Page 15 of The Vixen in Red
“That would be me,” Lady Charlotte said. She focused her attention on Collin. “Please stay with Lady Pearyn while I am dancing. She doesn’t know anyone here, and I’d hate for her to be alone.”
“You need not worry about me,” Lady Pearyn told her. “I’m all right by myself. It wouldn’t be the first time.” How often was she forced to be alone? That was…sad. Cameron was an arse. He should have come home and claimed his fiancée a long time ago, or at least set her free. Collin felt bad for Lady Pearyn.
Lady Charlotte hugged her friend. “Stay with Lord Frossly. I’ll be back here before you have time to miss me.”
With those words, she wandered off to take her place around the pole. Lady Pearyn came to stand directly beside him. “You have feelings for her,” she said.
“Pardon me?” he asked, startled by her words.
“You don’t need to confirm them.” She folded her arms over her chest. “It is enough that you realize I recognize it.” Lady Pearyn glanced at him. “Don’t wait to tell her. Charlotte had this idea that she needs to be independent. She wouldn’t survive alone, and I believe she returns your feelings. It might not be overly obvious, but I know my friend. Give her the freedom to love you and pursue her dreams, and you both will have happy lives.”
Collin wasn’t certain what to make of her advice. He wanted to marry Lady Charlotte, had grown fond of her over the past several weeks, but he couldn’t be certain she felt the same. “I’ll consider it.” He couldn’t say anything else.
They both turned their attention to the dance. Lady Charlotte laughed as she pranced and twirled with the red ribbon in her arms. Collin prayed Lady Pearyn was right. He couldn’t imagine not having Lady Charlotte in his life.
Chapter 9
The dance around the pole had invigorated Charlotte. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d enjoyed something that much. Now it was evening and the ball would commence. She’d had a dress made special for that night. The seamstress in town had to work all week to complete it in time. It was a vibrant red silk with a lace ribbon embroidered with flowers around the waist. The bodice hugged her bosom and had been trimmed with tiny seed pearls. She’d styled her blonde locks in a loose knot and let some of her curls lay lose to frame her face. She borrowed a long rope of pearls from her Aunt Seraphina and looped them around her neck. She slipped on her matching red slippers, and then slid on her white gloves. Charlotte was ready. She wanted to arrive early to ensure everything was ready for Aunt Seraphina’s birthday celebration.
She went down the stairs and into the sitting room. “Aunt Seraphina,” she called. Charlotte stopped short when she realized her aunt wasn’t alone.
“Hello, dear,” her mother said. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” she replied carefully. What was she doing in Peacehaven? Where was her father? Had he come with her, or was he at home in Seabrook?
“Isn’t it a lovely surprise,” her Aunt Seraphina asked. “Rosanna dear, you should have written. I would have had a room prepared for you.”
“No need to worry about me,” her mother told her aunt. “Dom will be here shortly. He rented a cottage on the other side of town for the next fortnight. He didn’t want to impose on your hospitality. He’ll be here in a little while to escort you to Lord Frossly’s little soirée.”
Was her mother there for the birthday celebration? She had written to her parents telling them about it. Had even suggested they might want to attend. Charlotte hadn’t actually thought they would though. Why were they going to stay in Peacehaven for a fortnight?
“That’s lovely.” Aunt Seraphina gestured toward Charlotte. “She’s been looking forward to the ball for some time. Are you leaving now?”
“I am meeting Lady Pearyn, and we are walking over together.” She met her mother’s gaze. “Is that all right? When I made plans, I was unaware you would be here?”
Her mother stood and strolled over to her side. She smiled and that worried her more than she wanted to admit. “You seem…calmer. Has this time in Peacehaven helped you?”
Charlotte frowned. She had started writing, but that didn’t seem to be as important as it had been when she arrived. Was she calmer? She wasn’t certain that was the right term for it. “I believe it has,” she answered.
“I’m glad.” Her mother hugged her, and then stepped back. “We didn’t send you here as a punishment. Well, not exactly, but we did hope you would realize what you were doing to yourself. If you kept acting out and being reckless, you wouldn’t have had much of a life. Being secluded from society is horrible. You might turn your nose up at it, but to not be allowed at a party and deciding not to attend are two different things. It’s better to have a choice.”
Charlotte hated admitting her mother was right. “I’ve learned to accept that I don’t always get to decide what is best for me. I still hate some of what is expected of me though.”
“It is the lot we are given in life,” her mother said. “Your father and I would like you to return with us when we go home, to Seabrook, in a fortnight. It’s time.” Her mother smiled warmly. “Now, go meet your friend. We will see you later.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte said softly and then turned to leave. She had gotten what she wanted. In a couple of weeks, she could go home and she’d be free to write. Nothing would be there to distract her.
But there was no Lord Frossly at Seabrook…
She had lied to her mother. Lady Pearyn would arrive at the ball later. Charlotte wanted to get to the Frossly estate to see for herself all the details were finalized, and she hoped to have some precious moments alone with the earl.
It didn’t take her long to reach the estate. Once there, she knocked on the large wooden door. It swung open and an elderly man with snow-white hair and bushy eyebrows greeted her. “Yes?”
She was early but still… “Is Lord Frossly here?” Charlotte hoped so. It was his home, after all, but it seemed a little silly to ask.
“He is,” the man said. “May I tell him who is inquiring?”
The addition of servants at Frossly Manor was something new. With the progress made on the repairs, the earl had begun to re-staff the house. This, it seemed, was the new butler. Charlotte found herself amused by him. He appeared a bit stuffy and almost warm at the same time. “Tell him Lady Charlotte is here if he’s available.”
