Page 55 of Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library
Despite the relief she’d felt in discovering Diana was not Ashford’s mistress, Charlotte was still frustrated with the marquess for finding fault with herself. She was dismayed that she still cared what the man thought of her. She cared very much.
* * * * *
Ashford sat with his friends in Nathaniel’s study that evening following sessions and a meal at White’s. Alicia was currently attending a ball with Lady Julia and the girl’s mother.
“Have you read the papers today?” the baron asked.
He shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Byron left England on a packet out of Dover on the 25th.”
“A foregone conclusion,” Cecil replied with a shrug.
He wasn’t surprised. “It was just a matter of time. His numerous affairs brought too much attention to him.”
There was near silence in the room for a few moments save the ticking of the mantle clock and the sound of a log settling in the nearby hearth. As for himself, he was brooding on his conversation with Charlotte at Alicia’s card party. He’d always believed he was a fair man, but his treatment of Charlotte and her brother contradicted that belief. After finding out that the lady had sought out James Landry, he didn’t know what to think. He did know he had to make sure Lady Charlotte and her friends stayed well away from the cit in the future.
Nathaniel sampled the port in his glass before asking him, “Did you find out anything else about Lady Lamb’s book? I imagine Lord Byron will be satirized in the tome.”
“I’ve been preoccupied with other matters,” he replied with a sigh. “I had better get to it. Diana is returning to London soon.”
Cecil said dryly, “As much as one shouldn’t want to be seen there, you may find Lady Lamb at Holland House. It is the only place she appears welcome as of late.”
“Lady Holland is divorced and considered persona non grata.” He shuddered. “My mother might well collapse if she heard I had visited Holland House. I’ve put my reputation in enough peril by socializing with James Landry.”
“Yet another problem to deal with,” Cecil replied while studying the liquid in his glass.
He groaned. “Perhaps I could convince Lord Meers to marry Landry’s daughter.”
“That is an excellent idea,” Nathaniel responded with a grin. “Or that Beaumont chap.”
Despite his past transgressions, Ashford didn’t think William deserved to be tied to a cit’s daughter. He decided there was no advantage in delaying his rejection of James Landry’s proposition. He would send a missive to the man that very night to tell him he was not interested in his proposal.
“Alicia appeared quite taken with Beaumont,” Cecil said idly, watching Nathaniel closely.
“You won’t provoke me,” Nathaniel replied evenly. “My sister assures me she was only attentive to the gentleman because he was a guest in our home. She thinks he talks too much.”
Ashford suppressed a grin at the irony of that statement.
It was past time to find out if Diana was to be in Lady Lamb’s book.
The following day, sessions broke up early. When his coach arrived at Marlborough House, he sent in his card and waited. After a short time, a footman emerged from the mansion and informed Ashford Lady Lamb was at home to callers.
He was deposited in a drawing room. He stood next to a plush sopha and a moment later was joined by Caroline Lamb.
“Lord Ashford! It is indeed a pleasure. I haven’t seen you in an age.”
He supposed that was because her husband was aligned with an opposing political party, and the lady chose to attend entertainments of which Ashford did not approve.
“It has been some time, Lady Lamb. You still look as lovely as always.” Her short curly hair gave her the look of a pixie, her hazel eyes large in her heart-shaped face.
She waved a hand. “Please have a seat. Would you care for refreshment?”
“No, thank you. I will only take a moment of your time.” He waited for the lady to take a seat on a hard backed chair and then proceeded to take a seat on the nearby sopha.
Despite the rumors that Lady Lamb was heavily addicted to laudanum and drink, she appeared lucid and in charge of her faculties. The faint smell of cigarillo smoke wafted to him. Perhaps the lady had also taken up smoking?
“My man said your visit was of some urgency,” she said briskly.
