Page 21 of A Scandalous Vow

I hope this letter finds you, Lydia and the children all doing well. You will be pleased to hear that Adam has settled in nicely to his life at Eton and seems to be enjoying school. I am certain his transition was helped by Peter, so please thank your son for me when you do seehimnext.

The girls and I arrived in London last week, and for the most part we are doing well. If I am completely honest, however, I do feel a bit lost this season, though I am sure that is to be expected. You may believe it or not, but this has me actually missing you and your wise council. If you and Lydia ever came to Town, you would find me on your stoop this moment instead of receiving this letter atGosling.

I never imagined I would ever be parenting alone, Robert. So I am seeking your advicein regard to Rachel. On the chance that you might remember when I was her age, howdidyou…

A scratch came at her door and Caroline looked up from hervellum. “Come.”

And then Simmons poked his head into the sitting room. “Lady Juliet Beckford and Lady Carraway have cometocall.”

Juliet and Felicity? That was a surprise. Caroline didn’t think her brother and Juliet were even due in London for another sennight. She placed her quill back on her desk and pushed up to her feet. Her letter to Robert would have to wait. “Thank you, Simmons. Wherearethey?”

“The white parlor,milady.”

Perfect. “Please deliver tea and biscuits,” she said as she started toward her borrowedservant.

“Or course, ma’am,” he agreed withanod.

Caroline made her way to her white parlor and greeted the two ladies with a genuine smile. “Juliet darling.” She began as she breezed into the room and hugged her sister-in-law. “I didn’t know you and Luke were in Town allready.”

“Fin was summoned for a meeting with Sidmouth,” Felicity, Viscountess Carraway, began from her spot on the settee, before Juliet returned to her seat. “So my protective older sister refused to let us come to London without her being right atmyside.”

“You’ve seen how long it’s taken Livvie to claw her way back into society’s good graces since her marriage,” Juliet retuned. “I dare anyone to give Felicity the cut direct in mypresence.”

Juliet did have a certain reputation. One that would see even the most feared dragon quaking in her fashionable slippers. She was such a devoted, loyal, and fierce lioness when she was of a mind, which was most of the time. In fact, Caroline was still rather proud with how she’d brought her brother and the very formidable Juliet together. It was, by far, one of her grandestachievements.

“I am so glad to see you both.” Caroline dropped into a chintz chair across from thesisters.

“And us, you,” Juliet assured her. “Luke would have come with us, but he had a pressing matter to attend to. So he asked me to send his love and vowed he would see you himself,verysoon.”

“How are you holding up?” Felicity asked rather pointedly, missing her usual airycheerfulness.

“Managing,” Caroline replied, giving her standard answer these days. Then she glanced toward Juliet. “I was just dashing off a letter to Robert when you arrived, hoping he might have advice for dealing with a headstrong sixteen-year-oldgirl.”

Her sister-in-law bit back a grin. “Well, expect him to suggest marrying her off to the first eligible fellowyoumeet.”

As Robert had done with Caroline. She shook her head. “I was hoping he might have mellowed some in his old age and might offer some sageadvice.”

“The day Robert Beckford mellows, I do believe the end is nigh for allofus.”

Juliet might be right about that. Her oldest brother was of the stodgy variety. Of course, he had mellowed some now that Lydia was in his life, but Juliet hadn’t known him before that time. She’d only met Robert after he was happily married and could only judge the residual stodginess, which was still a defining characteristic in her oldestbrother.

“Yes, well, if Georgie was here, I’d certainly have gone to her instead,” Caroline began, missing her once oldest friend the moment Georgie’s name left her lips. Her dearly departed friend had done a remarkable job with her own siblings, and her advice would most certainly havebeensage.

“Oh heavens,” Felicity laughed in response. “I’m sure you don’t want her turning out likeme. My sainted sister could only offer so much guidance when it came to my foolishstubbornness.”

In actuality,allof the daughters of the late-Duke of Prestwick had been born with stubborn streaks; Georgie was no exception to that. While each of the siblings might all have had different mothers, that Prestwick stubbornness they all possessed had to have been inherited from theirfather.

“You are perfectly delightful.” Juliet eyed her younger sister. “If I won’t allow others to disparage you, I certainly won’t allow you to do so toyourself.”

“I have landed myself in perfectly delightful messes,” Felicity countered and then the young blonde flushed a brilliant shade of red as her gaze flashed to Caroline. “Iamsorry. I didn’t mean to makelight…”

To make light of the fact that Felicity’s most famous and scandalous mistake had ended in David’s death, among others. That’s what she meant, and no matter how many times Caroline had insisted that she didn’t hold Felicity responsible for her now-late husband’s actions, the girl still blamed herself. “Pierce’s actions were his own,” she said for what had to be the millionth time. “Your escape from him was very brave. Georgie would have been very proud of yourresourcefulness.”

Juliet shifted in her seat and pinned Caroline with a look. “Is Rachel givingyoufits?”

Caroline blew out a breath. “She’s getting older, wants to be more independent, and I’m trying my best to ensure hersafety.”

Simmons entered with a tea tray and placed it on a side table before quietly excusing himself. He actually was a decent butler, regardless of how he’d come intoherlife.

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