Page 40 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Chapter Thirteen

Caroline spent anhour with Davy, amazed at the improvement he’d made since their last session. The boy told her he read aloud every night with his friend once they’d finished the day’s tasks and she encouraged him to continue the practice. She gave him two new books to share with the other stable lad and then changed her gown for tea before joining Rachel and Evan in the carriage. Once they arrived, Evan escorting the two women to Luke’s front door. A second carriage pulled up and out spilled Jeremy, Catherine, Leah, and Alex. They joined the others just as the butler admitted them.

Leah linked her arm through Caroline’s. “I was visiting my sister before we came. All we could talk about was your new bookstore and tearoom. We wanted to come early. In fact, Cor already came.”

“Cor?” Caroline asked, stumped at the unusual name. “Who is that?”

“Our grandmother,” Rachel replied as the butler led them upstairs to the drawing room. “She is the Dowager Duchess of Everton and a force within theton. If Cor supports you, thetonwill follow suit.”

Nerves rippled through Caroline. She needed her ventures to become a success. Not only did she have investors that would need to be repaid but it was important to earn enough money to put back into the bookstore and pay her own bills. What if everything boiled down to one elderly woman giving a yea or nay to society?

As she entered with the large group, she immediately spotted the dowager duchess seated in a large wing chair. Luke had pulled his own chair close and talked animatedly with his grandmother.

“Come and meet her,” Rachel said, pulling Caroline in the direction of the woman who had the best posture she’d ever seen.

“Cor, this is Lady Caroline Andrews,” Rachel said breezily. “She’s about to open a fashionable bookstore and tearoom. We’re going to be talking about it over tea.”

Dark eyes scrutinized Caroline carefully. The older woman had to be at least sixty. Possibly, even seventy, yet her timeless beauty shone through as she smiled kindly at Caroline.

“My dear, come and sit with me.” She reached out her hands and took Caroline’s. “I’m delighted to meet you. Call me Cor. Everyone does.” She turned to her grandson. “Luke, give Lady Caroline your seat. We must become acquainted.”

“Of course, Cor,” he said smoothly and offered her his seat. “I’m off to check on tea.”

She sat and the older woman said, “Tell me why you want to go into business, my dear. It’s not every day a woman of thetonchooses to do so.”

“I’m not your average society woman, Cor,” Caroline said. “Living in America changed my perspective on a few things. I was also influenced by my Aunt Evie.”

“Evie?” Cor mulled the name over. “Was she Evangeline Andrews by any chance?”

“Yes. Only family called her Evie, or so I’ve been led to believe.”

Cor patted Caroline’s hand. “Evangeline Andrews caused a bit of a scandal in her day. She was a most beautiful girl. Danced like a dream. All the men fawned over her. Let me think.” The old woman frowned, her lips pursing. “Ah, yes. She broke her engagement to some silly fool. I heard she ran off with an American.”

She nodded. “Yes, that’s my aunt. She married a sea captain and became Evie Morton. They never had children and when Captain Morton passed, she sold his ship and with the proceeds opened a bookstore. That kept her plenty busy.”

“So you went to visit this aunt?”

“I did. I even worked in her bookstore while England and America were at war.” Caroline quickly explained the rest of her short history and how she’d come home with the dream to do the same in London.

“Luke tells me you’re adding a tearoom?”

“Yes. To me, reading and tea go hand in hand. It seemed natural to offer a bite of something sweet to eat with a cup of tea. Also, if I can attract women to my bookstore and circulating library, they might decide to meet and shop first and then stay for tea afterward. Many conversations have occurred over a cup of tea. Men have their clubs. Women have circulating libraries. Evie’s Bookstore and Tearoom will offer a chance to socialize and purchase a book, as well as exclusive items from Madame Toufours.”

“Catherine’s modiste?” Cor asked, her eyes lighting up. “Oh, tell me about this part.”

Caroline outlined the details of the arrangement and included drawing buyers in with an autograph session from the Duchess of Everton and her latest book.

“You are a shrewd businesswoman, Lady Caroline,” the dowager duchess noted. “I would like to see this bookstore’s location if I’m going to recommend it to my friends.”

“I want to come, too,” Leah begged. “I know Alex has already been there.”

“You’d better include Rachel and me in that invitation,” Catherine said. Looking at Cor, she added, “I’m thinking about doing a reading from my latest book. Mr. Bellows is working to have it published by the time Caroline’s shop opens. Can you imagine how many sales will occur that will benefit our orphanages?”

Luke appeared with two women. They rolled tea carts in.

“Time to sample and give your opinions,” he said, directing the women where to place the carts.

Caroline saw everything needed to make tea on the first tea caddy, including a hot water urn and heater and a plethora of teacups. It surprised her that three teapots had been brought, though.

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