Skeets pulled the horses off the turnpike onto the grassy shoulder and turned to Lady Ruskin. ”Beg yer pardon, m’lady. Be ye hurt?“
    Charlotte, too, murmured her regrets as she untangled herself from Lady Ruskin’s fringed shawl.
    ”Nonsense, don’t apologize, either of you.“ Lady Ruskin’s melodious voice turned tart, and she gestured to Skeets to go on. As the carriage jolted back onto the turnpike, she said, ”Some people have more money than sense. Although truly, my lady, such incidents are rare in this