Carter dropped the knocker on the front door of the building where Lottie had her flat. Since the rooms were only let to women, there was a man who monitored the outside door, which made Carter extremely happy to know that Lottie was safe.
“Good afternoon, sir. May I ask who you are visiting?” The older man wore a simple footman’s uniform. He stepped back to allow Carter to enter.
Carter removed his hat and nodded to the man. “I would like to visit with Miss Danvers.”
“Very good, sir. However, I must ask you to wait in the parlor and I will fetch Miss Danvers. We do not allow gentlemen above the ground floor.” The man waved toward a room to the right side of the entrance hall.
Carter did not avail himself of a seat, but as he wandered the room, he took note of the well-decorated space that was obviously meant to provide a place for a woman to meet with a guest. He was feeling even better about Lottie’s building.
Within five minutes, Lottie entered the room. “Good afternoon, Mr. Westbrooke. To what do I owe this surprise—she emphasized the word—visit?”
Her words might have been terse, but the look on her face was anything but annoyed. In fact, he could say that she almost seemed happy to see him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t send a note around, but I happen to find myself near your flat and thought you might want to join me for tea. Or a ride in the park. Or a stroll around the neighborhood.” Hopefully, he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt, waiting for her to frown and refuse.
She hesitated for a few moments and then, to his utter surprise, said, “Yes. I think I would enjoy a stroll. So far, I’ve been cooped up here for the entire day with one student after another. It will be good to have a bit of fresh air.”
Since it would be the epitome of inelegance to hop into the air and shout with glee, Carter merely smiled and bowed. “Thank you.”
“Just let me get my cape.” And with those few words, Lottie was back out the door, leaving him with a warm feeling, mixed with excitement at how well his request had gone.
Luckily, it was a rare sunny day and even though they were nearing the end of winter, the air wasn’t too unpleasant. They strolled the area around her neighborhood, making light conversation.
“Were you pleased with your students’ performance at tea the other day?” Carter stopped their stroll as they approached the end of the pavement. With no vehicles headed their way, they crossed the street and continued.
“Yes. For the most part, I thought they did quite well. Poor Miss Dobson was near tears when she arrived the next day for her lesson. Her question about whether you owned a dog was certainly not the sort of thing I teach as a method to employ while making polite conversation. I had to assure her more than once that it was not a major faux pas since you were, for the most part, a test subject.”
“Both young ladies seemed to be very sweet. I am sure they will do well with you leading them.” He looked in her direction, waiting for her reaction to his next question. “Will you be acting as their chaperone, then, when they make their debut in London?”
Lottie sucked in a deep breath and shook her head furiously. “No. Not at all. My time with them ends right before they leave for London.”
He placed his hand on hers, hoping to keep her from bolting since her reaction to his question was what he’d expected. “How odd. I would think their parents would continue your employment when they entered the Marriage Mart.”
“No. I made it quite clear when they engaged me that I would not act as a chaperone.” She glanced at him sideways. “After all, I have other students who need my services here in Bath.”
Good response, my dear Miss Danvers. One point for you.
“And, of course, you dislike London.” He looked at a store window, attempting to appear as though this was merely conversation and he was not looking for information.
Again, the stiffening of her body. “Yes. I dislike London.”
He took a deep breath, deciding in for a penny, in for a pound. “And you don’t wish to be recognized in London, either.”
Lottie came to an abrupt stop. He attempted to look innocent, but he doubted he’d succeeded.
“What do you mean?” Her breathing had increased, and her face was growing redder by the moment. “Why would you say that?”
“Hmm. Maybe because you haven’t worn your spectacles since our return to Bath.” He grinned at her, hoping to restore some calm. “I assume you don’t need spectacles to see.”
Lottie attempted to pull her arm free, but he held on tight. “Don’t be upset, please.”
“I am not upset. However, I need to return home. I have a student due soon.” She continued to tug on her arm, and he continued to hold on.
“Let me help you, Lottie. Please.”
Lottie shook her head. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Everything is fine. I am fine.”
Time to retreat once again. If he kept this up, he would push her further and further away, which was certainly not his intent. “Then I apologize for upsetting you. That was not my intention.”
“Nonsense. As I stated, I am not upset.” Her flushed face and trembling hand on his arm belied her statement.
“Let us return to you home, then, so you may meet your next student.” He turned them so they headed back the way they had come. He had to find a way to calm her before he let her go or he would most likely find a slammed door in his face the next time he attempted to call on her.
