Almost A Princess

Chapter 1 November 1816 It was moving day for the members of the Ladies' Library in Soho Square. Their lease had run out, and one of their staunchest supporters, Lady Mary Gerrard, had offered her mansion in the Strand. The house was buzzing as an army of ladies and their helpers set to work to transform their new quarters, room by room, from a palatial residence to a library with lecture rooms, reading rooms, and a bright and airy tearoom. Caspar Devere, Lord Castleton, better known to his friends as Case, stood just inside the marble entrance hall, taking it all in. He was a harshly handsome man, thirtyish, well above average height, with dark hair and gray, gray eyes that, for the moment, were distinctly amused. He left his hat and gloves on a hall table and wandered into the main salon. Some of the men who were helping the ladies were known to him, and that made him smile. Not many gentlemen wanted it known that their wives or sisters were members here. As the Viscount Latham passed close by carrying a chair, Case called out, "Freddie, where can I find Lady Octavia?" On seeing the earl, Latham registered surprise, quickly followed by amusement. In a stage whisper, he replied, "I won't tell anyone I saw you here, Case, if you don't tell anyone about me." Then in a normal voice, "Try next door. That's where she has set up her headquarters." Case wandered into another salon, and there she was, the library's founder and driving force, Lady Octavia Burrel. Dressed all in white in something that closely resembled a toga, with matching turban, she directed her small army as they came to her for their orders. Though there was much coming and going, there was very little confusion. Case was not here to help but for information, and when the crush around Lady Octavia thinned, he quickly crossed to her. He was sure of his welcome because he'd known her for as long as he could remember. She and his great-aunt were close friends. When she saw him, her chubby face lit up with pleasure. "Lord Castleton," she said. "This is a surprise! I had no idea you were interested in our cause." As Case well knew, there was a lot more to the Ladies' Library than its innocent name implied. The cause to which Lady Octavia referred was to improve the lot of women by changing the antiquated marriage and property laws of England. It was also involved, so rumor went, in helping runaway wives evade their husbands. In some circles, Lady Octavia and her volunteers were seen as subversives. In the clubs he attended, they were frequently the butt of masculine laughter. But there were others who sup-ported the aims of Lady Octavia and her League of Ladies. His aunt was one of them. He had never given the matter much thought. "I suppose," said Lady Octavia, "I have your aunt to thank for sending you to help us?" He avoided a direct answer. "I left her in Soho Square, directing things there. I'm looking for Miss Mayberry. My aunt told me she might be here." "She's in the pantry. Turn left and take the green baize door at the end of the hall." As Case walked away, Lady Octavia's gaze trailed him. He was easy to look upon, she reflected, this young man who appeared to have everything. As heir to his father, the Duke of Romsey, wealth, privilege, and position were already his, and it showed, not in arrogance exactly, but in something close to it. But it wasn't unattractive, just the opposite, especially to women. And now that he'd turned thirty and had finally taken up the courtesy title of earl, as befitted a duke's heir, he was even more attractive to women. There wasn't the woman born, his aunt had told her, who could resist Caspar, more's the pity. It would do him the world of good to taste rejection. Lady Octavia wondered how Lord Castleton had come to meet Jane MThornton, Elizabeth is the author of 'Almost A Princess', published 2004 under ISBN 9780553587746 and ISBN 0553587749.