‘Get some rest. We must act the betrothed couple in the morning.’ A trace of amusement entered his voice at her obvious mortification. ‘But we may resume our search once the household retires tomorrow evening.’
She left in silent contemplation.
Allies.
Chapter 29
Charlotte awoke bleary-eyed to a knock at her door.
Before she could properly gather her senses, Mrs Wilberforce swept into the room like a gust of spring wind.
‘Good morning, my dear!’ she exclaimed brightly. Then, to Charlotte’s surprise, her expression softened with genuine contrition. ‘I owe you an apology, Miss Lucas. Upon reflection, I realise you are precisely the sort of steady, sensible woman Henry needs. I was... rather caught off guard last evening.’
Charlotte recalled Mrs Wilberforce very nearly swooning onto the library sofa.
‘I understand,’ she replied diplomatically. ‘It came as rather a shock to me as well.’
Mrs Wilberforce gave a nervous little laugh. ‘Still, I hope we may be friends.’
She extended her hand almost shyly.
Relieved to have regained her goodwill, Charlotte accepted it at once. ‘Of course.’
‘Excellent. Now then—we must address this dreadful situation at once.’
Before Charlotte could ask what dreadful situation she meant, Mrs Wilberforce marched towards the wardrobe and flung open the doors.
A horrified silence followed.
‘Oh dear Lord,’ she whispered.
Mrs Wilberforce turned slowly towards Charlotte’s collection of plain governess gowns as though confronting a national tragedy.
‘Grey. Black. More grey. Miss Lucas, have you been dressing for mourning these past years?’
Charlotte opened her mouth to defend herself.
‘Come with me.’
Mrs Wilberforce marched her out of her room, towards the family bedrooms, and flung open a set of doors.
‘This is to be your new room. I had it readied this morning.’
Mrs Wilberforce ushered her inside. The chamber was a lavish, spacious boudoir of silks, cream covers, and plush carpets. Charlotte gaped at the height of luxury as the maid arrived.
Mrs Wilberforce clapped her hands decisively. ‘I do think darker shades will suit you far better than those pastel colours fashionable amongst the younger girls. You possess a more mature style of beauty, Miss Lucas. There is no need to dress like a debutante.’ She turned towards her maid. ‘We shall see what we can do this morning, but I dare say we may have to contrive a visit to the modiste. Make a note of it, Clarice...’
She proceeded to list an alarming number of colours, most of which Charlotte had never heard spoken aloud.
‘As you wish, my lady,’ Clarice replied before disappearing, only to return moments later with an assortment of gowns draped expertly across her arms.
‘This one,’ Mrs Wilberforce declared, selecting a gown of dark green silk. ‘It will set off her colouring beautifully.’
Charlotte had little voice in the matter. Clarice, though somewhat abrupt in manner, possessed astonishing skill. Her hands twisted Charlotte’s hair into elegant curls, piled high in some gravity-defying miracle.
The morning gown was exquisite. The rich fabric skimmed her figure gracefully, falling in soft folds in all the right places, though a little tight around the bosom. A delicate touch of rouge warmed her complexion, whilst the faint darkening of her lashes with kohl rendered her eyes startlingly vivid. For the first time, Charlotte began to understand what her friends meant when they described them as soulful.
When Charlotte finally turned towards the mirror, she paused.
