Page 43 of How to Wed a Courtesan

‘Since Lord Ledsey?’ she asked, referencing the young woman’s former betrothed.

‘Since...before,’ Lady Alice replied slowly.

Lottie lifted an eyebrow in silent query and Lady Alice’s lovely face took on a pained expression.

‘I was in love with a baron’s son—George.’ She smiled wistfully as she said his name. ‘He was a fourth son, and determined to pave his own way in this world. That is how he came to be a soldier. His mother received a letter stating he was missing after a battle.’ She drew in a shuddering breath. ‘My mother let me grieve for a year, as long as any widow, even though we’d never wed. She thought herself generous for the consideration and then we came to London.’

‘And Lord Ledsey was an earl,’ Lottie supplied.

‘Precisely.’ Lady Alice toyed with a small rosette on her gown. ‘I played the part of dutiful daughter and tried to be happy. But I simply...wasn’t. Not without my George. I never have been and I’m not sure I ever can be.’

Her admission struck a deep chord in Lottie’s chest. How often had she wondered that same thing about herself? If she could ever be truly happy again?

Lady Alice’s eyes filled with tears and Lottie produced a handkerchief from her pocket. Experience had taught her never to begin a lesson without several handy.

The young woman accepted it gratefully and wiped at her eyes. ‘Mother allowed me to return to the country after Lord Ledsey, to recuperate from my melancholy. Except it has not improved.’

Indeed, the poor young woman did appear rather miserable.

Lottie sat on the settee beside her and put a gentle hand to Lady Alice’s shoulder. ‘We’ll see what we can do to make you feel better. Whether it be with a suitor, or even on your own.’

Alice gave her a sad smile. ‘I’m not hopeful, I confess.’ The handkerchief in her hands drew her focus. ‘Do you ever think that perhaps it isn’t a place or a status that makes you happy, but a person?’

Lottie sat back at that revelation. ‘I’d never considered it.’

‘I don’t think I can be happy—truly happy—without my George,’ Lady Alice said. ‘No matter how much I pretend otherwise.’

The young woman’s words clung to Lottie for the rest of the evening and into the next day, like a burr lodged in her mind. Perhaps it was for that reason that when Evander’s carriage came at half-past four she was dressed in a gown she’d recently had sewn by her modiste and promptly climbed into the carriage to meet him at Hyde Park.

As an adult, she’d had two happy times in her tumultuous life. One could never be reclaimed. And the other was with Evander. Perhaps there was hope for her yet?

Chapter Thirteen

Evander hadn’t expected Lottie to come to the ball for his birthday, and was even less inclined to believe she’d show at Hyde Park. At least at the celebration she’d expected some control over the guest list, however wildly off-course it had veered. But at Hyde Park, everyone who was anyone appeared. Meaning she would be seen by the collective ton. While she was still licking her wounds over their spiteful gossip.

However, just because he did not expect her, did not mean he didn’t continue to watch the entrance to the park, in the hopes of seeing his carriage arrive. His horse remained stoic beneath him as he waited by a tree, amid the flecks of sunlight that streamed through the leaves overhead.

A parade of carriages entered the path and rolled past, their occupants well-dressed and gazing out through the windows to observe the other attendees. And, of course, to be seen.

Evander was very nearly ready to give up when he caught sight of his own carriage with a single occupant inside.

Lottie.

He nudged his horse to trot towards the carriage, where he disembarked and handed the reins to his footman, who would tie the steed to the rear of the carriage so he could join Lottie inside.

She smiled as he took the seat opposite her. The cabin smelled of her sweetly floral, sensual perfume, and he found himself hoping the scent might linger within, so that every time he took his carriage somewhere he would be enveloped in her perfume.

‘This time I truly did not think you’d come,’ he admitted.

‘Then I mustn’t make this a habit, lest you expect me regularly.’ She spoke as she looked out of the window, overly casual—except for the flirtatious wink she tossed in his direction.

‘If only I were so lucky.’ He put a hand to his heart and she laughed.

‘I came because... Well, because while the vipers are out there—’ she nodded towards the window ‘—I knew I would be in here. With you.’

Trust. It was a crumb, a mere sample of it, to whet his appetite for more, but by God it was a start.

A grin tugged at his lips, enjoying her play as he parried, ‘And you wanted to be with me?’