The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) by Rhonda Woodward Read Free Book Online

beauty shall soon be setting Bathon its ear. But for now we must make you comfortable. I have tea awaiting us in the salon. Clive fully intended to be at my side to greet you, but his mama sent a note over saying she was feeling poorly and needed his company.”
    Julia could not help noticing how flat Caro’s voice had become. Looking at her closely as they entered the well-appointed foyer, Julia decided not to pretend that all was well.
    “Is Lord Farren’s mama a true thorn in your side?” she asked in gentle tones.
    Caroline did not answer immediately, but continued to lead her across the entryway to the salon. Once there, Julia noticed the tea tray on a nearby table and began removing her doeskin gloves and bonnet.
    As they sat down, Caro sighed deeply before beginning to prepare the tea.
    “I shall confess to you that Lady Farren puts me out of all patience,” she said, handing a teacup and saucer to her cousin. “At first, her demands upon Clive were not so noticeable—but now he goes to her townhouse almost daily.”
    “Oh my,” Julia said, thinking how she would feel in the same circumstances.
    Rattling her teaspoon with more force than necessary, Caroline continued. “Please do not misunderstand me—she is not at all mean. It is just that she behaves as if I am a little girl beneath her notice. She even refers to me as ‘the girl,’ and takes it as a matter of course that Clive will discard whatever plans we have to wait upon her. In truth, I am peeved at him for not being here when you arrived. It is not like him to be rude, and I do not like it.”
    Setting her cup down, Julia reached across the settee and grasped her cousin’s hand. “Oh my dear! This must be very difficult. Your letters have containeda tone of humor on the subject of your mama-in-law, but I have suspected that something was amiss underneath. Forgive me for being blunt, but have you no influence over your husband?”
    “Dear Julia, do not apologize for your bluntness—we have always been so with one another. But to your point, no, I have little influence over Clive when it comes to his mama. You see, I believe I have made a mistake in how I have handled my husband.”
    “What do you mean?” Julia asked as she retrieved her tea and leaned back against the cushions.
    “I was so besotted with him the first few months of our marriage that it never occurred to me that he would not feel the same. I was the most accommodating, understanding, insipid bride there ever was. You would have thought me such a pea goose.”
    “Caro, you are too harsh with yourself.”
    “Not at all, even my mama said so. But after a short time, I became just the opposite. I began to demand that he spend more time with me. I complained dreadfully about the time he spends with his mother. Lady Farren makes everything so pleasant for him that I believe he found it a relief to be at her house. He chided me about how his understanding wife had disappeared. When I confided in Mama, she said I must begin flirting and teasing him. That I must become cunning and devise ways to bring him to my side as his mother does.” Caro’s expression showed distaste of her mother’s advice.
    “That certainly sounds like Aunt Hyacinth,” Julia said with a wry expression.
    “But I do not want to behave that way! That is another reason I am so pleased that you are staying with us. If I am to be neglected, then I shall have my dearest cousin to keep me company. And do not be alarmed by what I have said, you shall not regret coming to Bath. We are going to have a lovely time—andtomorrow I shall take you to sign the subscription books at the assembly rooms, though I only attend the Upper Room. We shall go this Thursday eve whether Clive escorts us or not,” Caro finished with a decisive nod.
    Julia watched her cousin in silence for a moment. Though she wore her brown hair in a more sophisticated style and the missish gowns she used to wear were gone, Julia realized with a