Read Summerset Abbey: Spring Awakening (Summerset Abbey Trilogy) for Free Online

to be more precise. I am going to work at the Rodgers Settlement House.”
    Lady Reinhardt, who had remained silent until now, audibly gasped, and even Mrs. Asquith’s dead bird seemed to look at Victoria reproachfully.
    Next to her Kit stifled a laugh, and Victoria felt the devil rise up in her.
    “Well, I never heard of such a thing!” Lady Cash said.
    “Oh, yes.” Victoria nodded. “I’m going to be a lady bachelor. My nurse from prison will be living with me.”
    The silence dropped into the room like a bomb. The women glanced at one another, unsure as to what to do or say next. Victoria was, after all, the niece of their friend the formidable Lady Charlotte, and the daughter of a knight.
    “Victoria, are you shocking my guests?”
    Every head in the room turned toward Mrs. Kittredge’s low, sultry voice. It was early afternoon and Mrs. Kittredge wore a peacock-blue tea outfit with insets of lace as if it were state dress.As always, the style was slightly oriental, with kimono sleeves and a low bodice. She wore her dark hair back with a wicked straight fringe across her forehead that accented her dark-almond eyes. The expression on her face showed amusement, but her eyes held a warning that Victoria caught immediately. She would allow Victoria to go only so far as she found it entertaining, but anything that would threaten her own status was out of the question.
    Victoria understood. Mrs. Kittredge had taken her husband’s fortune and turned it into a stepping-stone into society, and her position was precarious. As unorthodox as she was, she still played by the rules, and now that her husband was dead, and the aristocrats no longer relied on his business to make money, her position was more precarious than ever.
    Victoria kissed Mrs. Kittredge on the cheek, as did Kit.
    “I’m so sorry I’m late. I had an unavoidable delay. Thank you all so much for coming. Where is that unfortunate butler with the tea?”
    As if in answer, the butler appeared in the door with a tinkling tea cart.
    “Victoria, would you do us the honor of pouring tea, darling? Gertrude, wherever did you get your cunning hat? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    Victoria poured tea as graciously as she could muster while Kit fidgeted next to her. He hated this sort of thing and avoided it like the plague. Again she wondered what they were doing here.
    She handed him a cup. “You owe me one,” she whispered.
    He gave her a cheeky grin. “So, have you found a flat?”
    The other women went quiet, listening. “Yes, actually, in Chelsea.”
    “Isn’t Chelsea full of unemployed actors and opium dens?” Lady Balfour sniffed.
    Victoria nodded eagerly. “Oh, I hope so! How exciting! Did you know that Percy Bysshe Shelley used opium?” She recited:
    Silver key of the fountain of tears,
    Where the spirit drinks till the brain is wild;
    Softest grave of a thousand fears,
    Where their mother, Care, like a drowsy child,
    Is laid asleep in flowers.
    “Bravo!” Kits burst out, clapping. Victoria nodded.
    Mrs. Kittredge blinked. “Just so.” She cleared her throat, then, looking pointedly at Victoria, said, “So when are you and Kit going to announce the engagement?”
    Victoria froze, her tea raised halfway to her lips.
    “Mother!”
    Kit’s voice was indignant, but a shot of anger ricocheted through Victoria’s chest nonetheless. He had to have set her up for this. How else would his mother have been led to believe that an engagement was imminent? How dare he lead his mother to believe they were to be married?
    His mother shrugged elegantly while her guests watched wide-eyed. “It’s a legitimate question. You two have spent every available moment together for months.”
    Victoria was reeling. Suddenly her former perception of Mrs. Kittredge shattered. The woman clearly didn’t care one whit about her reputation if she was willing to start a family row in front of these gossips.
    “Oh, we’re never getting married,” Victoria