What the Fates Decree: The Caversham Chronicles-The Titans of the Revolution Read Online Free PDF Page B

annual ball to find her on the dance floor with Elise’s husband, Michael. It was a scene straight from a fairytale in her mind. Her handsome husband cut in, asking his friend for permission to dance with her, his wife.
    For the rest of that evening, and duration of his stay, Kip was the most attentive, affectionate husband in all London. But she learned later, that he returned home unannounced because the Prime Minister had called upon him to take another, more urgent, assignment in India, where unrest was flaring up in the northern regions.
    Kip had promised her that he was not going to India in a military capacity. His task was negotiations.
    And for the past six years, he had come home for a month or two every year. In his last letter, he’d said he would be home for Christmas this year.
    This life was familiar to her, as her father had done the same for many years. And though Beverly’s mother had died when she was young, Penelope still had her to guide her as she grew into adulthood. Perhaps after Penny married, Beverly could travel with her husband to his assignments. She missed Kip greatly while he was away, and she’d often thought that if he were home more, perhaps she might have had another child. It was still possible, if she could keep him in the country long enough. She wasn’t past her childbearing years yet. Though Kip would probably have hysterics if she turned up pregnant. Silly man.
    But if she had another child, her husband would insist she remain in England while he continued to travel as a political envoy. If she married off Penny, there was a very good chance that she might once again be a bit more of a priority in her husband’s life.
    She wanted that so very much, but not at the expense of her daughter’s happiness.
    Penelope didn’t share confidences with her. Beverly wasn’t sure that was normal. But not having a mother of her own, she wasn’t exactly sure what normal really was. Lia and Elise had both said their daughters didn’t confide their innermost thoughts and desires with them either. Of the three of them, Lia was the only one who’d had the benefit of a mother for most of her younger life, and she said that she didn’t remember sharing confidences with her mother at all.
    Dipping the tip into the ink well, Beverly began,
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    G ood evening , my darling,
    I pray this night finds you feeling well. I am, of course, missing you greatly as usual.
    Well, my lord, another social season has ended. I’m making plans for closing up the townhouse for our return to Fenwicke Hall next week. Penelope will likely go to Woodhenge to stay with Charlotte for a few weeks before joining me.
    Remember the invitation to Rathcavan we received a few weeks ago? And do you remember that I initially had reservations about going? Well, once I realized that my main reason for not wanting to attend was entirely selfish, I knew I had to change my thinking for Penelope’s sake. Because I haven’t regained my full confidence in the saddle yet, I wouldn’t feel comfortable riding out with the first flight hunters. But I also could not deny Penelope (and Isabel and Charlotte) the opportunity to ride with your aunt on Rathcavan lands. The girls would get such inspiration from her. I know I do each time I visit with her. So I have decided to go to your Aunt Adina’s birthday celebration and hunt.
    I’m glad I didn’t immediately respond to decline her invitation, because a few days after I received Lady Adina’s letter, I received another from your cousin, Margaret. It seems the new earl’s sister, Lady Olivia, is betrothed to a young man, having met him less than one month ago. And now there will be a betrothal ball at the end of the month that we’re there.
    So it has now been decided that Penny and I, along with Charlotte, and Isabel, will all attend. Both Lia and Elise have said they wish to remain behind to spend time with their husbands and younger children.
    Of course, you know I wish you could be