Chapter 5
Charlotte did not say a word as she was hurried into Lady Tremaine’s home, wrapped in blankets and escorted quickly out to her carriage.
She kept her silence all during the long ride home, while Aunt Bernadinetskedand worried and, at last, stopped asking questions.
She held her tongue as they arrived, and she was ushered into a hot bath and bundled into warm nightclothes and a heavy wrapper and perched before the fire to dry her hair.
Not until the maid left and she was alone at last, did she let her composure crumble. Bending over in pain, she fought the keening that had lodged in her throat. But then she straightened and vented her fury by pounding it out on the arm of the chair.
The tears started then. She let them fall, silent and hot, full of embarrassment and despair. They seemed without number, falling endlessly while she stared unseeing into the flames.
“Oh, my dear.”
How long had her aunt been there in the chair across from her? She didn’t know.
“Shall I leave you be?” Aunt Bernadine whispered.
“No. I hate the silence. It reminds me of Father.”
“Oh, my dear.” Her aunt’s tone sounded impossibly sadder, now.
“What on earth is wrong with her?” she cried out.
“I certainly do not know.” Bernadine hesitated. “Do you really think she arranged it?”
“If you had seen her face, you wouldn’t doubt it.” Charlotte’s gut twisted at the recollection of unholy glee in Harriet’s eyes. “Well, it doesn’t matter now. She’s got her revenge. Everything is ruined.” Charlotte dropped her head in her hands. She’d seen the looks on all of the faces tonight. The turned heads and the whispers behind hands and fans. Her Season was over. There would be no chance of contracting a marriage now. One fall in a ballroom was bad. In front of the king, no less. She’d barely survived that. A second fall, into a river? And being caught in the wet and dripping embrace of a man sworn not to marry?
Whiddon would suffer the consequences of the gossip for a bit. The incident would enhance his reputation of being a bit of a rogue. He would be forgiven in a matter of weeks, likely. But her?
She would be shunned, and for her, the situation was permanent. There would be no callers, no invitations, ever again. Women would sniff and cross the street to avoid her. Men would turn away, or make other, humiliating offers.
“There’s nothing left,” she said flatly. “No other respectable alternatives. No one will even hire me as a governess or companion, now.”
Bitterness and steely determination joined the fury in her chest. Harriett, that spoiled brat, would not win. Charlotte would find a way to support her family, to see them thrive the way they were meant to. Her mind drifted, searching, trying to come up with ideas she hadn’t already tried or discarded.
“Surely not all hope is lost,” Aunt Bernadine ventured. “We must wait and see what Lord Whiddon intends to do.”
That penetrated the fog in her brain. For a moment her mind went back to that kiss. Good gracious. That kiss. Girls whispered of how it felt, how it was done, but she’d always been a little unbelieving. Truly? Tongues? But no, she’d been wrong. And that kiss had been a revelation, full of surprise and pleasure and so muchwanting of more.
She should be glad of that kiss. Glad it was the sort to make your knees go weak and your mind go blank, and your mouth turn hot and insistent.
She should be glad, because it was likely the only one she’d ever get.
Charlotte abruptly stood and went to the small dressing room attached to her bedchamber. She pulled out a portmanteau and placed it on the bed.
“What are you doing?” Bernadine asked.
“Packing. I shall write in the morning to cancel our lease and see if we can get a return of part of the rent.”
“But, Charlotte—”
“It’s over,” she said flatly. “Why do you think they call himLord Unwilling? Lord Whiddon does not believe in marriage. He will not be riding in to rescue us. He will not offer for my hand.”
There was no time for grief, for mourning lost chances or even for railing at her hateful cousin. She must be practical. She must see to her own rescue and that of her family.
Just like she had always done.
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