Lottie greeted his parents and took the seat across from him. She poured tea into her cup and picked up a piece of toast. Mother looked over at her and drew herself up. He wasn’t too happy with the look in her eyes. He’d seen it too many times before.
“Lottie, dear. There is one thing I would like you to do.” She placed her napkin alongside her place and folded her hands in her lap, looking very innocent, which did not fool Carter at all.
It apparently fooled Lottie though. “Certainly, Harriet.” She smiled at his mother.
“Have Carter take you to London and visit with your mother. She has a lot of information that you are unaware of and need to know.”
16
“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Lottie twisted the handkerchief in her hand as she and Carter made their way to her mother’s house. They had secured a hackney after leaving the train from Bath to London. The vehicle swayed as it rode over ruts in the road, then was stopped for a while in traffic.
So as not to give her mother heart failure, she’d sent her a wire announcing their visit. She also did not want to arrive at her mother’s house while she entertained a ‘customer.’
“Not so. This is a very good idea. You will never be content with your life until you face your mother and hear what she has to say.” Carter had been trying to keep her calm since she had decided to make the visit. Lady Huntingdon had been quite insistent that a talk with her mother was something she needed to do. Besides that, she missed Mama very much.
She twisted the handkerchief some more and looked out the window. Since she’d only been to her mother’s house once before, on the day of that horrendous visit, she had no idea how close they were.
“You’re a strong woman and you can do this.” Carter moved across the space and sat alongside her, pulling her against his side. “Whatever happens, I am here with you.”
And that was perhaps the only thing that kept her from fleeing the carriage and running back to the train station. Carter was her anchor in a whirlwind of emotions. She loved him so much and found it hard to believe he loved her back.
Five minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of what she recognized as her mother’s door. Her heart began to pound, and her stomach muscles cramped. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes. You can.” Carter jumped out first and turned to help her out. She hesitated and he raised his eyebrows.
“All right.” She slid forward on the seat and took his hand. Together they climbed the steps and before they even reached the top step, the door opened. Not by the man she remembered from bef
ore, but by her mother.
Mama looked tired and had lost some weight. Before they could even greet each other, a man stepped up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder.
He was an older man, with black and silver hair and twinkling blue eyes. Had she not met him here she might have even liked him. His smile was warm and genuine. But he was here in Mama’s house, even though she knew Lottie was coming for a visit.
Lottie turned to go back down the steps when Mama said. “Wait, Charlotte. Please.”
Carter took two steps down to where she was and took her hand. “We’ve come all this way, sweetheart.”
Taking a deep breath, she walked back up the steps and entered the house.
Her hands twisting, Mama said, “I have tea and sandwiches in the drawing room.”
Lottie nodded and waited for her mother to proceed. Having only visited once, she had no memory of where the drawing room was.
The four of them walked down the corridor and turned into what Lottie remembered as the room where the party had been held. She shuddered and Carter squeezed her hand.
Once they were all seated, Mama said, “You look good, Charlotte. It appears marriage agrees with you.” Her voice was steady and calm, but her paleness and how tightly she clasped her fingers in her lap told a different story.
Lottie bit her tongue with the sharp retort she had. Since everyone was so adamant that they have this talk, she might as well remain cordial. Mama could have her say, and she and Carter would leave on the next train to Bath.
Carter had mentioned that he’d notified his staff at his London house that they might be spending the night. She doubted it, but it was probably best to have somewhere to go if the ‘visit’ lasted longer than she expected it would.
“Thank you, Mama. Marriage does agree with me.” She turned to Carter and saw the love and caring in his eyes and almost cried. But then her emotions were running rampant at the moment.
“Allow me to introduce Mr. Franklin Monroe.” Mama’s eyes lit up when she turned to the man seated next to her. Lottie felt as though she wanted to bring up her breakfast.
“I am pleased to meet you, Mrs. Westbrooke.” Mr. Monroe smiled at her and Lottie wanted to scream. They were all acting so normal, so different from what she had expected. What she had expected she didn’t really know, but this very dignified man seated next to Mama was not part of her imaginings.
Lottie nodded and gestured to Carter. “My husband, Mr. Carter Westbrooke.”