Chapter 4
That evening, Charlotte put on a deep burgundy dinner gown that maintained a look of luxury even though it had been in her wardrobe longer than she had been a widow. Her hair was pinned more loosely than what was fashionable for younger women, and it gave her an air of refined femininity. A gold and opal brooch was fixed at her bust, and matching earrings adorned her ears. She left her neck bare.
Were it possible, Charlotte would have worn something brand new to celebrate this happy occasion. Her only child was to be married. Not for love, of course. Not to a young and handsome gentleman. But to an old family friend who was so kind as to save them both from the poorhouse. Somewhere within her was the ghost of a memory—a time when she could picture a future where she and George were happy together, where he hadn’t abandoned her to return to the sea, taking their daughter with him.
In her youth, she had prayed for a happy domestic life and a little girl whom she could raise into a proper young lady—who would one day marry a proper young gentleman. Instead, she got a husband who loved the sea more than he loved her and a daughter who preferred to think of their relationship in terms of business only. No, it wasn’t anything close to the life she dreamt of.
Still, it was a lucky thing that neither Reginald nor his nephew would be conscious of her poverty of fashion. She admired her gown in the mirror, but it pained her to not have access to the luxuries that used to bring her so much consolation. At least she had Victoria back on solid ground again.
Tonight, Victoria was in pink chiffon. The very last of their money had consciously gone towards supplying the younger of the two Fairfax women with an up-to-date wardrobe—in all the most contemporary colors, patterns, and styles. For nothing had been as important to them as Victoria looking her best. Marriage was the only hope for their salvation, and finally, it had been secured…in a decent enough way. At least, it wasn’t a poor match to a man she could never escape. Lord Reginald understood. He was a true gentleman. He gained nothing from this arrangement, and they—everything. They would be cared for, housed, fed, and their reputations protected. That was certainly worth celebrating.
Charlotte helped her daughter fasten her long hair up in tight curls, as was popular. The hairstyle was further decorated with pearl pins. Her necklace and earrings were a deeper hue of pink than her dress. The shade complemented the natural rose in her lips and cheeks. She looked just like a picture, Charlotte thought.
“I wish…” she began but thought better of it.
“What?” Victoria pressed, with a no-nonsense air.
“I just wish the circumstances were…I wish you were happy.”
Victoria turned to her mother. “I am happy. I do not have to marry some fool from the capital—I don’t even have to be in the capital. And I won’t be forced to bear a child. I have the freedom to roam this great estate; I’m sure I will find a multitude of ways to entertain myself. Truly, I am the luckiest of women. I could not have hoped for a better situation than the one I am in. All that is required of me is patience, and I can practice patience.”
It saddened Charlotte to hear her daughter speak in such a way. “Yes. Well, I suppose I wish you were in love.”
“And I wish I were on the sea with Father. But we are here. This is the reality we face.”
Charlotte smiled, but Victoria could sense the mourning in it.
“Mother, I am happy. You should aim to be so as well.”
“I am, dear,” Charlotte promised. And she was very glad to escape poverty, but this wasn’t the happily ever after she had secretly been longing for. She didn’t tell Victoria that, however, because it was such dreams of fairy-tale endings that made Charlotte feel so far away from her daughter.
“Good.” And with that, the two women went down to the dining room, where they found Lord Reginald awaiting them.
“Dear Charlotte! Miss Victoria! You bring such freshness, such vibrancy to Edenbridge! You don’t know how much joy your presence brings me! The very house itself feels altered.”
The welcome was a warm one, and Charlotte took the lead—squeezing Lord Reginald’s hands and allowing him to escort her to her seat. Victoria was content to keep her distance. She wanted nothing above a polite acquaintance with Lord Reginald lest he begin to think of her as a nurse or companion. She would be aloof with the old man—so he didn’t expect too much of her. Then, she would be free to take long walks by herself, be silent at dinners, and be left blessedly alone when in the library.
Charlotte, for her part, felt at ease at Edenbridge. It had the beauty and luxury she favored but without the pressures of society. When she had her own wealth, she had never been aware of any pressures. But being poor, that was a different story. Now, for the first time in months, she felt as though she could breathe again. She was enjoying herself.
The table was long, set with fine china, and glistening in candlelight. A lavish arrangement of flowers embellished the center, and a celebratory bottle of wine was already breathing and ready to be poured.
Once Charlotte was seated, Victoria was ushered into place—to the right of her soon-to-be husband. She gave him a gracious smile, and he offered a paternal one in return. It satisfied Victoria. She took it as a non-verbal communication that she was safe. Lord Reginald wouldn’t be getting any romantic ideas—just as her mother had assured. Still, Victoria liked to form her own impressions, and now she was feeling very safe indeed. She was even looking forward to dinner.
