Page 57 of Wolf's Bane
Charlotte barely leftJase’s bedside, despite him being abominably rude to her at the dance.
Solenne felt for her friend, who was kind, clever, bookish, and forever being passed over for ladies who came with a fortune. Charlotte was too kind and forgiving. Jase did not deserve the care Charlotte gave when his leg became infected. She sat by his bedside with cool water and cloth.
“Father is making noise about sending me to Aunt Tessie in Founding for the winter. He thinks I’ll have a better chance of catching a husband there,” Charlotte said as she carefully poured the tea.
They sat in the garden behind the Wodehouse’s home, tucked into a shaded corner nearly hidden by large, flowering bushes heavy with vivid blossoms. The arrival of Colonel Chambers’ sister prompted Charlotte to give up her bedside vigil and limit herself to daily visits. Apparently, Mrs. Parkell had the bearing of a military commander and none of the charm.
“You’ll have more variety and parties to attend,” Solenne said.
Charlotte pulled a face. “I’ll spend my day in the library, you know, and Aunt Tessie will despair that reading will give me lines around my eyes.”
Solenne didn’t bother to hide her smile or her titter of laughter. “Oh, the tragedy.”
“Frankly, I’m too eccentric,” she said, looking over Solenne’s shoulder to some point in the distance. “I don’t have a large enough fortune for those eccentricities to be overlooked, and I’m too plump and not pretty enough to compensate for the lack of a fortune.”
“I disagree on all those points,” Solenne said in defense of her friend. Charlotte was more plump than fashionable, but they lived in a village on the fringe of nowhere. Who cared about fashion? And she’d stab anyone who claimed Charlotte’s russet curls and open smile were not attractive. Well, perhaps not stab; just a gentle poke, enough to draw a little blood and make a point about being rude.
“It will be a waste of time, but if Father insists, would you come with me?”
“To catch a husband?”
Charlotte raised a brow. “Unless you believe you have better prospects here.”
Rather than answer, Solenne busied herself by refilling her cup and measuring out a spoonful of sugar. “No, there’s no one.”
“Really? Because I saw how protective Aleksandar was of you at the dance.”
Right before he rushed off.
“No. You misunderstood.” Solenne thought back to the night of the dance and the perpetual glare on Alek’s face.
“Now you’re going to spout some nonsense about duty and how you’ll learn to find satisfaction in that, rather than the man you love, and I won’t tolerate it. You deserve to have who your heart desires. And if it’s money, well,” Charlotte waved a hand as she spoke, “I imagine your situation won’t improve, but it will not deteriorate.”
The cup rattled on the saucer. “I would not say any such thing,” Solenne weakly protested. “And I’d rather not discuss Alek.”
A satisfied grin spread across Charlotte’s face. “Very well, but only because you don’t deny that you love him.”
“What would be the point? My feelings for him have not changed since I was sixteen.” As much as she wished they would.
“So you never felt an attachment to another?”
Solenne shook her head. “Only friendship.”
“Not even Colonel Chambers?” Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“No. My father seemed more enthusiastic about a match than either of us.” Solenne relayed the events from the night of the dance.
“I had wondered. He used to lavish attention on you and then, suddenly, he was distant.”
“I wouldn’t saylavish—”
“But he wasn’t cruel about it? He does not seem the sort.”
“No. The conversation was very businesslike and straightforward,” Solenne said.
“Perhaps I can walk with you when you return home? Colonel Chambers wanted to borrow some of Father’s books, and I thought of delivering them.”
“Of course.”
