Page 35 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
Chapter Seventeen
“I shall take this one, I think.” Charlotte smiled as she picked up the velvet mask with the feathers at either side. “It looks quite beautiful.”
“Though it is rather simple.” Amelia wrinkled her nose. “Do you not wish for something more ornate? The shop is full of beautiful ornate masks.”
Charlotte shook her head. The mask was elegant, without any additional fripperies to it and she much preferred that to the overabundance of feathers, paste jewels and the like. “I am contented with this.”
Amelia smiled and touched her hand. “You were always easily contented, Charlotte. I must say, your willingness to give up so much speaks of your beautiful character.” Her voice softened with an obvious swell of emotion. “I do hope that you have the chance for happiness, Charlotte. It is something that you deserve.”
A swirl knotted itself in Charlotte’s stomach as she took in her sister’s meaning. “You are speaking of Lord Crestwood,” she murmured, making sure to keep her voice low. “Amelia, please do not think that there is going to be any serious connection between us. There cannot be. He has already determined that he will remain unwed. That is the very basis upon which we agreed about this falsehood.”
Her sister’s smile did not fade. “Ah, but have you not seen how he has been watching you of late? How his gaze lingers upon you? And besides all of that, he has shown you such great consideration and care that, to my mind, there is something more there than mere friendship.”
“I do not think it matters whether there truly is that consideration or not,” Charlotte answered, quickly, refusing to let her hopes rise as she brought to mind the look that Lord Crestwood had worn after their dance together at the ball, the night when he had stolen a kiss from her under the mistletoe bough. “He has made himself perfectly clear.”
“But things can change. Affection can alter a gentleman’s intentions.”
Charlotte closed her eyes, fighting inwardly to keep her hopes back. “Please, Amelia,” she rasped, “do not let my heart begin to pray for something that might never be.”
Her sister caught her hand again, squeezing it fiercely. “Do you mean to say that you have an affection for Lord Crestwood?”
Opening her eyes, Charlotte blinked back her tears which had come upon her very rapidly indeed. “I dare not even let myself hope for such a thing,” she answered, hoarsely. “But it is there, nonetheless. It is as though, ever since I heard that there might be something questionable about our father’s will, my heart has determined to pull towards him with a strength that I never expected.”
“That is because you have permitted it to be free.” Amelia’s eyes searched hers. “You have had it bound up for many a month, have you not? You have told yourself over and over and over again that what you might once have hoped for can never be and, therefore, you have pulled back from even the thought of it! But now, thereishope and, in seeing that, your heart has filled with all of the affection and the desires and the delight that it has held back for so long.” She pressed Charlotte’s hand again. “Lord Crestwood is an excellent gentleman.”
“I dare not hope,” Charlotte whispered, pulling out her handkerchief to dab at her eyes. “Not yet, at least.”
Amelia nodded in understanding. “We will find out the truth about the will, I am sure. I think that – ”
She turned her head as the door to the shop opened, only to then turn on her heel and begin to drag Charlotte to the other side of the shop. Charlotte went without question, glancing back over her shoulder, wondering as to what it was that had affected her sister so… only for her gaze to land upon Lady Barcsay. With a gasp, she turned her head back again, just as Amelia pulled her into the back of the shop, where fittings often took place.
“Whatever is she doing here?” Charlotte whispered, as she and Amelia stared at each other, shock written across her sister’s face. “Our brother did not write to inform us of her arrival! Where will she be staying?”
“At our brother’s London townhouse, mayhap?” Amelia moved closer to the edge of the door and looked out, only for her brow to furrow. “No, of course. She is residing with her sister, Lady Foster. She is there with her, you see?”
Charlotte shook her head, refusing to come and look. Her mind began to turn over what this might mean, her eyebrows pulling low. “Our stepmother will have heard about my betrothal to Lord Crestwood, though she should also have heard that there is nothing genuine about it, given that I wrote to her. Why, then, should she come to London?”
Amelia turned back to face her, biting the edge of her lip, her eyes cast downwards. “Charlotte, there is something that I should tell you.”
Charlotte looked back at her.
“I – I did not send your letter to our stepmother,” Amelia continued, her face beginning to flush. “I promised you that I would send it and indeed, I had every intention of posting it but only once I was certain that you were going to bring the connection to a close, as you had said. I did, however, send the letter to our brother though I enclosed my own additional note also, begging him not to inform her about your pretence.”
Shock spread out like ice across Charlotte’s chest and for some moments, she could not speak. Her chest grew tight, her throat constricting as Amelia closed her eyes, shame burning into her features. “Lady Barcsay does not know that this is a falsehood, then?” Charlotte whispered, as her sister nodded. “She does not know that there is nothing genuine about my engagement? She thinks that I truly intend to marry Lord Crestwood?”
“Yes.” Amelia took in a deep breath but then looked back at Charlotte steadily, no regret in her expression or her voice. “I did it because I wanted you to see that therewasstill hope for happiness for you. I did not know what would happen, of course, but given that we have now found out that there are questions about the will, I am glad that I did not send it… though I do regret betraying your trust, of course.” Her gaze dropped low again. “Forgive me for that. I did it because I care for you, that is all. I want you to be free of our stepmother and instead, find a life of your own!”
Charlotte did not know how to respond. The shock was so great, it was as though it had wiped away almost all of her emotions, numbing her to what she truly felt. She let out a slow breath and then closed her eyes, trying to think clearly but still struggling to do anything of the sort.
“You must forgive me,” Amelia said again, coming forward to grasp Charlotte’s hand. “I only wanted you to be happy and I believe that you can find that happiness with Lord Crestwood – I believe that now more than ever! I – ”
“Then she is here because she believes I am engaged.” Charlotte opened her eyes and interrupted her sister, seeing Amelia’s wide eyes and the tears swimming there. “Lady Barcsay has travelled to London because of my engagement, because she wants to put an end to it, I presume.”
Her sister nodded. “And mayhap because she has learned about what her sister said to you and to Lord Crestwood.” She let out a small huff of breath. “Would that our brother was here! He might be able to explain what has been occurring at the house and – ”
“Mayhap he has written to us.” Urgency pushed through Charlotte’s frame. “We must return home.”
“But the masks!” Amelia exclaimed, gesturing to the shop. “And we cannot leave when they are still present.”
