Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Wildwood was a much grander estate than Fermoy, and Charlotte spent her first days there recuperating and getting to know her new home.
The smooth white stucco house with sash windows had many rooms for them to explore.
Though she admired the luxurious interior spaces in their dark, muted colors, they were not to her taste.
Perry gave her leave to make any changes she wished, and she planned to add more touches of bright, cheerful color as soon as she was well enough to undertake such a project.
It warmed her heart to think of making a home with Perry that was all their own.
After several days of rest, Charlotte’s health was mostly restored.
Her mother sent multiple requests for a visit.
Once enough time had passed, Charlotte relented, feeling strong enough to hear her mother’s reaction to the fast nuptials and rapid changes her life had undergone.
Esme Townsend was strong-willed and sure to voice an opinion on the matter.
Charlotte knew her mother would be pleased with the arrangement.
Anything that would bring her daughter and granddaughter back to the family.
Though sometimes difficult and highly influenced by the whims of the ton, the baroness cared for her children and wanted them to be happy.
A marriage that raised Charlotte’s status and brought her great fortune was the culmination of all her mother’s greatest dreams.
They sat in comfortable chairs before a table overflowing with tea and desserts between them. Had it been a strategy to disarm the baroness with treats? Absolutely.
Esme eyed the sumptuous sweets, then shook her head, refusing to be distracted from the topic of conversation.
She dressed in a shimmering bronze gown that sparkled with inlaid flowers sprinkled throughout.
Her golden-brown hair, similar to Charlotte’s, was piled atop her head in curls, with only a few gray hairs revealing her age. Her mother was stunning.
Though Charlotte shared some of her features, her looks were not as captivating.
She was but a shadow in comparison. Well, that was how she was described by her mother’s friends when they thought she couldn’t overhear them.
Charlotte assumed this was the reason why offers of marriage never abounded, as did the rest of the ton.
“I wish you had been able to marry him all those years ago. It was such a difficult time for you, and the family,” her mother said as she worried her bottom lip. “You were so sick. We had no idea if you would survive, let alone that you were carrying a child.”
Charlotte nodded. It was an impossibly difficult time. “And I was meant for Viscount Dewberry. There was no need to deviate from the plan.”
Her mother scoffed. “Well, until the scoundrel left you for that light skirt. I was truly afraid for you.” Esme stroked her hand on Charlotte’s shoulder.
“Perry was married off to his first wife by the time my good health returned. It would have been impossible for him to aid me without causing a great scandal. Viscount Dewberry’s quick marriage made it unlikely for me to come back to the city without an extraordinary amount of scrutiny.
My pregnancy would have been difficult to hide.
We made the best decision at the time.” She took a small plate and selected a few tarts from the dessert tray. “Surely you understand that.”
Esme stilled her daughter with a gloved hand on her arm.
“The earl approached your father, you know. He insisted on knowing where you were, but with your intended marriage and your illness, our hands were tied. The earl’s father, the old duke, was a very powerful man.
He warned your father not to interfere and later offered to give you an income to keep us all silent about your condition.
We were afraid to disobey his orders. In our minds, it was a fleeting affection that had developed between you two.
We did not have the tools to deal with the unfortunate consequences.
” Esme inhaled sharply at the revelation.
“Now we know the earl’s feelings were sincere. ”
Tearing her gaze away from the treats, she gazed sharply at her mother. “Did he admit to having strong feelings for me?”
“We guessed, after he came to us. It was an impossible situation. Your father didn’t have the social standing to stand against someone with the wealth and connections the old duke had.
Though we live in comfort, we were not prepared to risk having our loans called in or our family reputation completely destroyed by a few harsh words.
The man was relentless and willing to punish us for not complying with his wishes.
Bad enough we had to hear the whispers when you vanished from society.
When the viscount broke your engagement, I couldn’t imagine the secret of your condition being made public.
Rather than punish you by forcing you to face society after Dewberry’s rejection, your father wanted you to have some happiness.
And that was before we knew of the child.
Even if it meant losing you to the country forever, it was best for you to stay at Fermoy. ”
Fingers rubbing her temples, Charlotte attempted to ease the tension growing there.
She didn’t need a reminder that her departure had extinguished the hope of having all his daughters successfully married, thus increasing the family’s standing in society.
Hiding in the country had allowed her to avoid some of the consequences of her actions.
She never had to see the judgment or hear the gossips speaking in hushed tones with assessing looks and fake smiles.
Her sisters and her parents had taken the brunt of the damage her disappearance had caused.
Thankfully, the tale they had woven of her poor health and need to recover in the country seemed to please those who would mean them harm.
“I wish it could have been different. My prolonged illness made any intervention by Perry impossible. His marriage quelled any chance of him coming to my rescue, beyond making me a social pariah. I chose myself in the end, and I have no regrets. I hope Aurelia will forgive my weakness.” Charlotte cast her gaze away from her mother with a sigh.
“I’ve only made her life that much harder with my foolishness. ”
Darkness encroached upon her thoughts when she remembered the long days, bedridden and with barely a will to live, when she realized the true seriousness of pregnancy.
Staring sightlessly out of her window, the pleasures of her garden still undiscovered.
Life was bleak and the days long. Aamina kept her alive during those days.
Holding Charlotte as she cried in her comforting embrace.
Losing Perry was a blow from which she never thought to recover.
Pregnancy was frightening, and she was alone, with no mother to counsel or guide her.
Esme had been occupied making sure her disappearance from the newly started season in London drew little suspicion and arranging her sisters’ marriages.
Moving to sit next to Charlotte, a deep sadness painted Esme’s features as she too revisited those memories. Brushing a hand over her daughter’s brow, she clicked her tongue. “You suffered so greatly,” her mother sniffed. “If only I could have helped you more.”
“You and Father did what I asked, and I was content for years. It took me some time to find happiness. Aurelia brought me such joy when she arrived.”
Esme brushed her hands over her skirts, rising to pour them both a cup of tea.
“It all turned out in the end, my darling. Your father is happy with the match, as am I. We have only a bright future before us.” She reached over and hugged Charlotte before turning back to add a few lumps of sugar to the steaming cups.
Pressing her fingers to her lips, Charlotte suppressed the emotion clogging her throat. There was no turning back.
“Now, we must discuss how we will be preparing you for your new life in the city. You will need to do more interesting things, dear. Go to the theatre, or call upon women of importance to establish relationships; it is imperative that you begin as soon as possible. Your social calendar must be full. There are some who will hesitate to be seen with you, but we must persevere. If a few prominent women of the ton accept you, then the rest will follow. It will take some time.”
“I understand. Perry and I have discussed the challenges we will face. I am hoping that having the support of the Marchioness of Mandchin and the Duke of Bridgewater will be a boon to us. My husband is close to his siblings.”
Her mother studied her face and gave a small gasp. “Your complexion seems to have suffered greatly from life in the country. Have you not been using the bleaching creams I sent you?”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “I saw no need for great beautification when I was living alone in the country and never seeing a soul save Aurelia and the servants…”
“Well, surely you saw no need for bonnets either,” her mother noted sharply.
“We will have to remedy the situation immediately. I’ll have my lady’s maid prescribe a regimen for you and give the information to Aamina.
There is much to be done. Dresses, hair, gloves, a wedding trousseau, perhaps?
Better late than never, I say… The earl has ample resources to give you the most glamorous introduction into society.
People have already been talking. They’re dying to know see you and find out how you snagged the earl, all the titillating details of your courtship.
I’ve been telling every hungry gossip I know that it is a true love match.
Your first presentation will be extremely important.
It will dictate your successful integration back into society. ”