Page 59 of A Literary Liaison
“Excellent. That’s the spirit.” Hereford gestured to the tunnel. “Shall we return to the world above? It is rather damp in here.”
*
Metropolitan Review, 24 June 1840
My Esteemed Miss Lovelace,
I must commend you on your ability to wield sarcasm as deftly as a fencer wields a foil. Bravo! It seems you are capable of passion after all, even if it is merely the passion of indignation.
Your ever-eager servant,
Aengus Steele
P.S. I’ve taken the liberty of reserving a front-row seat for your eventual public reading. I do hope you’ll practice your enunciation. It would be a shame if my words were to lose their impact due to poor delivery.
The gentle clink of teacups and the soft murmur of conversation filled the cozy parlor of Hatchard’s bookshop on Piccadilly. Elisha, Amelia, and Charlotte Carlisle sat ensconced in a quiet corner, their heads bent together in earnest discussion. The scene was a far cry from their first meeting seven years prior, when Charlotte, then a fledglingbarrister, had represented Elisha and Amelia in their protest against the abhorrent conditions in London’s workhouses. Through a clever combination of public sympathy and legal maneuvering, she had managed to prove their protest had actually prevented a deadly outbreak of typhus. The magistrate, though initially hostile, had been swayed by Charlotte’s passionate argument that their actions had served the public good, particularly when several prominent philanthropists stepped forward to support their cause.The Timeshad even published a favorable account of the proceedings, turning what could have been a harsh sentence into a mere warning and cementing Charlotte’s reputation as a defender of the downtrodden.
That fateful encounter had forged a bond between the three women, united in their pursuit of justice and social reform. Charlotte’s impassioned arguments in the courtroom had not only secured better treatment for the workhouse inmates but had also kindled a fierce determination in Elisha and Amelia to affect change through the power of the written word.
As they partook of Earl Grey and nibbled upon delicate petit fours, Charlotte regaled Elisha and Amelia with a most fortuitous encounter involving the Duke of Lancaster, and the connections forged through her esteemed husband.
“What a remarkable coincidence!” Amelia exclaimed, her eyes alight with intrigue.
“Pray tell, is His Grace in good health? Does he remain in London?” Elisha inquired, her tone carefully measured.
Charlotte’s gaze sharpened, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. “He appeared to be in fine fettle, as far as I could discern. Might I inquire as to your particular interest?”
“Elisha harbors tender feelings for the duke,” Amelia said, her voice lowered conspiratorially. “Most ardent sentiments, indeed.”
“I do not!” Elisha protested with haste, though her vehemence was met with skeptical glances from her companions.
“You shared an intimate moment,” Amelia persisted, her tone gently chiding.
Charlotte’s gloved hands flew to her mouth in astonishment. “Elisha! How utterly delightful! I trust the experience was agreeable?”
Elisha was certain her countenance had turned crimson as she shielded her face behind her hands. She offered a demure nod in response.
Her two friends emitted soft squeals of delight, embracing Elisha with unbridled enthusiasm, much to the curiosity of nearby patrons.
“I fear that fleeting moment shall remain singular in nature,” Elisha confessed, her voice tinged with melancholy. “His Grace withdrew from my acquaintance following my rebuff of his proposition for a more… intimate association.”
“Good heavens, how dreadfully unfortunate,” Charlotte murmured, her tone laden with sympathy. “Are you quite certain that is the cause of his reserve?”
“What other explanation could there be? While he did not speak the words precisely, the implication was clear.”
Charlotte regarded her friend with a measured gaze. “I might be inclined to concur with your assessment had I not made His Grace’s acquaintance. However, having done so, I find myself less certain. The prospect of courting a lady beneath his station carries significant implications for every facet of his life, including his relations. Perhaps he endeavors to sway his family or seeks means to render your courtship feasible.”
Elisha’s lips curved in a wistful smile. “Believing he is a rake helps guard my heart.” Elisha smiled brightly for her friends’ sakes. “I appreciate your attempt to lift my spirits, my dear, but such efforts are unnecessary. I doubt a gentleman of his reputation would lose sleep over one such as myself. In any case, I have no desire to discuss or hear of him further. I have made my peace with the nature of men and the circumstances between us. I assure you, I’m quite well. Now, mightwe turn our attention to Mr. Steele’s correspondence instead?”
“Speaking of Mr. Steele,” Charlotte said, a mischievous glint in her eye, “I confess, I’ve readWhispers of the Heart.”
“You haven’t!” Elisha gasped. “Since when did you stop reading law periodicals?”
“Oh, I find myself with some leisure time when not fighting men alone,” Charlotte grinned. “And so has Amelia, haven’t you?”
Amelia blushed but nodded. “It was quite passionate, actually. Perhaps lacking in finesse when it came to certain, ahem, gestures, but the emotion was certainly abundant.”
“I read it for the journal, but I can’t believe you both read it by choice even after my review,” Elisha said, shaking her head.
