Part 1 Bath #3
’Tis not that I dislike Arabella—far from it, for she has been a friend since childhood, and I think of her with brotherly affection. But marriage! That is a different matter entirely, and one that the two of us have never discussed.
There was something deep within Edward that wanted more than society’s idea of what constituted a good match.
How I long for a burning, all-consuming love that cannot be denied—an affinity with another person that is so strong ’twould be unthinkable that we would not unite in holy matrimony.
And perchance Arabella too expected to marry for love—why should she not have the chance to make her own choice?
Edward’s shoulders slumped. But how could he break the vow he had made to his papa?
As the family walked through the crocus-studded Crescent Fields, Edward tried valiantly to banish all thoughts of nuptials from his mind by spinning his little brother and sister round and round until they were squealing for joy so loudly that Mrs. Knightley begged him to desist.
“Edward! I can see several inquisitive faces at the windows of houses in the Crescent. What will people think of us? There are many respected members of the ton who reside in this street.”
Very soon the party had reached Milsom Street and were seated at a window table in Moffat’s Tea Rooms with tea and sugar buns, much to George and Lydia’s delight. Edward sat down next to Charlotte.
“And how do you find Bath, Miss Fairfax?”
“I have not been here long, but I like what I see so far.”
So do I, Miss Fairfax—so do I.
Edward longed to reach out his fingers and touch one of the flame-red curls that was trying to escape from the side of Charlotte’s bonnet.
“And, and…” he tried to continue, struggling to concentrate on small talk when he felt his whole body aflame with a yearning to take the divine Charlotte in his arms and cover her lovely face with kisses. By Jove, what on earth was happening to him? “Where have you come from, Miss Fairfax?”
Heaven, I’ll wager!
“This is my first position as a governess, so I have not come from another household—ah, I see you mean where did I grow up, where do I call home?”
Edward nodded.
“I was brought up in the Lake District, Your Grace. Have you been there?”
“No, I have not had the pleasure. Although I have been to the beautiful lakes of Northern Italy during my travels. And please, there is no need to address me as ‘Your Grace.’”
“You are fortunate indeed to have been able to travel on the Continent. And how would you prefer me to address you?”
“Well, my friends and family call me ‘Somerset’ or just plain Edward.”
“I believe that would not be acceptable as I am not your friend, nor a member of the family, merely the governess. Moreover, Your Grace, I am surprised that you would think of suggesting such improper conduct.”
A bewitching smile played around Charlotte’s tempting lips; she was joking, surely?
“Well, whatever you decide to call me, ’tis fine with me! Now, Miss Fairfax, pray tell me what your interests are? Do you like reading?”
“I do. And I see out of Moffat’s window we are sitting directly opposite the circulating library; I hope to be able to borrow books from there ere long.”
Edward frowned. “You must borrow books from my stepfather’s library, and my mother too has many books that might be to your taste.” Edward raised his voice. “You are happy for Miss Fairfax to read your books, Mama, are you not? She should not need to borrow from the circulating library.”
“Of course, my dear.” Mrs. Knightley looked at Charlotte with a kindly smile.
Edward turned back to Charlotte. “And what about music? Do you play an instrument?”
“Sir, I love music. And yes, I play the pianoforte.”
“And your favorite composer?”
“Mozart.”
“Mine too! We have much in common and should play some pianoforte duets together. I know my mother has a book of Mozart pieces for four hands at home.”
“I would enjoy that immensely.” Charlotte blushed and looked down at her hands almost as if she were asking them whether they would be up to the challenge.
“Miss Fairfax is an accomplished musician,” Mrs. Knightley said, “and of course it would be lovely if she were to join us at one of my musical soirées—but perhaps I will be her duet partner.”
Mrs. Knightley caught Edward’s eye and then knit her brow.
Dash it all! Mama seems to disapprove of me wanting to perform some music with Charlotte. I suppose after what happened with the last governess, I cannot say I am surprised.
Edward tapped his fingers on the table as he remembered how Charlotte’s predecessor had behaved towards him.
She was such a calculating woman! A fortune hunter, his mama had said.
