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

bit of a pang that Caro was a very young two-and-twenty.
    “Enough of my grumbles. Pray tell me, how are my aunt and uncle Allard?”
    “They are extremely fit and send their love,” Julia replied, willing to let the troublesome subject of her cousin’s mother-in-law drop for the moment. “Uncle John was not in wholehearted agreement with my coming to Bath. But Aunt Beryl and I presented a united front, and he had to give in.”
    Caro smiled at this, the stress in her blue eyes easing a bit. “I have sent them an invitation to the soiree I am giving at the end of the month. I do hope they will come.”
    “I shall follow your invitation with a letter of my own. I am sure I shall be missing them by then,” Julia replied.
    “Oh, I almost forgot. I have sent an invitation to the Thorncrofts also. Poor Mariah! I vow she must be a changeling, she has so little resemblance to her mama.”
    “How do you mean? I have always thought Mariah and Mrs. Thorncroft somewhat resembled each other,” she said with a curious frown.
    “Well, mayhap in
appearance
, but not at all in manner. I saw Mariah and Mrs. Thorncroft last year in London—after Mama and Papa were so dreadful and sent you home.” Her cousin’s tone held a hint of old anger.
    “Now, Caro, we have gone over this dozens of times. I understand perfectly why I could not continue in London. It is the fault of that beastly duke, and no one else’s. Now, go on about Mariah and her mother.”
    “Well, all right,” Caro said with a moue. “Mariah is so gentle and funny, with such a sense of understanding and delicacy. But Mrs. Thorncroft is the opposite. We, of course, invited them to our at-homes and parties and such. There, Mrs. Thorncroft would gush and coo about how rich they are, how generous a dowry Mariah has. Poor Mariah would be beet red even if she were on the other side of the room. It was apparent to the
ton
that Mrs. Thorncroft was a mushroom. No one else took them up.”
    Julia looked thoughtful. “No wonder she was dreading the thought of returning to London for another Season.”
    “I do hope they come. Bath is not as dull as it is reputed to be.”
    “Mariah would tell you she does not care if Bath is as dull as dishwater.”
    Caro smiled, and silence held them for a bit as they finished their tea.
    Setting her cup back on the tray, Caroline looked at Julia. “Now, would you like to walk, or would you rather rest?”
    “Walk, please. I am not in the least tired, and would love to see a bit of the area. It has been years since I was last here.”
    “Lady Farren says that it is becoming too crowded. You should see how she elbows lesser-ranked mortals out of her way in the Pump Room,” Caro said with a little laugh.
    Sensing a lingering bitterness under her cousin’s light tone, Julia gave her an encouraging smile.
    “I believe you are correct, Caro dear. We shall havea lovely time this summer,” she said to divert the conversation to more pleasant matters.
    Caroline looked at Julia with an anxious frown. “You are not just saying that? After all, now that I am married, Mama would love to sponsor a proper come-out for you in London. The gossip about you is long past. I know she has written to tell you so.”
    “Yes, Aunt Hyacinth has invited me to London, but I would much rather be here with you. Besides, if I ever saw the Duke of Kelbourne again, I might not be able to resist the urge to shoot him.”
    Leaning against the back of the settee, Caroline laughed aloud. “We cannot have that! Much better that you are here with me.”
    By Thursday, while preparing for her evening out, Julia decided that accepting Caro’s invitation had been a capital idea. Bath, being much larger than Chippenham, offered any number of amusing entertainments. Caro had taken her on several excursions around town, and Julia enjoyed browsing through establishments that boasted a wider array of goods than what she was accustomed to at home.
    She had also met several