Perhaps he was jumping to conclusions and worrying for nothing. Omission of the ball had been for an innocent reason. Maybe they all were.
Yet, she still had not mentioned being a governess, and though he could come right out and ask, Victor was now more curious as to how long it would take her to tell him, or if he would need to discover it on his own and then wait for her excuse.
Chapter 13
Today,shewoulddobetter, Charlotte vowed.
Following breakfast yesterday, she and Victor had strolled the estate, and discussed improvements. She then saw to her household duties and reviewed menus with Cook. Normally these tasks took little time, but she had lingered.
Why was it so hard to talk to Victor?
What could she possibly do to make him desire her, thus do the deed, and get her with child?
Each day that passed that he didn’t do his duty put her further on edge and Charlotte was at a loss.
She was behaving exactly as a viscountess should, while he was awake, and Victor should have no complaints, yet he had not come to her bed.
She would take matters into her own hands and seduce him, except she didn’t have any idea of how to go about doing so.
Oh, how she hated the formality between them and wished it could be like before, when she was a girl and didn’t know better.
Charlotte checked her appearance one last time before she left for her trek to the mill and knew exactly why Victor had not come to her bed. She had heard it her entire life and no matter how much she tried to be different, some things were impossible to change. And as they often did, her father’s words echoed in her mind.“Need I remind you that you lack anything resembling ladylike grace or skill? Your hair is atrocious, nor is your form one to brag about. I had hoped that you would grow into a beauty by this age, but clearly that will not happen, nor is your face one to which poets would pen sonnets.”
Yes, today she would do better. Charlotte knew at a young age that her father would view her as a disappointment, but it was imperative that Victor did not.
With a deep breath and determination, Charlotte left her chamber and climbed to the nursery where she retrieved two more paintings for the Edinburgh gallery.
It didn’t take long to haul the two up to the loft, but on her final descent, she stepped on her skirt, slipped, and fell, though not very far. However, she did land on her shoulder, tore her gown, and ended up with dirt on her skirt. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to repair her appearance as she needed to be at the mill and return before Victor awoke.
If she were lucky, she would also be able to return and change without Victor knowing anything.
Victorwascontemplatingaskingthe cook for a sleeping potion. Since his arrival he had not managed to get to sleep until the early morning hours. The first night had been because of lust for his wife. The rest were because he tossed and turned and argued with himself as to whether he should confront her about her deception or wait.
This could not continue. At this rate, the day was half over by the time he climbed from bed.
Charlotte entered the house just as he was coming down the stairs. She appeared to be her same cheery self as she approached him, though more mussed than he’d seen her before.
“What have you been up to this morning?” he asked while studying her.
“Oh, walking. This and that,” she answered vaguely.
“Hmm. Is that all?” he asked narrowing his eyes.
“Why?” Charlotte asked instead of answering.
“Because there is a smudge of dirt on your cheek and the left shoulder of your gown is torn.”
Charlotte’s eyes widened as she looked down. “Oh, I will change and be down momentarily.”
It was then that Victor noticed the left side of her skirt was dirty, as if she had been rolling on the ground. “Did you have a mishap, Charlotte?”
“Simply a fall. It is of no consequence,” she said without turning around.
Victor approached her slowly, his eyes studying her form. “You are not hurt?”
Charlotte glanced back over her shoulder. “I am unharmed,” she assured him with a smile before turning up the stairs.
Victor watched her go but could see no evidence of an injury. Comfortable with the fact she was apparently uninjured, he made his way into the breakfast room.
