“Lord Timothy had always been a scholar. I am not surprised that his profession includes books,” Victor chuckled.
“Monique?” She was the fourth woman that Charlotte had mentioned but Victor couldn’t determine who she might be, or who she could be married to.
“She ownsLes Modes de Monique.”
Victor nodded. Why was Charlotte friends with a dressmaker when she had not purchased clothing in over two years?
“The five of you are close?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered. “I know that it may seem odd, but none of us were ladies when we first came to Willanton, and Monique was the first friend each of us made.”
It was an oddity as he knew of no lady who considered a dressmaker her friend, but a village was far different from London.
Charlotte reached for the papers again.
“Percy told me that he visited Harwich over the Christmas holiday and attended a ball held by Lord and Lady Melcombe.”
“Yes, he did,” Charlotte answered. “I made his acquaintance there.”
Why did she seem nervous about admitting such? He certainly couldn’t fault his wife for attending a ball.
“Did you enjoy the ball, and did you have a chance to dance?”
Of all the things that she had written him over the years, this was something that should have been mentioned, but it was not.
“It was lovely, and yes I did.” She glanced away from him.
Had something more happened than simply dancing? “What is wrong?”
“Was it wrong of me to attend without you? Was it wrong of me to dance with Baron Jordan and others?”
Was that her concern? “Of course not. I have been attending balls for these past four years, though I try to avoid dancing when I can.”
“Because you are married, and it is not right?” she asked quietly.
“No. It is because I would rather not dance.” Perhaps there was an innocent explanation forthisdeception. “Is that why it was not mentioned to me? Were you afraid that I would object?”
She toyed with her napkin. “I was not certain.”
“Charlotte, you have had little opportunity to attend functions, unless assemblies are held in Willanton.”
“They are not,” she answered.
“Then I hope that you danced enough that your feet were painful the next morning.”
Her smile was slight. “I did not dance that much, but it was enjoyable. It was the only ball I had ever attended, and I was grateful for the partners who showed patience.”
“Patience?” he asked.
“I may have trodden upon a few toes.” She winced.
“I am certain none of them minded. I have had my toes crushed and it is not an inconvenience when the lady is also quite pretty.”
Charlotte glanced away from him again, though he wasn’t certain why. Perhaps she wasn’t used to compliments.
He had been suspicious of her secrets and this one was quite innocent.
He did not mind that she attended a ball and danced with other gentlemen. What he minded was that they had been given the chance to partner her and Victor had barely kissed his wife.
