riage awaits you. Shall we proceed?” Carter took Lottie’s arm and proceeded down the stairs with the two girls following behind them to his carriage.
He helped each woman in, then climbed in and tapped the ceiling of the carriage to signal the driver. Lottie nodded to Miss Waverly.
“Mr. Westbrooke, have you lived in Bath long?” The young girl managed to ask the question without blushing or giggling. Well done.
“Yes, Miss Waverly. I have been a resident of our fair town for quite some time. I assume this has been your home all your life?”
“Yes. My parents preferred to keep my sisters and myself away from the London air.”
Lottie mouthed ‘well done’ to Miss Waverly and then turned toward Miss Dobson.
“Um, Mr. Westbrooke.” Deep breath. “Do you have a dog?” Miss Dobson blushed furiously and gulped as Lottie looked in her direction, her brows raised.
Carter, thankfully, did not laugh at the poor girl, but merely said, “No. I do not have a dog. Do you, Miss Dobson?”
She let out a deep breath. “Yes. I do. His name is Walter and he is a Pekingese. His name is Walter. Oh, yes I already said that.” Her voice faded away as she grew a deeper shade of red.
Carter kept his expression pleasant, but Lottie could almost see his shoulders shaking, trying to hold in the laugh that she had a hard time controlling herself.
“Mr. Westbrooke is a fan of history, which I know you enjoy quite a bit, Miss Waverly.”
Both Lottie and Carter turned toward the girl who just looked back. Finally, she said, “I know all the kings and queens. Would you care to have me recite them?”
Thankfully the coach came to a stop and Lottie let out a sigh of relief. “Here we are girls.”
Carter jumped out and turned to assist Lottie first, then the two girls. They proceeded into the tearoom. Once they were seated, each girl watched Lottie as she took her napkin and placed it on her lap. They copied her movements while Carter looked on with amusement.
They placed an order for tea, sandwiches, and biscuits and Lottie carried the conversation, including the two girls. She was startled by the arrival of a gentleman at their table. It didn’t take her long to recognize Lord Sterling, the man she’d met at the Assembly who thought she looked so familiar.
Her breathing immediately sped up and she knew her face flushed. It appeared Carter noticed it, as well.
“Good afternoon, Westbrooke, ladies.” Sterling glanced at them all, but his attention swung directly to Lottie. “It’s is nice to see you again, Miss Danvers.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was clipped, and she knew the girls were confused as to why she didn’t return his statement with a similar one of her own. Her leg began to jump as she waited for him to say something in front of everyone.
“What brings you here, Sterling?” Carter had been watching her closely and attempted to bring Sterling’s attention back to him. Thankfully, her two charges were busy with pouring their tea and passing the plate of offerings. If they noticed anything odd about their teacher, they didn’t show it.
“I like to stop for a bit of tea in the afternoon. I would ask to join you, but I’ve just finished and am on my way now to my club.”
Lottie kept her eyes downcast, studying her cup of tea as if she’d never seen one before.
“I say, Miss Danvers, I continue to believe I know you from somewhere.” Lord Sterling studied her in a way that made her extremely uncomfortable.
A quick glance at Lottie and Carter jumped in. “If you will excuse us, Sterling, the ladies and I are about to enjoy our tea. Nice of you to stop by.”
“Yes. Just so. I will see you around.” Lord Sterling made a slight bow and with one final look at Lottie turned and left the tearoom.
Any appetite Lottie had for the tea and biscuits walked out the door with Lord Sterling.
Although Carter didn’t question her, he continued to watch her throughout their time there. He kept up a steady chatter with the girls, for which Lottie was thankful, since she seemed to have lost her ability to conduct a conversation.
The girls, however, did not seem to notice for which she was grateful. Whatever was she going to do about that man? It would be only a matter of time before he realized who she was. She would have to leave Bath. That thought almost reduced her to tears.
Not only did she not want to give up her lovely flat and her friends but starting over again would be difficult. Is that something she would have to do for the rest of her life? If she had to leave Bath, it would be best to move to Wales or Scotland. It was highly unlikely anyone in those places would know her mother.
Once again, the anger at her mother and what she did to ruin Lottie’s life rose to the surface. Would she never get over that? She startled when Carter called her name. “Are you well, Miss Danvers?”
Both girls stared at her and she looked down at her plate, it was still full of the small sandwiches and biscuits. “Yes. I am fine, Mr. Westbrooke. I am afraid I was woolgathering. Please excuse my poor manners.”