Page 17 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
“All set, Your Lordship,” Richard called down cheerfully from his seat.
The road ahead of them was going to be long enough. Graham took a head count and then determined that everyone was where they should be before he got into his carriage with Victor. Victor had settled down with a book and Graham thought the man might have the right idea.
The carriages lurched as the horses got going. They would reach London by nightfall and Graham would be grateful to have his charges safe and sound at their destination. As much as he would have liked to have slept at least part of the way, he knew very well that his dreams would not be pleasant. All he seemed to dream of was his wife and son or the war unless, of course, he was so tired that he dreamed of nothing, which was quite preferable.
He watched trees go by and contented himself with simply enjoying the silence. It would be fleeting once they made it to London. Part of him was looking forward to London, but a good bit of him simply wished for it to be over.
If all went well his sister might make a match. That would be good for her, and hopefully good for the family as a whole. But then things rarely were straightforward. Perhaps this would be the exception to the rule that something had to always go wrong.
Chapter 3
The dining hall at the London residence of the Easterly family was as much a mansion to Charlotte as Berwick Manor had been. Amanda, from what Charlotte could see, seemed to be enjoying her first season. Charlotte did not share her enthusiasm.
Despite Amanda’s words about the gilded world of society, all Charlotte really saw were the same hallways. Katrina seemed to be enjoying the change of scenery thoroughly. Charlotte supposed that it probably seemed like heaven to the maid.
Amanda had instated Katrina as her lady’s maid but had also kept Charlotte in the role. So Katrina got the raise in station and less work. Charlotte tried to be grateful that at least Katrina got to do most of the sewing related things. Meanwhile, she was stuck with mostly doing the mundane little tasks for Amanda that she did not deem to do herself, which was pretty much everything.
She only got the benefit of eating with the family at what she assumed was Lord Easterly’s request. Charlotte sometimes wondered if the man knew how his sister treated her but did not deem it worth bringing up. After all, her situation was still better than it had been.
The sun glinted against the silverware in the conservatory. Amanda was sprawled out on a sofa and sighed as if she were lovesick. “I really do wonder how I will make any sort of choice.”
“It is good that you have choices,” Charlotte said. Amanda had been waxing on for some time about how many splendid men she had met that would love to marry her. Charlotte did not doubt the validity of her words. After all, Amanda was a pretty girl with a good pedigree.
Amanda rolled over onto her side and popped a grape into her mouth. Charlotte said, “You really should not lie so. What if someone came in?”
“Then they shall think I am a harlot,” Amanda said as if that should be obvious. She rolled over onto her back and sighed. “You sit around here with your long face and you make me feel as if the sun will never shine. You should go out and do something.”
Charlotte’s eyebrows furrowed together. “And how am I supposed to do that?”
“I know,” Amanda said with a grin as she sat up straight. She leaned forward with that impish twinkle in her eyes. “You could go to the ball.”
Charlotte reminded her, “I am not your chaperone. I am just a maid.”
“Forget all that. You could go to a ball for real with a dress and your hair done up prettily. I bet you would look like a normal happy girl if you were given the incentive.” Amanda swung her feet back and forth as she thought of her plan.
With a sigh, Charlotte shook her head at Amanda. “I am not a lady and have no business at a ball.”
“I know a ball that you can attend, and no one would know,” Amanda said with a wicked grin. “There will be a fancy-dress ball, masks and all, at Lord Tennison’s estate. It will be so much fun to show you what the season is really like.”
Her stomach tied up in knots at the very thought of it. “I do not know about that. What would your brother say?”
“What would it matter to him?” Amanda shook her finger at Charlotte. “For once in your life just do something fun.”
Charlotte wondered how long Amanda was going to keep on at her about this before she let it drop. She looked into her friend’s eyes and judge that the woman was willing to go on about it forever. “I really do feel as if we should tell your brother.”
“Let him figure it out,” Amana said with a laugh. “So you will go?”
Charlotte pondered for a moment then relented. “I suppose I could.”
“Fantastic!” Amanda clapped her hands together and Charlotte wondered if she had done the right thing. “I shall arrange for you to be escorted to the ball separately and I shall meet you outside. First, let us get our costumes. I need to go look for some today anyway.”
Charlotte looked down at her hands. “Costumes?”
“Mostly a mask, but they have some of the most wonderful dresses to match the masks sometimes.” Amanda reached over and gave Charlotte’s hand a squeeze. “You look as if you will be sick.”
Charlotte agreed, “I think I might be.”
“Well, you had better pinch your cheeks and hope for the best, because we have a ball to go to, my darling.” Amanda was never more dangerous than when she was chipper.
