Page 35 of A Gifted Earl

“In truth, I cannot give you a precise answer, but all of those you have listed here are of good families, and I do not recall having heard any negative gossip about them. I can see no reason to specifically exclude any of these people, so I would say that we should invite them, and see how things go.”

*****

It was barely three weeks to Christmas, and still, no one had bought the carriage. Venetia felt more afraid every day, that she would, in the end, have to consider marrying Lord Peterley. Each day, they waited eagerly for the footman to return from the village with the mail, and each day they had been disappointed by polite replies expressing a complete lack of interest in buying. Still, Venetia was determined to hope.

There was a tap at the parlour door.

“Enter.”

The footman came in, and proffered the correspondence tray. Venetia held her breath as her mother lifted the three letters from the silver tray, praying that this time there would be something of use to them.

The footman left the room, and Lady Hardenwell looked at each letter, attempting to discern who had sent them. She frowned, a puzzled look on her face, and set one aside, then went about breaking the seals on the other two.

“Lord Winthrop has decided against buying the stallion. And Lord Sharmont has decided against the carriage.”

“Oh no! I thought that Lord Winthrop was rather keen on the stallion! But – what of the third letter? Why did you set it aside?”

Lady Hardenwell dropped the two opened letters onto the small table beside her, and lifted the third, unopened one. She studied it again for a moment, then gave a small shrug, and broke the seal.

“I had set it aside because I did not recognise the writing. Let me read it.”

She unfolded the letter, and read, her eyes widening as she did, and a small gasp escaped her.

“What is it? Is it something good?”

Without a word, her mother handed the letter to Venetia.

The Earl of Templewick would be pleased to have the company of Lady Hardenwell and Lady Venetia Chater for a Christmas House Party, to be held at Templewick Grange for the last full week before Christmas.

The party will be attended by a select group of the aristocracy, and some of the more important people who live close to Templewick. I look forward to seeing you amongst the attendees.

Please advise if you will attend as soon as possible, so that all arrangements can be made.

Yrs.

Templewick.