Gripping the sides of her dress and crumpling the fabric between her fingers, Charlotte glanced at the pianoforte set in the corner of the room. Lady Thornton had adorned the room with white roses, leaving the glass doors open to allow a gentle breeze to circulate between the guests.
The cool air did little to ease her nerves as Charlotte began to wonder if she hadn’t made a mistake in agreeing to play at the ball. Yet Lady Thornton and Isabella had insisted, saying it would allow her to get back into the swing of things.
“Why are you so nervous?” Lady Isabella whispered beside her, glancing in the direction of Michael and his sister. It seemed almost as if she weren’t able to keep her eyes off the man for more than a few seconds at a time.
“I think this was a mistake.” Charlotte swallowed hard, praying that the lump in her throat would disappear. There was nothing more uncomfortable to her than feeling as if she were a mouse cornered by a cat.
The people began to whisper behind their fans, shooting curious glances in her direction. Charlotte couldn’t help feeling as if everyone were talking about her.
Don’t be silly.
Charlotte reprimanded herself; the guests were more than likely gossiping about her or one of the other ladies or even someone who had shown up late to the ball. She reminded herself of the fact that she wasn’t that famous amongst the ton that people would be talking of her looming performance.
Realizing that her friend was about to faint, Lady Isabella turned her full attention back to Charlotte. “What is it that has you in such a tizzy? Your face is so pale you look as if you’ve seen a ghost.” Lady Isabella looked her over, placing a hand on her arm in an attempt to ease her nerves.
“I haven’t played in front of people since the night my parents died.” Charlotte took a deep breath and blew it out in shaky intervals as if she were in a bumpy carriage.
“Oh, I was so distracted that I completely forgot about that.” Lady Isabella seemed almost sheepish as she briefly glanced at Michael Ashburton.
“It’s not your fault; I agreed to this. I just didn’t realize how difficult it would be,” Charlotte replied and tried to pull herself together. There was no use in backing out now. The guests were all expecting a performance, and both Lady Thornton and Lady Isabella would be ridiculed by the ton if there was no performance for the evening.
“I know it may be little consolation, but Mama has asked a lovely young lady to accompany you with singing this evening. I have not had the pleasure of making her acquaintance, and her name escapes me at present.” Lady Isabella frowned as she searched her mind for the name.
The murmurs amongst the guests grew even louder, causing Charlotte to listen more intently to what they were saying. A few snippets of conversation allowed her to ascertain that while she was not the sole topic of conversation, her name was indeed being spoken.
“I honestly can’t think of her name at present; my point is that some of the attention will at least be on her.” Lady Isabella smiled triumphantly with a nod as if she had solved the problem in its entirety.
“I suppose that does make me feel a bit better.” Charlotte took a deep breath and avoided looking at anyone else in the room. She needed to focus her mind solely on her playing and not let the singer down. That did at least allow her mind to relax.
The guests suddenly parted, allowing Lady Thornton to hurry towards the girls. Her cheeks were flushed and pink as if she had been hurrying about the room all evening.
“Mama?” Lady Isabella took her mother’s arm and steadied her just as the woman reached her side.
“Thank goodness, I found the two of you.” She struggled to regain control over her breathing as she lowered her voice and smiled at the guests, who were growing more curious by the minute.
“Has something happened, Lady Thornton?” Charlotte’s heart began to beat a little fast as she recognized the panic written across the woman’s face.
Straightening her spine and lifting her head, Lady Thornton spoke in a low voice as if nothing were wrong at all. “Don’t let the guests see that something has happened, although I think everyone may have heard by now, but the young lady who was to accompany you this evening has suddenly taken ill.” She let out a breath as if by relaying the news, someone took the burden from her shoulders.
“I … I can’t perform alone,” Charlotte stuttered, her breathing quickening as her chest rose and fell with panic.
“You will have to, dear; everyone has already heard that you will be performing this evening. A few people have even said that hearing you play after all of these years will be something to behold. There will be too much talk if you back out now,” Lady Thornton said with authority as she eyed the throng of guests who had begun to look in their direction expectantly.
So, they were all talking about me.
Charlotte suddenly felt sick as she pressed her fist into her abdomen, attempting to still the churning that was causing a great deal of nausea.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Thornton; it has come to my attention that you are in a bit of a predicament, and I think that I may be able to offer a solution,” Lady Sinclair spoke up quietly from behind the girls.
All three women turned to see the duchess and her son standing behind them with eager smiles on their faces.
Charlotte’s heart suddenly skipped a beat as she looked into Jameson’s intense blue eyes. It was almost as if he knew something she didn’t.
Lady Thornton nearly fell over backwards as she gripped her daughter’s arm.
“Your Grace, I apologize for the inconvenience. I had tried to keep the chatter at bay, but it seems that the rumour mill has once again worked faster than anyone else can.” She shook her head and looked in the direction of a few young ladies who were giggling and talking behind their fans.
“Please don’t apologize, Lady Thornton, these things are bound to happen from time to time. I only came to suggest that my son accompany Lady Charlotte this evening.” Lady Sinclair beamed from ear to ear before turning slightly to her son.
