Page 49 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
A carriage was readied and pulled around the front. Charlotte thanked the men profusely and told the driver where to take her. The carriage ride was quiet. She dared to even say it was peaceful.
When the carriage came to a halt outside the church, Charlotte climbed out. “Thank you so much. There’s no need to wait for me. I shall be going to the vicarage when I am done here.”
“Are you sure, Miss?” The driver, who had been the same one who picked her up that first day from the vicarage, gave her a look of discomfort. “I don’t much fancy leaving you on your own, even on these quiet roads.”
Charlotte waved off the man’s concern. “I shall be fine. Now, I insist that you take the carriage back to Berwick Manor. I am sure that Lord Easterly will be arriving today and you would want to be there to greet him, would you not?”
The mention of Lord Easterly seemed to make the difference as the man nodded. Still, he hesitated. “If you are sure?”
“I absolutely insist,” Charlotte said firmly. “I practically grew up walking the road from this church to the vicarage. There are no highwaymen waiting in the shadows.”
The man relented with another nod. “Then I shall be off.”
Charlotte watched with relief as the carriage pulled away. She stood there until it was well on its way back down the road before she turned and made her way into the cemetery.
She walked over to the graves of her parents and her brother. Charlotte smiled down at them. “I have come to visit. I know it has been a long while.” She sank down into the grass beside Charles’ grave. “You would be most vexed with all the trouble I have got myself into, Charles. I can almost hear your scolding now.” She wiped away a tear. “I’ve messed things up.”
The wind blew a leaf into her lap and she picked it up. Drawing in a deep breath, she stood up. “I shall come again soon. I fear it is going to rain.”
She placed a kiss upon her hand and touched Charles’ gravestone. The wind whipped through the trees bringing a chorus of chattering and chirping from birds and squirrels. Charlotte left and headed toward the vicarage.
There was dread in her for what she might find at the house of the Wilson family. She did not know if she would be turned away or not, but she had to try. When she reached the quaint home, she gave the door a timid knock with her knuckles.
A bedraggled looking Mrs. Wilson came to the door. The woman stared at her in surprise for a moment before she burst out, “Charlotte! How wonderful to see you!” The woman enveloped her in a warm hug, which Charlotte leaned into.
“It is good to see you too.”
“Come in, come in!” Mrs. Wilson ushered her into the house. “It is about to start storming. What were you doing out walking?”
Charlotte said, “That might take a while to explain. May we sit?”
“For what time the children will allow,” Mrs. Wilson agreed. She led the way into the kitchen and put a kettle on as Charlotte explained what had brought her to the vicarage.
When she had finished her harrowing tale, Mrs. Wilson set the tray of tea on the table. The woman sank into the chair opposite Charlotte. “And here I thought I had had a rough day. You sound as if you have had a rough month.”
Charlotte nodded and accepted the cup that the woman handed her. “That is why I am here. I find myself lost and in need. I was hoping you might show me kindness and allow me to stay here.”
Mrs. Wilson frowned. “You would come back here after all that? I do not know if you would much enjoy tending to children after being out in society, Charlotte. What about your dreams?”
“I am afraid that my dreams may just be that. I just wish to make my life as I best can.” Charlotte looked at her hands. “I know you do not owe me anything, but I would earn my keep.”
Mrs. Wilson reached across the table to put her hand on Charlotte’s arm. “I always have kindness in my heart for you. I could take you on as a governess for the children. Lord knows they need lessons and discipline that I alone cannot provide.”
Charlotte smiled at Mrs. Wilson. “I will help you any way I can.” She could sleep in the garden shed, which was warm and sturdy.
“Charlotte, I know this is not what you want.” Mrs. Wilson gave her a compassionate look. “Let us call this a temporary solution. I do not think you should give up completely.”
Charlotte nodded. She had to agree, what else could she do? Mrs. Wilson might not truly understand the state of the scandal she found herself currently embroiled in, but Charlotte certainly did.
The very thought of marriage was a mirage to Charlotte. She knew that no man would marry a tainted woman. Lord Easterly certainly had no obligation to uphold that dowry he had granted her after how she had behaved.
The thought of Lord Easterly brought other emotions that Charlotte could not afford at present. She pushed them away and settled her heart on her current fate. She would make the best of this.
Mrs. Wilson was up once again working at the household chores as Charlotte went to say hello to the children. They were happy to see her, but it only afforded her a few minutes of peace before they began to scream for their tea.
Josh offered, “Can I help?”
“That would be grand,” Charlotte agreed as she scooped up two-year-old Dot and plopped the child on her hip.