Her pace was considerably faster than before his challenge, but by the time they arrived at her building, she was a bit calmer. He even got her to smile at one of his very lame jokes.
“May I call on you soon? Perhaps you would enjoy a visit to the Holbourne Museum.”
The regret on her face twisted his insides. It was obvious she did not want to say no, but for some reason was about to do just that. “I am afraid I simply don’t have the time for visits and strolls, Mr. Westbrooke.”
He reached out and touched her chin, raising her head so he could look in her eyes. “It would do you well to understand that I do not give up easily, Lottie. I am very interested in you, and I want to court you. I can also assure you I am a gentleman and would never do anything to harm you. In any way.”
When she began to shake her head, he continued. “I know you said no before, but as I said, I am quite tenacious. Unless you tell me unconditionally that you have no interest in me at all, I will try very hard to persuade you to allow us time together to get to know each other.”
To his shock, tears filled her eyes. “You do not want to get to know me, Mr. Westbrooke. Of that I am certain.”
Before he could stop her, she raced up the stairs, and after a quick knock, the door was opened and quickly closed behind her.
Two days later, Lottie and one of her newer students, Lady Edwina, the daughter of Viscount Monroe, climbed into the viscount’s carriage for a ride to Milsom Street. There they would take tea at the tearoom in Jolly’s Department Store, one of the finer stores in Bath.
They chatted for a while, then fell quiet, just the rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves on the cobblestones reaching them, leaving Lottie with her own thoughts. Thoughts that always returned to Carter. She liked him. Truth be known, quite a bit. It was obvious he cared for her, too. But every time her useless daydream of them being together snuck into her thoughts, she pushed it firmly away.
Even more troublesome were the nighttime dreams that she had no control over. She was disturbed at some of the things she had dreamed about doing with Carter. Things that involved naked bodies and a great deal of touching. Maybe she was her mother’s daughter.
The day was not as pleasant as it had been when she and Carter had taken their stroll. The sun was hiding behind the clouds and there was a bit of a breeze. A reminder that even though the year was entering spring, it was still chilly at times.
Thinking back on their time together the other day, she was chagrined at him noticing she only wore those fake spectacles in London. It was probably a stupid thing to do anyway. Having her mother’s looks and coloring, it would take more than a pair of eyeglasses to disguise her from someone who knew her mother well.
She didn’t realize how much she had been woolgathering until Lady Edwina said, “Miss Danvers? I believe we are here.”
Lottie moved the window curtain aside and glanced outside. “Oh, dear. Yes, we are. I apologize for my inattention.”
Just then the door opened, and the driver helped her down first, then Lady Edwina. They made their way into the tea shop and were directed to a table against the wall.
There were quite a few patrons in the shop, but since this was Lady Edwina’s first foray to a tea shop as a student, Lottie gave her complete attention to the girl.
They ordered tea with cucumber sandwiches and biscuits. Lottie explained the correct way to pour tea, and how to keep up polite conversation while she did so. Although Lady Edwina was only a year away from her debut, she hadn’t had much in the way of Polite Society instruction since her mother was deceased and her governess hadn’t encouraged her to learn the more refined arts that young ladies needed to know.
“Miss Danvers, how lovely to see you.” Lord Sterling stood next to their table, a look in his eyes that frightened her. Before she could react to seeing him, he leaned in next to her ear. “Or should I call you Miss Danforth?” He stood back and grinned not knowing, or perhaps not caring, that he’d just crushed her entire world.
Lady Edwina looked toward her as if she expected Lottie to introduce her to his lordship. All Lottie could think of was getting out of the tea shop without bringing any notice to herself.
She called on all her years of training to stiffen her back and glared at the man. “I am sorry, my lord, but I am instructing this young lady in the finer art of Polite Society and I must ask you to leave us alone.”
Sterling threw his head back and laughed, loud enough to attract the attention of just about everyone in the room. “You are instructing a young lady on Polite Society? How very amusing. Does your courtesan mother know this?”
“Miss Danvers?” Lady Edwina looked back and forth between her and Lord Sterling with confusion.
“It is nothing with which to concern yourself, my lady. However, I feel we must cut short our lesson for today.” Before the poor girl could react, Lottie stood and headed toward the door. She stopped the man who had seated them earlier, not sure where their waiter was. “I’m afraid my charge and I must take our leave.” She withdrew a few coins from her reticule with a shaky hand and gave them to the startled man.
