“Damnandblast,”Charlottemuttered to herself as she paced the length of the bedchamber. She had been so careful but then nearly argued with Victor over her need of a companion.
Thank goodness she remembered how she was supposed to behave, and agreed to whatever he decided, or they could be in the breakfast room arguing right now and that would never do. Victor had to believe her to be a dutiful and respectful wife, or she could lose that which was most precious in the end.
Charlotte pivoted on her heel and began her trek back across the chamber as she came to the realization that Victor still considered her a child. That was evident by the way he had just yelled at her downstairs, as if she couldn’t take care of herself. She needed to convince him that she was a grown woman and no longer needed someone to guide her.
As she passed the mirror, Charlotte caught sight of her reflection. Oh, this would never do. Her hair was disheveled, and dirt stained the bottom of her gown. Why hadn’t she repaired her appearance before she sat down to breakfast? No wonder Victor had scolded her for not having a companion.
Charlotte crossed to the bellpull and gave it a tug before she set to remove the dress she had worn this morning.
When Callie arrived, Charlotte sat so that her hair could be arranged, and they discussed a new schedule. Given that she now knew when Victor would rise, Charlotte asked the maid to meet her each morning after she had finished painting to prepare her for the day. Then she would go off to the mill and return before Victor had arisen, but unlike today, her appearance would be put to rights.
She had hoped not to visit the mill again until after Victor was gone but learned this morning that she would be needed in the following days.
“I think I will wear the yellow dress today,” Charlotte thought after looking at the dresses within her wardrobe. “I will need my bonnet as well because I must pay a visit to Lady Melcombe.”
“Should I accompany you?” Callie asked.
Victor had grown angry because Mrs. McGraw had left, but Charlotte believed that it was because he hadn’t been told. Besides, this was Willanton, not London, and a maid to hound her every step was not needed. “I do not believe that is necessary, but please ask that the carriage be brought around.”
Callie bobbed her head and quickly left the chamber.
Charlotte usually walked to Lord and Lady Melcombe’s estate when she visited to teach their nieces, but she was too weary to make the trek today. The visit really wasn’t all that necessary either. She had already written to Althea advising of Victor’s return, but a part of her wished to see her friend.
It also gave her an excuse to be away from Victor. The more she was around him, the more chances she had of saying or doing the wrong thing, and as paying a call was quite acceptable, it was what Charlotte chose to do.
He had just stepped from the library when she descended the stairs. “Are you leaving?”
Charlotte smiled brightly. “I hope that you do not mind, but I planned to call on Lady Melcombe this afternoon.”
“Perhaps I should accompany you,” he offered. “I have not seen Melcombe since before he lost his brother and became the guardian of his nieces.”
If Victor was there, she’d not be able to converse openly with Althea.
“I am certain Lord Melcombe is likely at the mill. I am told he spends most of his day there.”
Victor studied her, and then nodded. “Very well. Perhaps you should issue an invitation for them to join us for dinner one evening.”
“Yes, of course,” she hastened to respond. “I will see when they are free.” Charlotte hurried toward the door.
Charlotte didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until the carriage was turning down the drive. However, Victor was likely to learn that she had been a governess this past year and therefore she must prepare an excuse that was reasonable, other than the funds were necessary.
Or perhaps he might never learn. Except that would require that not only Lord and Lady Melcombe keep her secret, but also Lord and Lady Harwich, Katrina and Lord Timothy…
Charlotte closed her eyes and leaned her head back. The more people that knew a secret, the likelier that it was to be revealed; therefore, she must come up with a reasonable excuse for when he did question her.
Chapter 11
Charlottehadnotexactlylied as to why she was visiting Lady Melcombe, but she hadn’t been truthful either. Otherwise, she would have taken Victor with her.
He also knew that when paying a call, a lady usually stayed for fifteen minutes. However, as they were in the country, the time could extend to half an hour, but not beyond. Except, in this instance, Victor knew that Charlotte’s purpose was not to visit. Likely she had her duties as a governess to attend to and would be gone the entire afternoon.
This also allowed him an opportunity to review the accounts. He was certain that in the accounting that she sent to him each quarter that Charlotte had listed wages for Mrs. McGraw. If she had been gone for two years, why was she still being paid?
After he retrieved the yearly ledgers, Victor opened the most recent and learned he was correct. Mrs. McGraw was listed as being paid.
Or was she?
What kind of accounting did Charlotte keep? She was a merchant’s daughter and proved to him in that first month that he did not need to employ a man of business to see to the finances. In fact, she had understood the accounting and needs of the estate better than he, and he had learned that Charlotte’s father had been training her for these duties as soon as she could read and calculate figures.
