Page 34 of A Perfect Engagement
“Mother, I’m sorry. Lord Hawksridge suggested the change of plans, and I did not want to disagree with him.” Charlotte hoped the half-truth would placate her mother.
“You should have tactfully steered him toward participating in the planned activity.” Her mother came up behind her and began tightening Charlotte’s stays. “Part of your job as a wife will be to sway your husband in the right direction. In this way, a wife can help her husband socially and politically. Many of the guests were disappointed the happy couple was not out on the hunt.” She gave a vicious tug to the strings, and Charlotte lost all the air in her lungs in one sharp exhale.
“Mother,” she gasped, “I think it’s a bit too tight.”
“Nonsense. You want your future husband to be able to span your waist with his hands. A tiny waist is very attractive to men.” Her mother gave a final tug and then tied the strings off. Charlotte could barely take in a breath, but when she turned to the mirror, her waist did indeed look smaller. Although her bosoms were overflowing the confines of the long corset that her mother insisted she wear under her evening dresses.
“Which dress are you wearing this evening?” her mother asked.
“The dark green silk.” She pointed to the bed where Lizzie had laid out the dress.
“Hmmm, yes, all right. The color does flatter your eyes.” She brought the dress over and helped Charlotte step into it. The dress laid off the shoulder and had long puffed sleeves of gauzy organza. Around her waist, a light green ribbon tied into a bow at her right hip. The elegant lines of the dress made Charlotte happy. Her mother, however, pinched her lips into a thin line. Her eyes narrowed. Then she sighed.
“I guess you will do.” She headed for the door to the hallway, skirts rustling. “Come on, don’t dawdle, Charlotte.”
*
Downstairs, Charlotte madeit through dinner by only drinking the wine. Her stomach grumbled as the pheasant in brown butter sauce was consumed enthusiastically by her guests. She ate two small bites of the glazed honey carrots, but she was cinched so tight the thought of eating anything more seemed impossible. The worst part came when dessert was served, apple tarts with a crispy flaky crust and whipped cream to put on top. Blast it! Her mother had done this to her on purpose. She’d known Charlotte wouldn’t be able to eat a thing. She took another deep swallow of wine.
She stole a glance down the table where Daniel sat to the right of her father. He met her gaze, his face a mask of impartiality, but his eyes were full of concern. She gave him a small smile before returning her attention to Lady Dearborn, who regaled their end of the table with a story about a pair of ornery swans Lord and Lady Hollister had procured for a party last month.
When dinner ended, Daniel appeared at her elbow. Her head fuzzy from the wine she’d drunk, she was in no mood for his searching looks or his joking attempts to make her smile.
“Are you all right? You didn’t eat anything at dinner,” Daniel asked quietly as he escorted her to the drawing room. Charlotte’s foul temper ratcheted up a notch.
“I ate. Would you like a detailed account of what I consumed?” She immediately regretted her defensive tone.
They stopped just short of entering the room. Daniel placed his hand at her lower back, pulling her toward him. “I’m sorry. It was rude of me to ask such a question. I just wanted to make sure you were feeling all right.”
The last of the dinner guests filed into the drawing room, and they were left alone out in the hall. His arm still circled her waist. They stood only inches apart. For a moment, Charlotte forgot her discomfort. The steady rise and fall of his chest captured her attention. Standing close to him somehow soothed her and excited her at the same time. She placed a hand over his heart and felt his quick intake of breath at her touch.
Daniel’s voice rumbled, breaking the spell. “I wanted to tell you I received a note from Brooksdale. I am urgently needed at home. I will only need to be gone for the day. I should be able to be back by dinner. Will you be able to make excuses for me?”
She looked up to meet his eyes. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, just some estate business. I’m sorry, but it can’t wait.” He glanced away.
She pushed aside her rush of disappointment. Perhaps this would be good. To have a day apart from Daniel would be refreshing. She could use some space to realign her priorities.
She nodded. “I’m sure I can come up with something. Shall we go inside?”
His fingers flexed at her waist, almost as if to keep her from stepping back. But then he removed his hand and offered his arm. Smiling down at her, he asked, “So what is tonight’s entertainment?”
*
The entertainment forthe evening was dancing. All the furniture had been moved to the edges of the drawing room. A four-piece band sat tucked into one corner. Daniel didn’t mind dancing because it allowed him to have Charlotte in his arms without having to feel guilty. He received the note from home just before dinner. Phoebe had taken a turn for the worse overnight. The apothecary had been sent for and would arrive tomorrow morning. It was a sharp reminder Daniel had responsibilities that needed his attention. This week of flirting and fun was simply an anomaly in his life. The party, the lady…this was all his brother’s life. He needed to remember he was just filling in.
Tonight he would enjoy dancing with a beautiful woman in his arms. Tomorrow he would go home for the day. By Friday, certainly, Miles would arrive. Then Daniel could be himself again.
The musicians played a lively reel to start off. Ladies and gentlemen organized themselves into two long rows. He stood opposite Charlotte. She still seemed a bit peaked. She’d drank three glasses of wine at dinner; perhaps she was just feeling the effects of too much alcohol and not enough food. She curtsied, and he bowed in return, then the dancing started in earnest. The reel was a fast-paced affair that had everyone whirling around in an organized blur of colorful skirts and brightly colored dinner jackets.
At the end of the set, Charlotte’s cheeks were flushed as she tried to catch her breath. Lady Susanna took her hand, and the two ladies approached.
“That was fun. Shall we go around again?” Lady Susanna asked.
Charlotte laid a hand to her chest. “Susanna, you’ll dance with Hawksridge, won’t you? I need to take a break.”
“I’d be happy to.” Lady Susanna grabbed his elbow and pulled him into the new line forming before he could protest. He glanced back at Charlotte. She walked to the edge of the room to sit down. The next song began, and Daniel turned his focus back to the dance.
