“She does not,” Charlotte said with enough confidence as she could muster, “take it from me. I have it from Reginald himself that he does not care for her. It is an arrangement made on his behalf, not a matter of the heart.”
“Oh, but for men like Reginald, such arrangements take precedence over affairs of the heart,” Victoria reminded gently, “he must think of his duty to his title and family. The Lady Madeleine Oakley will always have that over me.”
“Are you taking measurements or distracting my customers?” Mrs. McCrae put in sharply, “If it is the latter, then you have more pressing business to be about.”
“It was my fault, Mrs. McCrae. I kept Victoria talking,” Charlotte eased with a guilty smile.
Victoria hurried away, and Charlotte thought about Reginald. She could not help him reach his goal of an extravagantly expensive gift to win Victoria, but perhaps she could free him from the arrangement he was part of with Lady Madeleine Oakley.
And perhaps if I do, he will forget those suspicions that I could see forming in his mind today, and thus protect Seth and Amelia from ruin.
CHAPTER 20
Ladies and gentlemen seemed to fill the pavement outside the Royal Theater at Drury Lane. Uniformed doormen stood beside the open doors, holding them open for the theatergoers beginning to file into the building. The carriage bearing Charlotte and Seth came to a halt, and several heads turned to observe the latest arrivals. Seth alighted first, wearing black, gray, and navy blue. His fair hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, and he looked every inch the Nordic prince.
He opened the door for Charlotte, then held out his hand to her. His eyes met and held hers, and a smile played on his lips. Charlotte did not look away from him but was also conscious of the eyes of those who still mingled outside the theater.
So, this is what Amelia experienced in her daily life? It is not unpleasant to be so noticed.
She alighted, and Seth swept her a courtly bow and kissed her hand. His smile said that he was reveling in their public status.She took his arm, and they turned. Charlotte acknowledged smiles and nods as they moved towards the entrance.
“I feel as though they are here for me,” she whispered to Seth, “too much of this will go to my head.”
“Theyshouldbe here for you. Amelia is well known in the ton, as am I, though for different reasons. But they should all be here to pay homage to you, Charlotte.”
He was not speaking loudly enough to be heard by any but Charlotte, and was barely moving his lips, but Charlotte looked around anyway, trying to see if anyone could have overheard.
“It is somewhat alluring. To be the center of attention for so many. One would think, too much would be corrosive to one’s moral compass.”
Seth nodded in thought. “Very astute. Celebrity corrupts absolutely.”
The pair entered the foyer, greeted by an elderly couple dressed finely in gold-embroidered cloth.
“Ah! Lady Nightingale,” boomed the man with a Roman nose that stood out from his otherwise small-featured face like an obelisk. “I see you have finally tamed this reprobate. He is becoming quite respectable under your influence.”
“Charles!” his wife reprimanded in hushed tones, “do not be discourteous. You were young once, too, and far from respectable as I recall.”
She had a pile of gray hair atop her head and a painted beauty spot on skin dusted white to conceal wrinkles. Charlotte did not know who they were, but Seth had briefed her on the principal ladies and gentlemen whom Amelia would be expected to know.
“Your Graces,” she said with a demure smile, “you compliment me beyond my achievements. His Grace, the Duke of Bellmonte, is refined and charming.”
“I was merely stretching my legs for a time after the confinement of Hillcrest,” Seth cut in, discarding the compliments utterly, “experiencing the world.”
The man, whom Charlotte recognized as the Duke of Canterbury, guffawed loudly.
“Your Grace must tell me where you have your dresses made. This is simply stunning,” Charlotte beamed to the Duchess, who looked all the more flattered.
“Suttons at Leicester Square provide all of my gowns,” the Duchess replied with pride.
“I must patronize Mr. Sutton’s establishment then,” Charlotte commented.
“Indeed. A novel idea to wear one’s wealth on one’s clothing rather than in a purse,” Seth finished with a mischievous grin.
A few weeks earlier, the remark would have led Charlotte on a one-way path to incense, seeing it as a slight on her sister’s reputation. But now, she suppressed a smile as she glanced at her supposed betrothed. There was the light of mirth in his eyes, which gave his face a boyish quality. She patted his arm.
“Oh, capital, capital!” the Duke enthused after missing a beat, earning him a humorous look from his wife. “I did not have you pegged as a card, Bellmonte. You and your betrothed must join us for bridge one night. We are not averse to some satirical humor, are we, dear?”
The Duchess leaned in conspiratorially. “I avow that we are verymodernin our outlook.”
