The Kiss of a Viscount (The Daughters of the Aristocracy) by Linda Rae Sande Read Free Book Online

given a banker twenty guineas that afternoon, money she would have otherwise used to buy gowns, bonnets, ribbons or perhaps gifts for her dearest friends, she realized it had been far better to use it for a man’s welfare.
    She thought back to that week after the last ball of the Season. With most of the ton summering at their estates outside of London and very few social occasions at which to spend time with eligible bachelors, Elizabeth’s thoughts of marriage were put on hold until the Little Season began in the fall. It was the need for diversion during those summer months that led to her thoughts on starting her own charity. The memory of almost meeting Theodore Streater at Lady Worthington’s musicale had stayed with her, haunted her for all those weeks before she determined she should offer some kind of assistance to the man.
    For when she had voiced her desire for an introduction to the wounded ex-soldier, she’d been told quite firmly by an older lady of the ton that she simply could not meet him. It would be unseemly, the old biddy had said, her nose raised in such a fashion as to suggest there could be no argument to change that fact. Stunned, Lady Elizabeth had acquiesced, not expecting to think of the episode later that night or again and again for the rest of the summer. By late August, she had arranged to let the office from the solicitor whose advertisement she’d seen in the window whilst shopping, visited a print shop for calling cards and stationery, and discreetly distributed cards to those she recognized as needing assistance. Now, she took great pride in the fact that Theodore Streater was gainfully employed. He would one day be able to pay back some of the money it had cost for his bribe.
    Then she would have those funds to help another.
    And once more men were gainfully employed, they might help fund the charity, too. With a steady stream of money, she could afford to send applicants to tailors for suits of clothes, to pay bribes, and to hire help in the office. She would need assistance in searching the newspapers for job openings and in interviewing soldiers to determine what positions they might be best suited to work.
    Yes, there was a good deal of work to be done if this charity was going to be successful. But in the end, funding from those who had already been helped would be the key to its success.

Chapter 6
A Mistress Pays a Call on a Marquess
    August 1815
    The butler opened one of the front double doors of Carlington House. He might have been a bit surprised by the identity of the visitor; if he was, he did not reveal it when he greeted Josephine Wentworth – once he figured out it was her beneath the black veil, black bombazine gown and black mantle she wore. “Miss Wentworth,” he acknowledged with a nod. He stepped aside as Josephine entered the vestibule and held out her calling card.
    “Alfred,” she said brightly. “If his lordship is in residence, would you be so kind as to ask him if I might have a few minutes of his time? It’s about politics, of course,” she added, wanting to be sure the butler didn’t get the wrong idea about her infrequent visits. The last thing she wanted was for the household staff of Carlington House to think she was there in any other capacity than as a visitor. Wearing widow’s weeds was merely a way of hiding her identity from nosy neighbors. Although it was unlikely, should someone recognize her as a mistress, the gossip would last at least a week and put David Carlington in a very precarious position with his wife. The very last thing Josephine Wentworth wanted was to be the on-dit in London. She’d spent more than eight years ensuring she was unknown among the ton .
    Alfred hurried off to the Marquess of Morganfield’s study and was back before Josephine could complete her perusal of the vestibule. A few things had changed since her last visit – the color of the satin on the walls was a dark forest green, and the addition of an oil