“Or could it be that you are jealous?” Lydia asked. The question cut through Charlotte’s righteous tone.
“What? Of what do I have to be jealous?”
Lydia leaned in, making sure that nobody could overhear their conversation.
“That she will be the Duke’s wife.”
Charlotte drew back, shaking her head.
“Do you not listen to anything I say, dear sister?” She placed extra emphasis on these two words, using them to express her dismay. “I have no interest in marriage and certainly no interest in marryinghim. I simply pity that poor girl because she doesn’t seem to be aware that there is a better path.”
Lydia regarded Charlotte with a cool expression.
“I find that funny, Charlotte, because I’m sure she feels the same way about you.”
Lydia turned on her heel and marched back to the picnic blanket, a carefree smile adorning her face. Her words lingered in Charlotte’s mind. She frowned, thinking about the Duke.
He could not possibly be her best path. Imagine being married to him!
All the arguments.
All the rules.
All the arrogant insults.
All the kisses. A lifetime of them. Endless nights where she would explore the mysteries of love and find out whether kissing ever became tiresome.
And that was when she realized why Honoria’s words had irked her so much. For Honoria, marriage was about duty, safety, and security. A husband was interchangeable as long as he offered these things. But it should have been more than that.
A marriage should be between two people who complete each other, who complement each other’s flaws, who couldn’t stand to be without each other.
Her parents were fine examples of that; so too were her grandparents and Alfred and Mary.
But not she and Nathaniel. No, never them.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The women returned to the estate in the middle of the afternoon. They were allowed some time to relax and refresh themselves after the rigors of riding. Honoria hadn’t been any better on the return journey, although Charlotte still helped guide her back to the estate.
Edmund visited them all, inviting them to take a walk into town.
“Just the young ones,” he winked, indicating that Beatrice and Agatha would remain on the estate. Beatrice insisted that Clara stay behind as well, stating that she wanted to spend some more time with the girl.
“I never had a daughter, so I feel as though I can make up for lost time,” she said. However, Charlotte suspected there was another motive as she caught the wary looks Beatrice gave to Agatha.
Honoria joined them as well, and they set off with Nathaniel leading the way. Charlotte and Edmund hung toward the back.Lydia engaged Honoria in conversation, sharing thoughts about upcoming balls, with Lydia asking for advice. This pained Charlotte somewhat, as this should have been the role she filled.
She couldn’t help but feel as though she had failed her sister.
“You were right last night, Edmund. She is something of a bore,” Charlotte whispered as they walked along the road to town. The buildings rose before them, smoke rising in plumes from chimneys, a church spire rising as though it was piercing the sky.
“A bore? I’m not sure I called her that. That doesn’t sound like me,” he replied.
“Just how much champagne did you have last night?”
“Enough to be convivial. Now, tell me more about Lady Honoria. It’s not like you to pass judgment on someone so freely.” Edmund rubbed his hands together with glee.
Charlotte sighed, for she was beginning to regret saying anything.
