“You know how your father likes to take off on a whim. He received a letter from Grand-mère Foure, and off we go. He wanted to leave in the morning, but I insisted on a day to pack and prepare.”
“Plenty of time for us to gather our best sweets for you,” Charlotte said, a gleam in her eye.
Beatrice and her mother both saw it. “I am awfully glad you don’t have a beau,” Felicity said to her youngest. Then she hesitated. “You don’t do you, my dear girl?”
“No,” Charlotte said with an exaggerated roll of her pretty brown eyes.
“Good, or I fear I couldn’t go away at all.”
“Mother!” Charlotte said with exasperation. “Don’t you trust me?”
“You are a beautiful young woman with men hoping to catch you off guard. It is not a mother’s place to trust. It is my place to nurture and protect. Speaking of which, who will escort you to events while I’m away? There must be at least five in the coming weeks. Maybe I shouldn’t go,” she fretted.
Knowing how her parents enjoyed traveling together, Beatrice intervened. “We can ask Amity. I’m sure she won’t mind, and if she’s busy, we’ll skip them.”
“Skip them?” Charlotte exclaimed.
Beatrice could easily pass upon the entire rest of the Season. The fun had entirely gone out of it. However, for Charlotte’s sake, she would rally.
“Surely Amity is now considered a suitable chaperone, as a married lady and a duchess.”
“Yes, of course,” her mother agreed. “Otherwise, I was going to suggest contacting Mr. Carson.”
“Absolutely not, Mother. You were correct that I must keep my distance from him.” Her vehemence sounded suspicious. “I mean for the sake of Lady Emily’s feelings, of course.”
“Of course.”
Nonetheless, four days later, the American stood in Rare Confectionery, and he wasn’t there to buy toffee.
Chapter Seventeen
“Mr. Carson!” Beatriceheard Charlotte’s exclamation of delight after the bell tinkled, and her breath caught for a moment.
Rising abruptly from her favorite stool, her hands greasy from the butter she was using to coat the toffee pans, it took her a few minutes to clean herself up. She left her apron on, however. He already knew she was a confectioner. There was no point in putting on airs. Nevertheless, her heart was thumping when she finally stepped through the blue velvet curtain and saw him. He stood with one of his broad hands leaning on the glass as he chatted with Charlotte.
I shall have to get out the vinegar and clean that, she thought.
