How to Please a Lady Read Online Free PDF

distractedly. He was looking across the ballroom floor where his wife stood with a small group of young people.
    Rose’s stomach took a sharp and unexpected tumble. “What do you mean? Charlie would never miss the birth of a foal and certainly not Moonrise’s.”
    â€œDidn’t you know?” her brother asked. “Oh, I can see you didn’t. At any rate, Charlie’s off to America in a fortnight. Has some relative there with a nice position for him.”
    â€œHe has a nice position here,” Rose said, her voice small. She couldn’t imagine their stables without him. He’d been the first person Rose had seen when she’d followed her brothers to the stable that long ago day. She still remembered how he’d looked, a strapping young boy with an easy smile, a curly mop of blond hair, and gentle hands, who hadn’t minded a bit when she followed him about. It seemed completely incomprehensible that their stable would no longer have him there, and even more incomprehensible that when he left, she would never see him again, never be able to ask him questions or watch him rub down their cattle.
    â€œHe’s quite set on going,” Marcus said. “And I say good for him.”
    â€œOf course, we all want Charlie to be happy,” Rose said, but she felt almost as if she’d learned her dearest friend was going away forever, not a servant.
    â€œWho is this Charlie?” Mr. Cartwright asked.
    â€œOur head groom. He’s on to bigger and better things, I suppose,” her brother said, as if losing Charlie wasn’t devastating . . . to the stables and horses, of course. It was ridiculous that she should feel so sad; after all, she wouldn’t even be living here in a short few months. Charlie was part of her childhood and she supposed saying good-bye to that idyllic time would be difficult. Tonight, though, she refused to become morose and dwell on sad things. She refused to allow anything to ruin her evening. Looking around, she felt a large sense of satisfaction seeing her smiling guests. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely; it appeared all her mother’s hard work was paying off in spades. Then she spied Lady Priscilla Whitmore, standing quite alone and looking less than happy.
    â€œMarcus, do please ask Lady Priscilla to dance. I will not allow anyone to stand in a corner for this most important evening. She looks like a regular wallflower and I’m certain Eleanor won’t mind.”
    â€œEleanor always has a grand time and Lady Priscilla is a regular wallflower.”
    Rose flashed him a smile. “Not tonight.”
    Marcus laughed, then bowed, leaving her to chat with Mr. Cartwright. She adored his accent and had never had an actual conversation with an American. A school friend had married an American, but Rose had never had the opportunity to meet her husband before she departed for the States.
    â€œI hear you are interested in politics, Mr. Cartwright,” she said, thinking to begin the conversation with a topic he was certain to enjoy.
    â€œAre you interested in politics, Lady Rose?” he asked with a small smile.
    â€œNot at all. I was being polite.”
    Mr. Cartwright laughed aloud. “Thank you for your honesty.”
    â€œActually, I’m much more fascinated with America. Where do you live?”
    â€œNew York City. Have you ever been?”
    Rose shook her head. “No, but I hope to someday. I have a school friend who lived in New York for a time. She was a bit older than I, but we corresponded quite regularly after her wedding. She married a banker. Alas, I have lost touch with her. She lived on Fifth Avenue.”
    Mr. Cartwright jerked his head back as if shocked. “Not Caroline St. Pierre.”
    â€œWhy yes. Don’t say you know her.”
    â€œKnow her! She was my neighbor for two years. They’re in Philadelphia now. She was eight hundred eight and I am eight