sallythescorpian
a bad, bad girl
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
- Posts
- 12,106
London, 1837
Caroline Brampton thanked the footman who had just refilled her hot chocolate, and smiled down the table at her brother in law.
"David... I just wanted to thank you again, you and Isabel for taking me in. I would have.... struggled alone, with James away. I really do appreciate it!"
She had been at the Staunton town house, for almost a fortnight now, and it was starting to feel like home. Isabel, was her eldest sister, now 27, and she had married very well, accepting the hand of David Staunton and in so doing, becoming the wife of one of London's most powerful men, outside the nobility. His business interests stretched far and wide, he was a name a Lloyds, and a significant shareholder in the East India company. Secretly, Caroline wondered if he might be able to enhance her own husband's career prospects.
James, her husband of only a month, had set sail for Kabul with the 51st Regiment, in the hopes of making his fortune, like so many other young officers before him. British forces were being sent to the Afghan capital, as fears rose that Dost Mohammed, the Afghan leader loyal to England, was engaging with the Russians, who'se empire stretched to the other side of Afghanistan.
Yes, David might well be able to exert a positive influence in James's career, with little more than a word or two whispered in the right ear.
She looked up again, conscious of having allowed the conversation to slip. She looked at him, as he read the morning newspaper. He was tall and broad shouldered, and still a fine looking man. He was in his early forties, 15 years older than his wife, and more than double her 19 years!
She sipped her chocolate, and thought she had better ask about her sister.
"How is Isabel this morning? Feeling any better??"
Not that there was much wrong with her. Caroline squashed that uncharitable thought. Isabel was providing her with a roof over her head, and she would do well to remember that. Still, they had never been particularly close, and Isabel's "poor health" had always seemed to come and go conveniently.
Suddenly, she felt her face heat, as she recalled how the evening before, David had held her chair for her, as she left the table, and had somehow grazed her breast. It had been accidental, of course, and it would be unladylike to mention it, David, she was sure, had not even noticed. But she had, and it had reminded her of all that she was missing with her new husband far away. She looked at him now, and found his eyes watching her, and she felt her face heat anew, and she quickly lifted her cup to her mouth, thankful for the distraction.
Caroline Brampton thanked the footman who had just refilled her hot chocolate, and smiled down the table at her brother in law.
"David... I just wanted to thank you again, you and Isabel for taking me in. I would have.... struggled alone, with James away. I really do appreciate it!"
She had been at the Staunton town house, for almost a fortnight now, and it was starting to feel like home. Isabel, was her eldest sister, now 27, and she had married very well, accepting the hand of David Staunton and in so doing, becoming the wife of one of London's most powerful men, outside the nobility. His business interests stretched far and wide, he was a name a Lloyds, and a significant shareholder in the East India company. Secretly, Caroline wondered if he might be able to enhance her own husband's career prospects.
James, her husband of only a month, had set sail for Kabul with the 51st Regiment, in the hopes of making his fortune, like so many other young officers before him. British forces were being sent to the Afghan capital, as fears rose that Dost Mohammed, the Afghan leader loyal to England, was engaging with the Russians, who'se empire stretched to the other side of Afghanistan.
Yes, David might well be able to exert a positive influence in James's career, with little more than a word or two whispered in the right ear.
She looked up again, conscious of having allowed the conversation to slip. She looked at him, as he read the morning newspaper. He was tall and broad shouldered, and still a fine looking man. He was in his early forties, 15 years older than his wife, and more than double her 19 years!
She sipped her chocolate, and thought she had better ask about her sister.
"How is Isabel this morning? Feeling any better??"
Not that there was much wrong with her. Caroline squashed that uncharitable thought. Isabel was providing her with a roof over her head, and she would do well to remember that. Still, they had never been particularly close, and Isabel's "poor health" had always seemed to come and go conveniently.
Suddenly, she felt her face heat, as she recalled how the evening before, David had held her chair for her, as she left the table, and had somehow grazed her breast. It had been accidental, of course, and it would be unladylike to mention it, David, she was sure, had not even noticed. But she had, and it had reminded her of all that she was missing with her new husband far away. She looked at him now, and found his eyes watching her, and she felt her face heat anew, and she quickly lifted her cup to her mouth, thankful for the distraction.