“No. Father and Mother asked me to keep it to myself. There really was no reason to shame her in their eyes.”
Carter waited a few minutes, then said, “Lottie, please come home with me. We need to talk this out, and poor Pamela is probably wandering the streets wondering when she can reclaim her home.”
Still reeling under the news Carter had just shared with her, she nodded. “Very well. Let’s return to our home and talk this out.”
They found Pamela strolling up the street as they left the boarding house. “You may return home now,” Lottie said with a grin. “Thank you for letting me stay here when I needed a shoulder to cry on.”
“I will always have a shoulder for you, Lottie.” Pamela hugged her and waved at Carter who was signaling his driver.
They remained silent on the trip home. Lottie sat across from him and watched the houses and stores as they rode by. Carter studied his hands and appeared to be deep in thought.
Hand-in-hand they climbed the steps to their townhouse and went inside.
“Sir, a wire has arrived for you while you were gone.” Milton held out the pale-yellow envelope to him.
“Thank you.” Carter took the envelope and followed Lottie to the drawing room. He turned to his butler. “Will you please have cook send in a decent breakfast? Let us know when it is ready, and we’ll move to the dining room.”
Milton bowed and left them.
“Who is the wire from?” Lottie settled on the sofa.
Carter read the information and then looked up at her. “My mother and father will be arriving tonight.”
15
Lottie paced their bedchamber, her stomach in knots and on the verge of bringing up the little bit of food she’d eaten that day. It was about twenty minutes past the time the last train from London would arrive in Bath. That had to be the train Carter’s parents were on.
She’d nearly fainted when he read the wire to her. His parents! Wasn’t it bad enough that his obnoxious brother came and insulted her? Now his mother and father came to add to her misery.
Carter had assured her more than once that his parents would not behave like Charles. However, each time he said it she saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
“Ah, here is where you are hiding.” Carter walked into the bedchamber and held out his hand. She walked to him and he wrapped her in his warm, safe arms.
“I’m not exactly hiding. Well, maybe I am, but I don’t know if I can face your parents.” She leaned back and studied him. “I still think the best thing is for me to leave and you can seek a divorce. I know it’s not easy to get, but I will sign any papers and say anything you want me to.”
He placed his hands on either side of her head. “If you leave me, I will follow you. If you go to France, I will be there. I will hire people to find you. I love you Lottie and refuse to spend the rest of my life without you.”
Lottie shook her head. “Foolish man.”
They both froze as the knocker on the door sounded. Carter kissed her on the lips and smoothed back the hair from her forehead. “Come. We face this together.”
Clinging to each other, they made their way down the stairs as an older couple passed through the front door. They looked around and spotted her and Carter on the stairs.
“Oh, my. Here is my beautiful new daughter-in-law. Come and give me a hug.” The woman who looked remarkedly like Carter held out her arms.
Tears of relief flooded Lottie’s eyes as her muscles relaxed. She slowly moved forward, and Lady Huntingdon did, in fact, give her a hug. The pleasant odor of lavender and vanilla drifted from Carter’s mother. Lottie breathed in the scent.
She was shorter than Lottie, a woman who would be considered well-rounded. She was still beautiful, with dark brown hair, scattered throughout with silver strands.
Lady Huntingdon leaned back and looked into Lottie’s eyes. “I’m so happy my son found someone to love.”
Then she turned to Carter, her eyes flashing. “Why was I not invited to my son’s wedding?”
Lord Huntingdon placed his hand on Lady Huntingdon’s shoulder. “Why don’t we all move into the library.” Then he turned to Lottie. “Welcome to the family, my dear.”
Stunned, Lottie took hold of Carter’s hand and they followed his parents to the library. They seemed quite familiar with the layout of the house. Lord Huntingdon went directly to the side bar and poured two brandies. Then he turned to Lottie and his wife. “Would you ladies care for a sherry?”
They both nodded. Now that the tension had left her, Lottie felt a combination of hunger and exhaustion. But more than anything, she felt relief.