“No, pray, do not consider resigning. You and I were always friends. Despite the heartache Robert caused me, I…I should like our friendship to be one pleasant memory that came out of this summer. To ask you to give up a good living would only compound the unhappiness of his actions. In time, what took place at Haverstone will be long forgotten, even though at this time I cannot fully forgive him. Ormyself.”
“Miss Kendall, you are too good. Although I am a man of the cloth, it is not for me to ask you to forgive him. I can just beg you to believe that—notallmen would act in such a manner.”
He spoke the last words with a firm conviction and his hand stretched out across the table toward her, before abruptly pulling it back. She looked at his earnest face—not as handsome as his brother’s, but still well favored. His words and expression were sincere; Charlotte saw no artifice in his countenance. She slowly nodded as his meaning became clear—she understood he was signaling thathewould not tempt her heart and therefore, she had nothing to fear. He was saying that he would be a friend. And nothing more.
“Thank you, Mr. Morton.” She rose from the table, and he immediately jumped up, too. “Let us begin our work. Shall we go into the drawing room and see what needs refreshing there?”
Without waiting for a reply, she moved briskly out of the dining room, grateful that as he followed, he would not see the tears gathering in her eyes once again.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
As Charlotte hadhoped, each meeting with Mr. Morton became slightly less awkward and stilted, and it was soon more pleasure than pain to be in his company. After working to compile a list of everything that needed updating in the parsonage, they made three trips into the village to consider fabric and papers, always accompanied by an under housemaid from Clayton House. Charlotte did not think it quite so necessary, but Frederick insisted, explaining he would not risk doing anything that would possibly compromise her reputation. To her mind, this was yet another way for him to convey he had no romantic inclinations toward her. It made her oddly melancholy.
Still, by the time they had finished making their selections, Charlotte felt nearly as comfortable with Frederick as she had before his brother had disappointed her. Their conversations were no longer strained or filled with pauses, and she often found herself smiling. She even, on more than one occasion, was surprised to hear herself laugh at some jest or comment by Frederick.
Two days before Frederick was planning to leave to collect his things from the rooms he had rented after quitting Brentwood, he and Charlotte made one last visit to the upholsterer shop to confirm the planned work. On their return walk from Doddington, with the under housemaid trailing behind, he had thanked her for all her efforts.
“I shall always think myself exceedingly obliged to you, Miss Kendall,” he said. “Your father’s generosity of offering me the living was a very fine thing, but your efforts to help improve my future living situation will just convince me of the good sense in taking the position. Indeed, I am grateful to the entire Kendall household.”
The entire household, not just to her, thought Charlotte before replying, “Please know how glad I am to assist. I wish you every happiness as the new rector, and I hope you will be very content here.”
“I am certain I shall be.” There was a long pause, before he spoke again. “Though, if I may—there is but one more thing that could make me even more content.”
“Oh, is it the rug in the smaller drawing room? I knew we should have replaced it. It is not too late.”
“No, it is not the rug.”
Charlotte halted and gave him a concerned look. “What then? Please speak, and I shall do all I can to make it right.”
“Before I answer, will you oblige me by telling me whether or not you plan to remain at Clayton House? Or do you intend to return to Haverstone?”
Charlotte gave a bit of a start. “How funny you should ask. I received a letter from Dorothea just yesterday urging my return. She has two gentlemen she believes would be very eager to renew their addresses to me. I know she had gently put them off when we believed your brother was about to propose, but apparently she has now dropped hints in the ear of that county gossip Mrs. Sanders of my unattached standing, and both men have called to inquire about my return.”
She resumed her walk again, and he accompanied her in silence before asking, “May I ask who these gentlemen are? Would you—that is—couldyou see yourself in a happy marriage with them?”
“The gentlemen are Mr. Shelby and Mr. Cartwright. They areamiable enough and have shown interest in becoming better acquainted.”
“But, you cannot at this time say you have great affection for either of them?”
Charlotte gave him a quizzical look. “Affection? No. Not as yet. I suppose I could be content enough with either of them. My entire family insists I marry, and Dorothea has gone to a great deal of trouble to find me a match. So, it may well be by the next time we meet I shall be an engaged woman.”
“I see. It would be nice to have a house to call your own, I suppose.”
Charlotte gave a small laugh. “It would rescue me from being governess to Lavinia and Miles’s child.”
“But, you would not wish to rush into an intimacy on so slight an acquaintance,” Frederick said seriously. “You must be absolutely certain of your heart’s course. I say this as a rector and…as a friend.”
Charlotte sighed. “You are kind to care. It is possible the two gentlemen may improve upon acquaintance. Be assured—should I be absolutely convinced marriage to either of them would not secure my happiness, I would refuse them, even at the risk of my sister’s severe disapprobation.”
By this point, they had returned to the rectory where they parted, and Charlotte and her companion continued on to Clayton House.
It was not until she was changing clothes for dinner that Charlotte realized Mr. Morton had never revealed the one thing that would make him even more content at the parsonage.
*
That evening, dinnerat Clayton House was very pleasant for all. Charlotte no longer felt ill at ease to be in Frederick’s company and Lavinia, as usual, expertly directed the flow of conversation. Followingthe meal, Charlotte and Lavinia withdrew to the large drawing room and relaxed a while before the gentlemen finally joined them.
“Do you wish to play cards, Mr. Morton?” Lavinia asked. “You could join Miles and me and Charlotte in playing Commerce, although we do not play for real money so you will not have to disapprove of us gambling.” She laughed. “We have a fine set of ivory tabs we use to keep track of the winnings.”
