Clara froze. “I’m not telling Mama.”
“Why not? You must! Don’t be ridiculous.”
She looked down at her lap, wringing her hands together. “Please don’t say a word.”
I scowled. “There must be a reason.”
Clara was suddenly defensive. “She will claim responsibility for the match. She will reap the benefits of our living, and after how she has treated me, treatedus, our entire lives…well, I don’t think she deserves it.” Her voice carried a hint of bitterness that surprised me. She recognized the harshness of her words and tried to recover, eyes wide. “I would just prefer that her opinion of me not be based upon the advantage of my marriage. Does that make sense?”
I sighed. “But she still expectsmeto marry him, and I can’t continue lying to her.”
“Then don’t.” Clara scowled. “Tell her you do not wish to marry for advantage.”
“But I do!” My voice was rising now.
“Whose advantage, Charlotte?”
Her words rang in my ears. “What?”
“Whose advantage would you marry for? Because not allowing yourself to love, clinging to these ridiculous ideas of a happy life…it’s ruining you. Tell Mama the truth and don’t let her stop you. Make new dreams for yourself, set new goals, let go of the things you left behind because they have certainly let you go. Please, I beg of you, don’t become the person you once were.”
I felt defeated, and a thousand questions rolled through my head at once.
Her eyes became gentle. “Make the most of your life here. Find James and tell him how you feel. You helped me and now it is my turn. If I must meddle, I will.”
For the first time, I truly considered it. Living here in that tiny house of his, smiling and laughing, shopping in the villageunder a grey sky, eating fish and spending evenings playing whist with Clara and Lord Trowbridge while Sophia ran about in her pretty dresses and twine tiaras. A fierce longing for that life came over me in waves. But all the while I saw the edges of my imagination barred in steel. There was more than this. How could I ever settle?
My eyes fell downward, and I noticed Clara shift in her seat. It was a subtle movement, but I saw a corner of a torn piece of parchment hidden beneath her skirts.
“What is that?” I pointed.
“What?”
I reached across her and pulled what appeared to be an opened letter out from beneath her. “This.” I frowned when I saw the wax seal—our seal. “This is from Mama? Why did you try to conceal it?”
Her face fell. “Please stay, Charlotte! I know you won’t want to, but please.”
Hardly listening to her, I unfolded the letter and read, heart pounding with anticipation.
My daughters,
It has been four long months, and I presume that if you haven’t been engaged by now to Lord Trowbridge, you never will. Therefore, I took matters into my own hands. Mr. Bentford, my dear cousin, has finally opened his eyes and my schemes have met success. We are to be married! He offered for me not two days ago. He is growing richer by the day with his business investments and is gaining respect among society. I expect they should all overlook our past disgrace and accept us anew.
Our good fortune does not end there. Two young men have moved into town, Mr. Webb and Mr. Morely. They both havelarge estates in the country, and Mr. Webb will one day be a viscount. We invited them to dine with us and both were quite smitten by your portrait, Charlotte.
So, in light of these recent events, remaining in Craster will no longer be necessary. I have sent a coach and one maid to convey the two of you, along with Miss Bentford, home. It should arrive promptly on the seventh, should the weather hold. I look forward to your arrival and our reunion.
Mama
The air seemed to have been drawn out of the room, and silence hung heavy. I stared at the letter until my eyes went out of focus. Mama was inviting me home. I read it again, just to be sure it was real. There the words were, right in front of me, plain and certain. My gaze shot to Clara. “Why would you hide this from me?” My heart thumped. “The seventh…that’s tomorrow.”
“Don’t go, Charlotte!” she cried. I hadn’t noticed the tear on her cheek.
I was quiet as my mind spun, trying to piece together the news I had just received. I had been so close to excusing the possibility of ever returning home, but now here it was, an invitation and a second chance. I would be a fool not to take it.
“I’m going.”
Her eyebrows tipped down and new tears wet her eyes. “Don’t make such a mistake! You are not thinking clearly. Please. Please stay!” She held my arm in an unrelenting grip, as if that alone could keep me here.
