“What do you mean, ran off?” he bit out with alarm.
“Mrs. McGraw fell in love and ran off to Gretna Green.” Charlotte still wasn’t looking at him.
“Why did you not tell me?” Victor knew his tone held an edge, but he couldn’t get over the fact that Charlotte had been living here, on her own. It didn’t matter that there was a house full of servants.
“I did not think it was important. And she is much happier with Mr. Trotten.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” he grumbled. What woman wouldn’t rather be married than a companion to a young woman? “When did she leave?”
Charlotte winced and glanced away. “Two years ago.”
Victor threw his napkin on the table and stood so quickly his chair fell back. “Two years ago, and nobody bothered to tell me.”
All color drained from Charlotte’s face, and she pulled back from the table, eyes wide with fear.
He really shouldn’t have yelled, but Victor could not get past the fact that Charlotte had been alone fortwoyears. Anything could have happened to her during that time.
She simply looked at him, blinking, and her mouth slightly open. He had frightened her. It was not well done of him, but didn’t she know how dangerous it was for a young woman on her own?
Victor took a deep breath and sat down after a footman rushed forward to settle his chair in the upright position. In a much calmer voice he asked, “Why did you think it not important?”
Charlotte played with the orange peels discarded on the plate before her. “I no longer needed a guardian as I was eighteen and had been living here for two years.” She looked up at him. “Besides, I am a married woman. How many married ladies have companions unless they are old or infirm?”
While her words sounded reasonable, her age was an issue. “Most young women are not left on their own at such an age, whether married or not.”
Charlotte lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. “So, I can assume that you will hire a new companion when you leave here again?”
Leave here again? Did she expect him to be gone so soon? Did she want him to leave?
Probably, he answered for himself. Especially after the way he had just yelled at her. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “No, of course not. I just wish you would have mentioned it.”
“Your reaction is the very reason I did not say anything.”
Victor arched an eyebrow. What did she mean by that?
“Mrs. McGraw was nice, but she wanted to dictate my every action and word and was constantly correcting me.”
Her father and his mother would have been no different, thus Victor understood her reasons.
Charlotte took a deep breath then lowered her chin. “I am sorry. I should have mentioned her leaving. I did not believe it necessary to have a companion when I have a maid, but if you feel it is necessary than I bow to your judgement.”
Victor anticipated further argument, but suddenly Charlotte wasbowing to his judgement.
Was it because he had frightened her? “I apologize for yelling.”
“I understand, Victor. It was a surprise, and I was wrong not to tell you,” she offered sweetly.
“Is there anything else that I should know?” he asked while studying her carefully and waiting to be told that she had taken on the duties of a governess.
She hastily took a drink of her tea then set it aside. “There is nothing that is a concern,” she said, which really didn’t answer his question. “I will be certain to tell you if I think there is something that you need to know.” With those words she stood. “If you will excuse me, I must see to the household and I have a call to make.”
Charlotte was gone before he could call her back.
Something had changed in Charlotte. Not just in the past four years, but while breaking their fast.
Why such odd behavior?
He leaned back and cradled his cup of coffee and pondered his wife. Two years Mrs. McGraw had been gone and Charlotte had been a governess for one. What else might she be hiding from him?
