Page 15 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
Charlotte glanced at her sister before reaching for another silk ribbon. “I thought him a very kind-hearted gentleman, just as was Lord Crestwood.”
“Handsome too.”
Ignoring this, Charlotte picked up a silver ribbon and began to make her garland, combining ribbons, strands of ivy and holly with which to decorate her sister’s home in time for Christmas day.
“Though I must say, I thought that Lord Crestwood was a little more desirous in his eagerness to help you. The way that he first came to your aid and then, thereafter, said he wouldhost various events simply so that you would be able to attend without concern… that speaks of a very kind heart.”
“Yes, I quite agree,” Charlotte murmured, keeping her eyes on the task at hand rather than looking at her sister. The trouble was, she had found both Lord Trenton and Lord Crestwood very generous indeed and certainly, they were both handsome, but there had been something about seeing Lord Crestwood again which had warmed her heart.
“Are you quite certain…?” Amelia trailed off and let out a small sigh, shaking her head as she did so. “Forgive me. It is only that I continue to think that this entire circumstance is deeply unfair. I wish very much for you to have as much happiness as I do and to know that you never shall, breaks my heart.”
Charlotte gave her sister a small smile. “You need not worry about me. I am sure I shall find some sort of contentment.”
Amelia scowled but said nothing and Charlotte set her mind away from Lord Crestwood and focused on all that was before her. She had many other events to enjoy, she now had newfound acquaintances willing to assist her when it came to Lady Foster and Christmas day was still to come! There would be much laughter, enjoyment and fine company, she was sure, and that would make her very happy indeed.
Though I shall then have to return to my stepmother.
The thought made her heart sink low almost instantly, her shoulders dropping at the thought.
“It is very bad with her, is it not?”
Charlotte glanced at her sister. “I do not want to speak of it, not because I think you rude but because I know that you will continually worry,” she answered, gently. “You have a great deal of happiness and I will not let my circumstances dampen that.”
“I shall worry about you regardless. It mars my own happiness knowing that you are suffering.” Amelia reached to touch her hand. “I do not say that with the desire that you pityme but rather so that you know just how much I desire for you to be as free in your choices as I was.”
Charlotte smiled, squeezed her sister’s hand but said nothing. The weight of what her father had asked her weighed heavily upon her but she could do nothing about it.
“Our brother informed me that he has never seen the will, however,” Amelia continued, taking her hand back. “Is that not a little strange?”
“Given that there was an attack by highwaymen on the mail coach, I do not think so,” Charlotte answered, giving her sister a glance, lifting her eyebrow as she did so. “Besides, I read those words, remember? Now please, can we stop discussing this matterand,I must insist, that includes discussion about Lord Trenton and Lord Crestwood!”
“Lord Trenton might be interested but I am afraid that I have heard recently that Lord Crestwood has determined never to marry… or at least, not to consider it for a long time.”
A blush infused Charlotte’s cheeks as Lord Hesterway walked into the room and bent to kiss Amelia on the cheek. “I was just informing Amelia that I have no desire to be urged to consider either gentleman. Though,” she continued, her curiosity piqued, “is there a reason that he has said such a thing?”
“Oh, do you not know?” Amelia pressed one hand lightly to her forehead. “No, of course you do not. I should have told you about it before but I quite forgot.”
“What is it?”
Amelia let out a sigh. “It is a very sad story. He was due to engage himself to a young lady who had declared herself in love with him and he with her. However, even though he sought permission from her father – and was granted it – the lady in question then went on to elope with another!”
“Another?” Charlotte’s heart squeezed painfully in sympathy for Lord Crestwood. “Why would she do such a thing? Why accept courtship from Lord Crestwood if she was only to agree to marry another?”
“Because Lord Grifford was – and still is, I might say – a rogue. There was no hope that her father would agree to her courtship nor her betrothal to such a gentleman.” Lord Hesterway shook his head. “Lady Maria, as she was then, made a somewhat foolish decision, I think. Mayhap she believed herself in love with him, I do not know.”
Charlotte put one hand to her heart. “He has not proved himself worthy of her, then?”
Amelia shook her head. “Once they returned from honeymoon, he was found here while she lingered at the estate. It soon became clear that he did not think matrimony was anything of significance. Since then, I believe that her father has intervened and offered the gentleman a substantial amount of coin if he will stay at the estate with his wife. Given that I have not seen him present in society, I assume that he has done that very thing.”
“Oh, how awful,” Charlotte answered, her heart filled with sadness over the entire situation. “But Lord Crestwood, why has he rejected matrimony in such a way?”
Lord Hesterway shrugged. “Who can say?”
“Though,” Amelia said, tilting her head, “it does mean that you need not have any concern about being in his company.”
“What do you mean?” Charlotte frowned, wondering if her sister was, yet again, attempting to convince her to pursue a connection with a particular gentleman, only for Amelia’s next words to free her from such thoughts.
“If Lord Crestwood has turned from such things and is determined that he will not engage himself to any lady in anyway, then there can be no concern on your part about being in his company, can there?”
