Page 6 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Charlotte drew in a breath and set about going through her dresses. She was still sorting when Mrs. Wilson came to check on her. “Are you certain that I cannot offer you some tea?”
“I just wish to be done with this so I can sleep. I fear most of my dresses are not worth packing.” Charlotte waved her hand at her meagre pile of dresses.
Mrs. Wilson came over and smiled. “They will do for a start and you can always get new dresses once you start earning your wage.”
“I suppose so,” Charlotte whispered. There was no point in getting worked up over it. She would simply have to deal with this as she had everything else.
Mrs. Wilson reminded her, “You have to sleep as well.”
“I will very soon,” Charlotte assured her. “I just want to do most of this tonight. I hate leaving things until the last moment.”
With a nod, Mrs. Wilson wished her a good night. “I shall see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight.” Charlotte gave the woman a smile as she folded a dress and put it in her old suitcase. She had never really had occasion to use the suitcase, but it was well-worn from the time it had been her mother’s. She put the other dresses away that she was not taking with her and laid out one to wear in the morning.
*
It seemed to Charlotte that she had no more than closed her eyes before she had awakened to Dot crying. She sat up and rubbed her face. With a laugh, Charlotte realised that she had fallen asleep while packing.
She sighed and got up to get ready. There was little she could do but carry on with her packing. She would have to forsake it soon enough to get food, but she wanted to have her bag ready.
There was no telling when Amanda would see fit to send the carriage after her. She wondered if the girl would come herself or simply send someone to pick her up. Charlotte was not sure which she would prefer.
She set aside her bag, at last satisfied that she had packed as well as she could. The dress she had decided to wear was simple of design but of a lovely light material that would keep her cool in the warming air. She liked the way the dark green looked against her skin and blonde hair.
She looked at her reflection as she pinned her hat into place. “I look terrified,” Charlotte told her reflection. “That is only right as I am rather ill at ease about this whole thing.”
She sighed and adjusted her hat slightly. Her big brown eyes watched her back as Charlotte pondered how the Easterly household would find her. She would simply have to make the best of it, no matter what.
Charlotte made her way downstairs and found the vicar and his family still eating breakfast. “Good morning,” Mr. Wilson called to her.
“Good morning, Mr. Wilson,” Charlotte replied respectfully. She admired anyone who dedicated their lives to what they believed in. Her father certainly had done so.
Mr. Wilson told the children, “Miss Browne is leaving us today to live in a new place. Should we not thank her for all she has done for us?”
The children all mumbled various forms of thank yous and Charlotte smiled. She was sure they had practised, even if it did not sound so. “And I will miss you,” Charlotte told them . She was surprised by how true those words actually felt.
For years the children had been a torment for her but leaving them today made her sad. Dot waved chubby fingers and Charlotte could not help but wave back at the child. Mrs. Wilson beckoned her. “Come and eat while you can.”
“Thank you, I am quite hungry after not eating last night,” Charlotte said. “I did not mean that to sound like a complaint. After all, it was my own doing.” She blushed and took the plate that Mrs. Wilson offered her.
Mr. Wilson waved off Charlotte’s words. “We would never think you are a complainer. You are always there with a helping hand and not an ill word on your lips.”
Charlotte felt a little guilty for leaving as she eyed Mrs. Wilson and her children. The woman would be alone, but that was the lot of womenfolk. Charlotte tried to remember that she had to think of herself and not just others.
She had just finished her egg when there was a noise outside. “Oh dear, is that the carriage already? I have to fetch my trunk.”
“I shall get it,” Mr. Wilson declared. “It would not do to have you carrying luggage about. Women’s cases are often quite heavy.”
The man was gone before Charlotte could voice any protest. She had no doubt that the suitcase was, indeed, quite heavy. When the vicar returned, he sat the trunk down by the door with a sigh. “Quite heavy,” he said with humour.
“Oh, I am sorry that you had to carry that,” Charlotte said.
Mr. Wilson chuckled. “Think not of it. I may not be a young lad but I can still handle myself.” He swung open the door and greeted the carriage driver. “Are you here for our Miss Browne?”
“Suppose I must be,” the driver called with amusement. “Miss Easterly said for me to come to fetch her lady’s maid from this address this morning.”
Mr. Wilson nodded. “Very good. She shall be right out. Do you fancy anything to drink or eat?”
