Page 15 of A Perfect Engagement
“I just don’t understand how a fat cow like her could land a marquess!”
Charlotte sucked in a harsh breath at the insult.
“It is surprising,” a second voice agreed. “But she is very nice and quite popular.”
A loud snort punctuated the air.
“Most likely, it was her large dowry which reeled him in,” the woman said, placating her friend.
“Oh yes, she is sooo nice and sooo charming. It makes me ill. She’s calculating, more like it. It is her fourth season, is it? Practically on the shelf. No wonder her father had to throw money at poor Hawksridge in order to unload her.”
Charlotte wished she could disappear. The women’s words cut through her sharply. Why were they so cruel? She’d never been anything but nice to those two evil hags, but Miss Thornton always found small ways to belittle Charlotte.
“That’s it! Those two are going to get a piece of my mind!” Suzanna tugged at her hand. “Come on, ladies.”
Charlotte dug in her heels, tugging against her friend’s grip on her hand. But Ellie, cheeks blazing red, started forward, and Charlotte had no choice but to be dragged out into the sunshine. Miss Thornton and Miss Young had just reached the archway leading into the folly. They glanced up, startled at the sudden appearance of Charlotte and her friends. Miss Young’s eyes widened. She opened and closed her mouth silently a few times before looking down at the ground. Miss Thornton, however, gave them a wide fake smile.
She twirled her parasol slowly. “Hello! Lovely day isn’t it?”
“Oh, I don’t know. The warm temperatures have lured a couple of snakes out from their holes.” Ellie gave an airy wave of her hand toward the tall grass. “Watch out; they appear to be vipers.” She threaded her arm through Charlotte’s, giving a small tug, and they turned to walk away. But not before Charlotte saw Miss Thornton’s jaw fall open in shock.
Susanna fired the parting shot. “It’s really too bad the two of you aren’t a bit nicer. Perhaps Charlotte would have introduced you to Hawksridge’s brother. He’ll be here later this week.” She shrugged her shoulders and gave them a little waggle of her fingers before coming to flank Charlotte on the other side.
Charlotte blinked back tears. She shouldn’t let what those ladies say cut her so deeply. It wasn’t the first time or likely the last time she would hear someone denigrate her for not resembling the typical English rose. She tried so hard to be the perfect hostess, the perfect daughter. She ached to make her parents proud, to receive their praise. Then to hear Miss Thornton deride her for being too nice. Well, really! She couldn’t win, could she?
“Don’t pay any mind to those two witches. They are just green with envy because you have made such a good match while neither of them has any prospects,” Susanna said.
“And no wonder with personalities such as those,” Ellie said. She gave her arm a gentle squeeze.
Grateful for her friends’ support, Charlotte brushed away the tears that had escaped down her cheeks. They were right. She was the one marrying a marquess. Even if said marquess was currently missing. Even if she wasn’t entirely sure why the marquess had picked her to marry. Perhaps he needed her dowry, as Ms. Thornton intimated. She sighed. Whatever the reason, they were engaged. She would prove all those girls from finishing school wrong. She would become the best hostess, the perfect wife.
The three of them walked toward the house in companionable silence. They crossed the lawn to the back veranda where her mother and Susanna’s mother held court over a half-dozen matrons. No doubt gossiping and plotting their children’s futures.
Suzanna stopped in her tracks. “If we walk by, my mother will make me come and keep her company. I’ll be bored to tears within minutes.”
Charlotte changed direction, leading them around the other side of the house. “We can sneak in through the front door and make our way to the library.”
“Susanna! Susanna!” Lady Dearborn’s voice rang out.
“Don’t stop. We’ll pretend we didn’t hear her. I doubt she’ll give chase,” Susanna whispered.
“Susanna, this is exactly why you are always in trouble,” Ellie admonished with a stern frown. But then she grinned, ruining the effect.
They picked up their pace and soon made it around the house and out of sight of their mothers. A footman opened the front door, ushering them into the cool interior of the house.
“Thank you, Jerry.” Charlotte took off her bonnet and handed it and her parasol to him.
As they headed down the corridor to the library, they passed the blue drawing room where card tables had been set up for gaming. The door stood ajar, and the smell of cigar smoke and the rumble of male voices drifted out. Charlotte paused as she caught a glimpse of Daniel sitting at a table with her father and two others. As though he sensed her, Daniel looked up. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he gave her a warm smile. Her heart fluttered a bit in response. Why did he affect her this way? She flushed and gave a small wave before continuing on.
Olivia came bustling up the hallway toward them, her head turned to look over her shoulder, and bumped into Ellie. “Oh, dear! I’m so sorry.” Then she glanced over her shoulder again.
“Who are you running from?” Charlotte asked as she peered behind Olivia.
Her friend flushed bright pink. “You are going to think I am crazy, but I was just walking through the portrait hall, and I swear it felt like there was someone following me.” She took a step closer and dropped her voice. “Do you see anyone?”
Charlotte peered carefully down the corridor but didn’t see anyone. She shook her head.
“I’m sure the portrait hall is haunted by one of your many ancestors, Charlotte.” Olivia shuddered.
