Page 42 of How to Wed a Courtesan

She glanced up at him, her expression wary.

‘A ride through Hyde Park.’

Her brows rose and she pulled her hand away.

‘At the fashionable hour.’ He grinned. ‘With me.’

‘I don’t think that will make things better,’ she said quietly.

‘It will be the perfect opportunity for us to see one another again.’ He softened his voice. ‘And I do so enjoy seeing you, getting to know you again.’

She twisted her fingers against one another, the gesture one from their days in Oxfordshire. Clearly it was still a habit.

‘Evander, I—’

He put up his hand to stop the rejection before it could be spoken. ‘Please at least consider it. I’ll have a carriage sent tomorrow. If you should find the idea agreeable, the carriage will bring you to me. Should you not, I will enter the park alone on horseback.’

Breath held, he waited for her response. It had been so good the night before to see her, to hear her laugh, and not only to learn who she had become, but to allow her to see who he had become. Hopefully one day she would deem him worthy of her trust once more. He only needed time. With her.

If she would grant it.

At last, she nodded. ‘I will consider it.’

It was as close to a yes as he might get. Now he only needed to wait to see if she showed. And he hoped to God she would.

No sooner had darkness fallen than Sarah entered Lottie’s room to inform her that her newest student had arrived. Lottie tugged off the dark fitted smock she wore, that protected her gown from being spattered by paint.

The watercolour was almost done. Lottie stepped back, mindful to avoid Silky, who often settled just behind her heels, and regarded the painting. It was a small cottage set in a field, with dots of trees in the distance and a small garden at the front.

‘It’s lovely,’ Sarah said. ‘But you always paint that cottage. Shouldn’t you try something different?’

Lottie stared at the small house and a hollow ache rang in her chest. ‘It’s where I was happiest.’

She took a strip of linen, washed the paint from her fingers, and stroked a hand over Silky before making her way down the stairs to where her new student awaited her first lesson.

As soon as Lottie entered the drawing room and spied the pretty blonde, she recognised her. It was Lady Alice, a young woman who had once been the most sought-after lady of the ton and had disappeared suddenly after a terrible scandal involving her then betrothed.

‘Lady Alice.’ Lottie smiled at her. ‘It’s a pleasure to see you once more in London.’

‘Thank you,’ Lady Alice replied, with a flicker of a smile in return. ‘I confess my mother bade me return. I did not wish to.’ She shifted her focus towards the Brussels weave carpet. ‘People can be cruel.’

‘I understand that well,’ Lottie said, with more bitterness than intended.

Her new pupil lifted her head and regarded her with renewed appreciation. ‘I don’t even know if it’s possible for me to find a new suitor after what Lord Ledsey did.’

Lottie indicated the settee.

It was fascinating, how certain personalities required different approaches—something she had learned in her days as a courtesan that served her well now, as an instructor. With Lady Alice, Lottie knew, things would need to be handled gently. After all, it was not every lady who had to overcome the scandal of having had a betrothed who had attempted murder.

‘Do you want to take instruction with me?’ Lottie asked, as she did all her students. It was important to understand their intention in being there. Pupils who were forced into her tutelage weren’t inclined to succeed.

‘I do.’ Lady Alice smoothed her pink silk dress in an anxious fashion Lottie herself was familiar with. ‘But not because of my mother. Though she does agree with these lessons,’ she added quickly. ‘She hopes I’ll find another suitor.’ Her smile was brittle. ‘I believe she has pinned hopes upon me I may not be able to fulfil.’

Lottie remained silent while she spoke, allowing Lady Alice to fill the space with her thoughts.

‘Eleanor, the Duchess of Somersville, is the one who suggested I come.’ Alice pursed her lips. ‘You see, I feel rather outside of myself, and have for some time. I don’t know how to find who I used to be, and Her Grace said you might help guide the way.’

Ah, now it was making sense. There had been some hurt in her life, which left her bereft. That was something Lottie understood far too well.