A GUIDE TO COURTSHIP

g Starts at t

Lady

who your family might be. Lord Samuel Theobald is off limits, of course, and I intend to keep my promise not to inquire. I am at the edge of my seat as I

u have occupied my mind. I could have no more thoughts other

The Everards did have a good laugh over brandy

ur

ll

*

anded him the flower. "His lordship is out today, my lady," Mr. Morris said. The middle-aged

would be so kind as to provide me with details as to where Lord Wakefi

discomfort. "You very well kno

. "What has he told you

utler

loser, just enough to whisper, "His lordship has given specific instructions that no fe

ou out! That is horrible, Mr. Morris

ring his throat with prid

every Friday, is it? And it is very well not

is head vigorously.

picked that flower from our gardens. And please, Mr. Morris, dare not tell me what he does with t

ld plant them if I could grow them

field that my flowers do not bite," she uttered as she walk

butler called after her before

*

mall gap of the curtains. She stopped for a few seconds, some free locks of her wavy black hair

ry bloody Friday for the past two ye

rom there she never missed the opportunity to walk by his estate and drop a flower from the Everard gardens. Never, in the two years that the young Everard had started her weekly visits, did Wakefield take the courage to face her and persona

come out of her so-called courtship. Courtship by a lady was not don

see the butler walking into the room with a daisy in hand. He stared at

the butler knowing full w

ste, my lord," Morris replied the same words he gave a week before and the previous weeks before that. "

at

snapped, wavin

and stiffly

e butler. "What did you whisper

. "I was not aware that y

the qu

to kick me out should I ever expos

"You oaf. You were tryi

ave to face, my lord." The butler's tone was leaning more t

s morning?" he hopefully a

r on your desk, my lord, you

With another wave of his han

ntinued with his work, trying to force his mind to not think too

thought. He shook his head. H

d drink and play cards with his friends until the wee hours and if time woul

was nearly a few

een trying to tell himself that he had been trapped for it was what it felt like, really

of his very willing lovers. The Theobald party would be filled with husband-hunting chits and their mamas and he better come

*

estate?" Emma asked later that even

, and one she considered her twin as most people would refer to them

m quite busy," Emma utte

believe she did

sked with a frown. "I

d not believe my own words when I sa

d. "Why would you not beli

you were

w her sister too well. She knew what Emma

me what y

g," she

rd Wakefield's estate and witness you knock on the door an

Ysabella reasoned. "It is not nonsense to g

ut that, you know. He ough

dressing our brother-in-law, a M

sked

as he not

fine to call him Cole. I find it rather awkw

th her hair, she sat in front of her sister with a lou

rugged.

u must be jesting, Em. It is the Theoba

d because Wakefield wi

starts at the Theobal

ree years since you've met the man, two years since you hav

" she c

e out of it, bad or good. Our niece Lindsay is nearly

oon, our niece will be old enough to even masterfully write

had heard far worse words from her sister that

have done, really, if I must say. Our family has suffered enough scandals of late and even though the Everard name is strong enough for society to forget them, deceiving Lord W

to go to her desk. "As you continue to berate me, I shall spend my time writing Aurora a letter. It

Nick?" Emma asked with a yawn. "We have se

er writing desk. "We must make certain that Aurora will be very much ready to attract as mu

us on finding yourse

ne, Em. He simply does

nside the covers. "Do turn off the lamp once y

of gowns would suit her best for the Theobalds and offered a few of her jewelleries to go with them. On

per, dipped her pen in the

t Will