Charlotte smiled. “You have made me look beautiful, Miss Stevens. I do not know how to thank you.”
“And now,” Elizabeth said, opening the second pot, “Miss Stevens will show you how to apply the henna with this fine brush. I purchased a light brown; it is just enough color to emphasize your eyes.”
Miss Stevens inclined her head. “You need only apply it once every three or four weeks. The color usually lasts that long. No one will detect it, not even the most observant eye. By darkening your brows a couple of shades deeper, you will see how they will also frame your eyes.”
When it was done, Charlotte studied herself in the mirror. “I look like myself, only pretty instead of plain.”
“You look like yourself after a long walk in good weather and a glass of wine,” Elizabeth replied with a grin. “Come now, we must get you dressed. We are visiting the rector today.”
Later that morning, the three gentlewomen rode out in the open carriage to the parsonage. After a drive of twenty minutes, the carriage turned onto a track that led straight to a modest, two-story cottage. Climbing roses covered one wall, and tall yew trees shaded the other. The twisted, gnarled trunks made the parsonage appear as though drawn from a child’s storybook. The cottage was charming.
The rector, Mr. Gerard Roberts, received them in his study. When the housekeeper showed them in, he rose to his feet and bowed. Elizabeth made the introductions.
Mr. Roberts gestured to a couch. “Please, be seated, ladies.”
Elizabeth smiled at the handsome young man. “Thank you for receiving us, Mr. Roberts. We have come to discuss a Sunday School class for the children. We should like to teach them toread and write. Do you have time to consider this proposal with us?”
“I am at your service,” he replied.
Charlotte sat quietly and studied the man. He was tall and well-favored, with intelligent eyes and a gentle manner.
Elizabeth continued, “We should like to offer a Sunday class for the children of the parish, beginning this summer. The three of us will take turns leading the sessions. If the effort proves successful, we hope to encourage the wives and older daughters of neighboring households to join us, so that the sessions might continue throughout the year.”
Mr. Roberts nodded slowly. “You would offer instruction in both reading and penmanship?”
“Yes,” Charlotte said, speaking for the first time. “Basic letters, scripture readings, perhaps even arithmetic, if time permits.”
“You wish to use the small storage room attached to the church?”
“Yes, sir. We would need to clean it out to make room for the children to sit,” Elizabeth added.
The rector pursed his lips in thought. “Very well. You need not persuade me further. The church is fortunate to have ladies willing to serve. I shall make the room available by this Sunday. I recently discarded much of the rubbish, though some still remains. I can see to the rest this week.”
He paused. “We have nothing for them to sit on.”
Elizabeth replied at once. “I shall go to the wood shop in Lambton and use my pin money to have two pews constructed. Will you be so good as to provide the necessary measurements to the carpenter?”
Georgiana smiled. “I have pin money as well, Lizzy. You may use it.”
The rector looked pleased. “Ladies, I will inform the families at once. I daresay the children will be eager to begin. And Mrs. Darcy, I shall provide the measurements to George.”
Elizabeth inclined her head. “Thank you, Mr. Roberts. I am very much obliged.”
That afternoon, the ladies returned to Pemberley and gathered in the music room. Georgiana wandered to the pianoforte and sat down to play.
Elizabeth sat beside her friend. “Well, Charlotte, what of Mr. Roberts? He is very quiet, is he not?”
Charlotte shook her head. “No, not at all. It is a pleasure to be in his company. Lizzy, you must know how I sometimes long for silence. Papa speaks so much, on so little, that I often take a walk simply to escape the sound of his voice.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I did the same, though in my case it was Mamma’s prattle I fled.”
There was a pause, then Elizabeth said, “I think he is very handsome. What do you say?”
Charlotte frowned slightly. “He is too handsome. One wonders how such a well-favored man has remained unmarried.”
“As for that,” Elizabeth replied, folding her hands, “he was a poor curate for six years. The former rector passed away only recently, and Fitzwilliam has now given the living to Mr. Roberts. Until then, Mr. Roberts did all the work and received very little income.”
Charlotte nodded. “That was very decent of Mr. Darcy.”
