Oooh. That woman.No one could get Charlotte’s temper up like Luella. She shoved her foot back into the dratted shoes and stood. The potted palms that had concealed her rustled and three heads swept in her direction.
Two faces fell in horror when they saw who stood there. The third, Luella’s, simply smiled, and Charlotte had the distinct impression that Luella had known she was sitting there all along.
She took a deep breath, ready to fling insults back in their direction, because she would not let this woman best her. But as she opened her mouth, the words died on her lips. Because a Wildeforde did not engage in conflict publicly. Even if it was with the worst woman in London. A Wildeforde was measured and thoughtful, because one never knew when Edward would need her influence, and so her behavior had to be above reproach.
She snapped her mouth shut and Luella snorted, aware she’d won yet another battle.
Charlotte squared her shoulders and walked straight past them through the door. But it did not close quickly enough to avoid the words that floated through it.
“Do you see? I told you. Completely uninteresting.”
Chapter 2
Iam not uninteresting.” Charlotte sat at the dresser while Grace made quick work of the pins holding up her hair.
Her lady’s maid’s expression was completely sincere as she responded. “No, my lady.”
“And I am notsanctimonious.”
“Not at all.”
“And I am not ado-gooder.” Ugh. The word conjured up images of pious spinsters. Of bland women with nothing else to do but convince other people to support their cause. Which was not her at all. She had plenty of things in her life besides her projects.
“I mean, obviously Ido good. I am a duke’s sister, after all. It’s my job to help the needy. I’m supposed to put the weight of the Wildeforde name behind worthy causes. But since when is that a bad thing? It’s something that should be aspired to.”
At that, Grace raised her eyebrows. “Your efforts mean a lot to many people, my lady. Don’t let some unkind words stop you from making a difference.”
The assurance mollified her somewhat. Shewasmaking a difference. More of a difference than any other young woman of theton—except, perhaps, for Fiona. But no lady could compete with Charlotte’s sister-in-law when it came to impacting society. No lady had Fiona’s unique education or her experience as a businesswoman.
Instead, young ladies were supposed to turn their hands to social causes, rather than scientific. Charlotte had managed to increase the standing of several female playwrights through her patronage. She had launched a program to help destitute women find a life in service, started an animal rehoming organization for farm animals that had outlived their usefulness, and she had taken an active interest in the welfare of orphans.
She was helpful. She solved problems. She was who people turned to when they needed assistance.Drat Luella.
“I amnotuninteresting. Luella is a spiteful cow, excuse my horrendous language, who resents me because I foiled her plot to trap my brother into marriage. That’s why she spreads such unkind rumors.”
It was infuriating. Charlotte worked so hard. She said yes to every committee she was asked to join; she was at every social event worth noting, and she still found time to lend her presence to those newer to society—the ones who needed a duke’s sister to make their ball a success. Her dance card was full night after night because the more bashful gentlemen of thetonknew she’d not embarrass them with a rejection.
She was beloved, even if she’d yet to find true love. Her future as a grande dame was set.
And then there was Luella. Equally sought after for no good reason.
“She is just awful, Grace. And how dare she criticize me for not yet finding a husband? She’s been out two years longer than I have and she remains unwed.”
Finishing the last of Charlotte’s braids and securing it with a ribbon, Grace caught her mistress’s gaze in the mirror’s reflection. “She may well be jealous, my lady. She had no proposals after that first one, and she is only human, not actually bovine.”
Charlotte only just held back a growl. She didn’t want logical and empathetic responses. She wanted somebody to agree that, yes, Luella was the devil. Certainly, her maid was right, but that knowledge gave Charlotte no satisfaction.
“This is not how it works, Grace. You are supposed to support me in all of my endeavors. Even my petty, myopic, self-indulgent ones.”
Grace laughed, and despite the clear affection in her tone, Charlotte still felt her companion pull away another fraction. Four years ago, Grace would have loyally agreed and helped to plot Luella’s demise, but since getting married last year to Swinton, Edward’s driver, the friendship had changed, almost as though Charlotte was being outgrown.
Grace hadn’t spent the night in Charlotte’s room since her wedding and Charlotte no longer felt she could share all of her secrets without sensing an undertone of you-will-understand-when-you’re-married in the responses.
It was not unlike the undertone that had worked its way into her closest friendships when one after another got engaged, then married, and were now even bearing children.
“Perhaps you should seek your sister if you wish for partial advice.”
“Perhaps I shall,” Charlotte said, trying not to let her disappointment show. She would seek Fiona. There was no one more used to cruel things being said about her than a Scottish female chemist, common born, who’d worked in a factory and had worn men’s clothing before marrying a duke and being subjected to all sorts of slander.
