Once Upon a Time in Bath (The Brides of Bath #7) - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,58
the heiress. Did everyone in Bath know Forrester was marrying the daughter of a very wealthy man?
“Forgive me for not making better introductions,” Glee said. She proceeded to properly introduce Dot to the assembled ladies.
“So does your husband look exactly like his twin?” Dot asked Catherine Steffington.
“That’s what everyone says. I, too, thought so until I . . . fell in love with Melvin. Now I could never, ever get them mixed up.”
“I must confess,” Dot said, “I cannot wait to meet Bath’s resident scholars. Coming from so rural an area, it’s thrilling for me to think I’ll have the opportunity to meet someone who’s published a book. Please thank your husband for agreeing to come to our salon Friday night.”
“I’m greatly looking forward to it,” Mrs. Steffington said.
Dot addressed Glee. “I wanted to personally invite you to the salon, and it looks as if I’m going to have the opportunity to invite your sister and the others all at once.”
“I will own,” Catherine Steffington said, “I was surprised when Melvin told me he had agreed to read from his work at your salon, Miss Pankhurst. My husband normally lacks social instincts.”
“Is that why I haven’t seen you at assemblies?” Dot asked the pretty blonde.
The younger Mrs. Blankenship concurred. “Jonathan’s not fond of assemblies, either.”
Glee directed her attention to Dot. “Mary was my school friend long before she ever met and fell in love with Jonathan, and I can vouch for the fact she, too, was not enamored of assemblies.”
“How fortuitous that your old friend has become your sister,” Dot said.
“It is indeed,” the quieter Mary Blankenship said. “I was an only child.”
“It’s the same with me,” Dot said.
Glee turned to her sister-in-law. “And, like you, Mary, Miss Pankhurst has already become quite close to Annie Appleton.”
“Indeed I have. Since coming to Bath my good fortune knows no bounds.”
“Lord Appleton, I am sure, will make a wonderful husband,” Mrs. Steffington said.
Such a comment gladdened Dot. “It strikes me,” she said, regarding Mrs. Steffington, “that your husband and Sir Elvin are vastly different.”
Every person in the chamber broke into laughter. Catherine Steffington laughed so hard tears streamed from her huge blue eyes. “The twins are as dissimilar as a tortoise to a hare.”
“And I daresay your bookish husband is the tortoise,” Glee said.
Catherine Steffington nodded. “Indeed, the scholarly tortoise.”
“I think Miss Pankhurst’s idea of a literary salon sounds delightful,” Mrs. Moreland said. “I’m sure Thomas will enjoy it.”
“My son’s not nearly as shy as Mr. Steffington,” Mrs. James Blankenship said. “I do believe Jonathan might even enjoy reading from his works in front of a room full of admiring friends.”
Dot no longer felt out of place. Every woman here made her feel welcome.
Then the butler entered the chamber and handed Glee three cards at once. “How exciting! All the Appleton sisters have come. That must mean Agnes and Abby are back in Bath.”
Just when Dot was getting comfortable. What would Forrester’s other sisters think of her? Would they be as gracious as Annie?
Her pride was minimally bruised. They’d come to see Glee Blankenship instead of her. And she was soon to be a member of their family.
Her insides fluttered as she watched the doorway. Annie came in first. The second sister looked remarkably like Annie, and of course, they both looked remarkably like Forrester. The third one, though, looked vastly different. She was short and plumper and was possessed of blonde hair. Dot immediately thought of Mrs. Steffington’s comment about the twin brothers being as dissimilar as a tortoise to a hare. That’s how the smaller sister looked compared to Annie and the other one.
Annie’s face brightened when she saw Dot, and she came straight to her. “Your father told us you’d be here! I’m ecstatic that you will finally get to meet my gallivanting sisters—soon to be your sisters.”
The one who looked so much like Annie was Agnes, and the short one, who was also the youngest, was Abby. Agnes not only resembled Annie, she adopted her mannerisms and was possessed of the same graciousness Annie always exhibited—without quite as much exuberance.
“Oh, I declare,” Abby exclaimed upon being introduced to Dot, “she’s much prettier than . . .” She paused for a moment, embarrassed, then recovered and said, “than the women who normally appeal to Timothy!”
Dot could feel the heat climbing up her face. The sisters must have been told—possibly in a letter?—about Dot’s plainness. Thank God her father had averted even more painful humiliation