Charlotte turned her attention to the fabrics as Mary shared her thoughts, but she was only half-listening. Edmund had joined Nathaniel and Honoria.
Honoria held up a ribbon and asked Nathaniel for his opinion.
“I think it is a fine choice. It would suit you well,” he replied. Charlotte believed that if Honoria liked it, then she should feel free to get it. She didn’t need to run every decision by Nathaniel, surely? It sounded exhausting.
“I think you could do a little better than that, My Lady. It’s a tad old-fashioned. You need something more colorful, more vibrant,” Edmund said, offering his flashing, teasing smile.
Despite this, Honoria kept hold of the plain ribbon. As Charlotte observed her, Honoria’s gaze did seem to drift toward the ones that Edmund described.
“Charlotte, what do you think?” Mary’s words drew Charlotte’s attention back.
“I think that all of them are good choices. It’s hard to go wrong. But we may need another opinion. Your Grace, since you so adeptly helped Lady Honoria, perhaps you would lend us some assistance? Which fabric do you think Mary should choose?”
“I would never be so bold as to offer my opinion when there are more educated heads around. I’m not sure I can give any more insight than the two of you,” he said.
“But you must prefer one, yes?” she asked, holding them up in turn. One was deep blue, another was purple with emerald thread sewn through in diamond patterns, and a third was red with white lines running through in stripes.
“I do.”
“Which one?”
“That one,” he replied, pointing to the deep blue.
“I prefer this one,” Charlotte said, holding up the red fabric. They were at odds yet again. Charlotte could feel the tension rising in her heart. She was ready to explain to him why thiswas a superior fabric, but also to be told why she was wrong. A strange sense of excitement rose within her. She felt herself trembling.
But the cathartic repartee never came.
Nathaniel simply inclined his head.
“Then I acquiesce in your judgment. As I said, this is not my area of expertise.”
He sounded calm, and not in the confident ‘I know everything’ way of before. He didn’t seem prepared to be drawn into a conflict.
“But surely you must want to explain your reasons? The opinion of a duke carries a lot of weight, no matter what level of expertise you have,” she said, trying to goad him into a verbal conflict.
“I see no reason to do so. I’m sure that you can serve your cousin better than I can,” he said, offering her a brief smile before turning away. Charlotte frowned, unable to believe that he would so easily avoid a confrontation with her.
She actually missed it. Now that Honoria had arrived, things had changed. It was to be expected, of course. But still, it felt as though things were a little emptier, as though she had lost something uncommon. Her gaze lingered on Nathaniel as he turned away from her and stood beside Honoria. They were silent once again, but they were together.
Unlike her and Nathaniel.
Chapter Twenty-Three
They left the shop with Mary and Lydia having bought some fabrics, and Honoria having purchased the old-fashioned ribbon. Only Lydia and Mary looked satisfied. There was a distinct emptiness in Honoria’s eyes.
“Charlotte, Mary, and I would like a moment alone; would you be our chaperone?” Alfred asked, leaning toward Charlotte and whispering.
“Of course,” Charlotte agreed readily.
Nathaniel was on hand to scupper their plans.
“I’m not sure that is wise,” he said. Charlotte thought he had been too far away to hear, but his ears were always peeled.
“Whyever not?” Alfred asked.
“Lady Charlotte is young and unmarried. She would not make a suitable chaperone. I will accompany you,” he said. Alfred and Mary seemed a little disheartened by this. Charlotte could imagine that Nathaniel was incredibly strict with his chaperone duties. Mary gave her a pleading look.
“I believe I can handle the duties of a chaperone. My youth and marital status should have nothing to do with it,” she replied.
