Vanquished by Hope Tarr Read Free Book Online

Claire. He's a photographer of some sort. Apparently he has a studio not far from Parliament Square. We literally ran into one another in the park."
    "Well, don't leave me hanging on tenterhooks, dearest. Do go on."
    Feeling the beginning of a headache building at the backs of her eyes, Callie took off the spectacles, which had belonged to her uncle, Lottie's late husband, and kneaded the bridge of her nose.
    "There is absolutely nothing more to tell. He was kind enough to give me his handkerchief and help me collect my speech and then he was on his way." In the interest of sanity, hers, she saw no earthly reason to mention the very improper invitation to tea which, she assured herself, she never would have accepted.
    Lottie busied herself with plucking nonexistent pieces of lint from her skirts, but Callie could see the wheels of her aunt's mind working fast and furious. "It's only good manners that you return his handkerchief to him. After it's been laundered and pressed, of course."
    "There is no need. He told me to keep it." Recalling the way his tweed overcoat had fitted to his broad shoulders as only fine tailoring could, Callie added, "I'm quite sure he must have a drawer full at home."
    "Even so, I don't suppose there are all that many photographic shops in Parliament Square. I'm sure we could find his without great difficulty."
    Callie thought of his card, presumably still tucked safely out of sight in her coat's other pocket, and sank deeper into the comforting cushions. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Jenny at the door. Grateful for the reprieve, she beckoned the maid to enter.
    The girl approached with the tea tray and handed Callie one of two rose-patterned cups and saucers. "I went ahead and fixed it with plenty of cream and three lumps, just the way you like it, miss."
    "Lovely." Callie wrapped her cold hands about the warm porcelain and sniffed the steam with genuine appreciation. Darjeeling, her very favorite. "Jenny, has anyone told you you're a pearl beyond price?"
    Crossing the room, Jenny let out a laugh. "Can't say as they have, miss, leastways not lately."
    Lottie accepted her cup. Sipping her tea, she waited until the girl had gone before asking, "By the by, how did your speech come off?"
    Only too glad to steer the conversation toward a neutral topic, Callie propped her feet on the needlepoint footstool. "Well enough, I suppose, running noses and racking coughs aside."
    "Theodore was there to hear you, I've no doubt."
    Callie nodded. "Beyond the few press photographers who'd no choice but to show, Teddy was our sole representative of British manhood, I'm afraid"
    "He is undeniably devoted to you, Callie."
    Callie sighed into her teacup. "You know I adore Teddy, truly I do, but I simply don't have those sorts of feelings for him. For all his protestations of undying devotion, every time I've turned him down, I've got the impression he is nearly as relieved as I am."
    To her surprise, Lottie didn't disagree. "Theodore is a dear boy but yes, I expect the two of you would never suit. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is something . . . oh, no matter." Lottie regarded her niece with serious eyes. "But as that handkerchief you're guarding so closely attests, Theodore is hardly the only unattached young man in London."
    Callie stiffened. "And by eligible you mean marriageable, of course."
    Lottie rolled her eyes. "Shackles of matrimony, instrument of women's oppression, legalized prostitution--is that all or have I left off one?"
    Callie smiled in spite of herself. "Perhaps, but I believe you've touched on the basic tenets."
    Lottie set her cup and saucer on the marble-topped lamp table. "I know you find this difficult to fathom, but marriage to the right person can be a very satisfying experience. My dear Edward, God rest his soul, was a most agreeable companion--and lover."
    "Aunt Lottie!" Callie very nearly spilled tea onto her lap, for despite more than a decade of such frank