Scarlet Devices Read Online Free PDF Page A

belly and smiled as she waved vaguely at the scene with the other hand. In the afternoon sun, most of the revelers had taken shelter in the shade of the lawn tents or under various pretty gazebos and pergolas placed strategically throughout the gardens. Others, more ambitious, engaged in casual sports, while small children dashed along the garden paths with sweets or cakes or cups of iced lemonade in hand. Though the foliage was still young, the new roses barely beginning to cover their supports, it was already taking on an informal lushness that lent itself perfectly to such gentle revelries. It was a far cry from the stuffy affairs they were all accustomed to, and Eliza approved thoroughly.
    â€œIs that very uncomfortable?” she asked Charlotte, as she watched her cousin’s wife shift in poorly hidden irritation on the thick cushion. Eliza thought it must be horrible, as it looked like the equivalent of carrying a large medicine ball tucked under one’s rib cage. “I wonder you can breathe. It must be so unpleasant.”
    Charlotte shook her head. “Not precisely. It’s . . . oh, how to put it? It was never explained very well to me, and now I see why. Difficult to put into words. It
can
be uncomfortable, but the real problem is you simply can’t put the thing down when you get tired of it. There it is, darling creature, getting bigger every day. I fully expect to adore it, but good heavens, what I wouldn’t give right now just to have a few minutes without it weighing on me. Especially in this heat. Even oxen get to shed the yoke at the end of the day.”
    Eliza giggled. “Charlotte, I don’t think you’re supposed to say that. And it’s hardly hot yet. I may even go back in for a shawl.”
    â€œYou’re quite right,” Charlotte agreed. “I’m always unbearably warm these days, though. And as for what I’m
supposed
to say, I think I’m supposed to either tell you it’s all a miracle and I’ve never felt more like a woman, or terrify you half to death by telling you only the most gruesome bits, in the most repellent terms possible.”
    â€œExactly. I’m usually more inclined to believe the latter. Miracles bore me. You may proceed with the horrors whenever you’re ready,” Eliza granted graciously. They shared a laugh, warm and easy in the dappled sunshine.
    â€œThere are some very interesting bits I would tell you if you were a married woman,” Charlotte said apologetically.
    Eliza sighed. “You could hint. You know I’m not
entirely
without experience in country matters. Not ruined,” she hastened to reassure Charlotte, “but not utterly innocent.”
    She appreciated that Charlotte didn’t condescend when she replied, “Your cousin would kill me if he found out. And he would, you know, because your mother would find out and she would tell him, so that he could kill me.”
    â€œThat’s all very true. I’m fond of you, don’t risk your life on my account.”
    â€œI wish I could. I rather wish you’d hurry up and find some nice young man, Eliza, so that you could marry and I wouldn’t have to bite my tongue all the time when we have these little chats. It makes me feel like an old biddy.”
    At twenty-three to Charlotte’s twenty-nine, Eliza sometimes felt like Charlotte might indeed be an old biddy by the time Eliza actually found somebody to wed. Not that she was sure she had any inclination toward marriage. “Are you waiting for me to marry as such, or just to have carnal knowledge of some poor fellow? I don’t know if the former is in the cards any time soon, but I’m sure I could arrange the latter.”
    Charlotte gave her a pointed look. “Be very careful joking that way, Eliza. I know you’re in favor of equality, and your parents have quite given up on your becoming a society darling, but the fact remains