Lady Edwina had caught up to her by that time and they both made their way out of the tea shop.
“Wait!” Lord Sterling was on their heels, and Lottie wished him to perdition.
He had the nerve to grasp her arm to stop her. “I want to speak to you about something that might be to your benefit.”
Lottie closed her eyes, then turned to Lady Edwina. “My lady, please proceed to the carriage and I will meet you in a minute.”
Still looking bewildered, the girl nodded and headed toward the carriage parked a few steps away from the store’s entrance. Once Lottie was sure Lady Edwina had entered the carriage and the door closed, she turned to Lord Sterling.
“My lord, I have no idea why you continue to annoy me. Please know that I do not wish to speak with you, nor have you approach me in public.”
He leaned back on his heels, his hands in his pockets. “Come now, Miss Danvers. Or whatever your name is. I knew from the first time I saw you that you looked familiar. You are Mrs. Danforth’s daughter. And please do not deny it since you look exactly like her.”
There was truly no way to go but forward. She raised her chin and attempted to look bored. “And if I am?”
“Then I would like to offer you my protection. I can set you up with a house, a carriage, and all the fine clothes and jewelry you wish. Right here in Bath.”
The anger coursing through her almost had her striking the man. However, with the few people who were on the public street, and especially those who watched with interest, she merely lowered her voice. “I am not for sale.”
Before he could respond, she practically ran to the carriage, climbed in and tapped the ceiling for the driver to proceed.
“Are you well, Miss Danvers?” Lady Edwina studied her carefully.
“Yes, my lady. I apologize for cutting our lesson short, but I can assure you we will do it another time. Please forgive me.” She took out her handkerchief and patted her upper lip.
That was about all the words she could get passed the large lump in her throat. She managed to hold onto her composure until they arrived at the Monroe townhouse, where Lottie wished Lady Edwina a good day and immediately left her to walk—and practically run—to Berkshire’s house.
Addie had been busy with the bookstore since her return to London and a few weeks had actually passed since Lottie had last seen her. For now, she needed someone she could trust to pour her heart out to.
Once Lottie had been instructed by the butler to proceed upstairs to Addie’s sitting room alongside her bedchamber, she hurried up the steps and entered the room, knowing her face was blotchy from crying. She twisted her handkerchief in her hands.
Addie stood and reached out her hand. “What’s wrong, Lottie?”
Lottie took in a shuddering breath, having just come to the decision as she climbed the stairs to the bedchamber floor. “I have to leave Bath.”
“Leave Bath! Why?” She patted the space alongside her on the lovely flowered settee.
Lottie sat and dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. “Because I just came from Milsom Street where I was taking tea with one of my students.” Another deep breath. “Lord Sterling walked into the shop and greeted me.”
Addie waited patiently for Lottie to pull herself together. “Yes?”
“Don’t you see? I can’t stay in Bath. Lord Sterling has moved here permanently.” He hadn’t said as much, but since she’d seen him so often and he offered her a house in Bath, he must be a permanent resident.
Addie took her hand. “And?”
“He knows my mother. Everyone in London knows my mother. Now everyone in Bath will as well. I must leave.”
She hopped up to escape and Addie grabbed her skirt. “Wait. I don’t understand.”
Lottie attempted to pull away, but Addie held firm. “You came to tell me you have to leave Bath. I will not let you go until you explain why. And not just because Lord Sterling, who as far as I know has very little consequence, knows your mother.”
Lottie tried to say the words, but it took her a minute to actually say them out loud to her best friend who had no idea. “My mother is Mrs. Danforth.”
Stunned silence followed the words echoing around the room. Addie sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, no.”
“Yes. I’m sure you’ve heard the name. Everyone who is anyone in London among the ton knows her name. Even among young girls making their debuts, who should never know about such things, Mrs. Danforth’s name is whispered in ladies’ retiring room.”
Lottie stood and paced in front of Addie. “The most well-known courtesan in London is my mama.”
“But why must you leave Bath? You have friends here and a business.”
Lottie snickered. “Do you honestly believe the parents of the girls I’ve been instructing on how to conduct oneself in Polite Society will continue to allow me anywhere near their daughters? My living is gone. I must move again to where no one knows me, nor will ever know me.”
With those words and the stunned expression on Addie’s face, she fled the house with the full intention of packing her belongings and taking the first rail out of Bath.
To where she had no idea.