There had been a certain scene when he had been staying in the Knightley household not so long ago—a scene which had led directly to the governess’s dismissal, a fiasco Edward would not allow his mind to dwell on.
Suffice to say, he had not known a young woman could behave in such a bold and calculating way.
“Edward!” Mrs. Knightley smiled at her son. “I do hope you can afford the time to come to Lyme Regis with us next week. We would be so happy to have your company.”
“Well, I have much estate business to deal with…” Edward looked around the table, his eyes lingering on Charlotte, “…but I would be honored to join you. Thank you.”
Charlotte
To Charlotte’s great delight, she found the Knightleys insisted she join them in Lyme Regis.
They were all to set off several days later, including Cook and most of the other staff, for how else would the family manage?
Luckily, the house they were to stay in was plenty big enough to accommodate everyone.
Charlotte spent her evenings preparing material to share with the children during the visit to Lyme.
Their classroom would on many days be the great outdoors—they could study fossils and shells, and the small creatures of the sea, the crabs and the sea urchins.
On the night before they left, Mrs. Knightley came into the schoolroom and praised Charlotte for her dedication to her work and the thorough preparation she was undertaking.
“But I would not want you to think that your time in Lyme will be all work and no play, Miss Fairfax. You will have plenty of time to yourself, my dear, and there will be many enjoyable occupations for you in Lyme such as walking along the beach. You are not to go out on your own, mind. If one of the maids goes with you, that would be acceptable. And of course, you may sit upon the beach and read; in fact, I have here with me some books that you might like to borrow.”
Charlotte gratefully accepted the three leather-bound volumes, noticing with pleasure that ’twas another title written by the lady who only wished to be known as the author of Pride and Prejudice, a book that Charlotte had hugely enjoyed.
“Why, thank you, Mrs. Knightley! I have been wanting to read Emma for a long time.”
“You will find the heroine is quite a spirited and opinionated young lady, and she gets many things wrong in such an amusing manner.” Mrs. Knightley cleared her throat.
“The heroine, Emma, befriends Harriet, a young lady of a different social class. At first, Emma encourages Harriet to aspire to move up in society, but after a while it becomes clear that this is neither suitable nor proper, and Emma knows that she was mistaken. I am sure ’twill not surprise you to learn that Miss Harriet Smith becomes far happier when she settles down with people of her own class. ”
Charlotte could not help giggling to herself once Mrs. Knightley had left the room. How unsubtle the attempt to warn Charlotte against having aspirations beyond her class had been! Then her mood became more somber.
Mrs. Knightley has no right to try to control my life just because I am a mere governess—does she consider me as lowly as a creature that resides in a pond?
Charlotte put her head in her hands, feeling both a little insulted—and also mightily confused about Edward.
She still felt constantly the strong attraction that had burned within her on the very first day she had met him, but this was in direct conflict with what she had overheard George and Lydia mention on the same day—namely that Edward was to marry the mysterious Lady Arabella.
Although was it not possible that what the children had said was nothing but an ill-judged jest—or perhaps even a genuine misunderstanding of something beyond their childish comprehension?
Certainly, they had been quickly silenced by Mr. Knightley, and Charlotte had not heard anyone else in the household refer to impending nuptials.
For in truth, Edward does not behave like an engaged man; in fact, I have found him almost flirtatious since our very first meeting.
Charlotte sighed as her body flushed with ardor. She and Edward had been getting on very well in the last few days; one might even say they had become friends—if one could be friends with someone from such a different background and class.
Ah, how much she had enjoyed playing Mozart pianoforte duets with Edward when Mrs. Knightley had gone out visiting with the children yesterday.
What bliss that was! I felt as one with my Edward when we played together, his fingers touching mine, the feel of his breath on my cheek and his thigh against mine.
Charlotte still carried in her bodice the piece of paper signed Charlotte Somerset, and every night she slept with it safely tucked under her pillow. She worshipped the man!
And if occasionally she heard a voice in her head that said, “You little simpleton! Why would the Duke of Somerset marry a plain, penniless governess when he could have any young woman in England for the asking?” Charlotte took pains to drown out the unwelcome message with the impassioned song of love that was blossoming deep within her heart.