Charlotte and Lord Reginald took charge of the small talk, and Victoria tried her very best to not look as bored as she felt. Thankfully, Elias entered, and a smile crept to her lips. Already, Victoria could tell that Elias would be a source of entertainment during her time at Edenbridge. Despite having the build of a sailor, he did not have the relaxed demeanor of one. At heart, he was a nobleman, and Victoria loved to needle noblemen.
“Elias! Come, have a seat, my nephew.”
“I am late,” he began.
“Not at all; we have only just sat down. You are looking well tonight,” Lord Reginald noted, pleased with the fact that Elias dressed for company. The young man liked to act like a monster, but he was not without his manners.
Elias was not pleased with the compliment, however. He was never pleased with comments that directed attention to his appearance, and this was particularly unenjoyable in the presence of women.
Wordlessly, he found his seat—beside Victoria. Who promptly turned to him, with the most innocent of eyes, and asked, “How is your hand, Elias, are you feeling any better?”
He could hardly believe the lines this woman toed. “I’m fine,” he answered gruffly as the first course was set before them.
“I’m happy to hear it,” Charlotte put in. “It looked quite bad—” Her words broke off, and she blushed when Elias’s eyes met hers. The woman’s thoughts were clearly on his scarred face.
“We were discussing plans just now, Elias,” Reginald explained.
“Good. I am happy to be privy to the plans being made around here. You ladies might not be aware, but I had no idea that Edenbridge was expecting company.”
“Oh, Elias, I am sure I told you. You just hate to listen.”
Victoria stole a look at him, and he would swear that she was smirking.
“I think I would like to charge you with the planning, Charlotte. You are so very good at that sort of thing, and I really can’t begin to guess what is appropriate for the circumstance.”
Charlotte considered. “There is no need for anything large, but it wouldn’t look right if it were done quietly.”
“Yes, I catch your meaning.”
“It will be a small affair. You might want to craft a list of appropriate attendees in your circle, and I can handle those belonging to Victoria and myself.”
“I expect you will need to return to the capital for certain aspects of the event?”
“Much of the work can be done locally—the food, flowers, an officiant. But I believe you are right, certain things—such as the invitations, for example. Those will need to be commissioned in the capital.”
“And the young lady will need a dress,” Lord Reginald pointed out, beaming a warm smile at Victoria.
“That’s too kind, sir. I’m sure I can use something I already have.”
“No, I wouldn’t allow it. You and your mother both will require proper attire. It is my duty.”
“Hardly,” Charlotte replied graciously.
“But I insist. For the sake of an old man—please, it would make me happy. Besides, it is a big day for me as well. It requires a little grandeur.”
“The level of grandeur is entirely up to your discretion, Reginald,” Charlotte insisted.
“No, no. I say the planning is up to you. But a little grandeur is due, don’t you think?”
“And what exactly are you planning?” Elias asked finally.
Lord Reginald Harrington’s smile brightened. “My wedding, of course.”
Elias began to choke, and he fumbled for his glass. “I’m sorry, I believe I misheard you.”
“I am to be married, Elias.”
The nephew’s eyes widened. “This is quite a surprise to me. I had no idea of a romance. Allow me to offer my congratulations. I hope that you and Miss Charlotte will be very happy together.”
Charlotte cleared her throat.
“I am not marrying Charlotte,” Lord Reginald explained. “Victoria is my bride-to-be.”
Elias was on his feet in an instant. His eyes shot from Lord Reginald to Victoria and then back to Lord Reginald. “This is a joke?”
“No, indeed, it isn’t. Victoria and I will be married in a fortnight.”
The young lady nodded in affirmation, and Elias blinked, half stumbling away from the table as the wheels in his mind turned.
“I don’t understand,” he muttered. But then, he did understand. “She is a fortune hunter.”
“Elias!” Lord Reginald was on his feet too now. “You will never speak in that way in front of Victoria or her mother again. Do you hear me?”
“Is she not?” Elias asked, his tone filled with accusation.
“I will not make the request twice. Heed me. Both Victoria and Charlotte are virtuous women, and I demand you treat them as such.”
“Then what in the world is the explanation of this?”
“I had no idea that I had to explain myself in such a way to you, or anyone else for that matter. When two people decide to marry, the business behind it is their own. Take for granted that I love my wife-to-be and that marriage is my heart’s deepest desire.”
“So suddenly?”
“If marriage had been on my mind, how would you know?”
Elias had to give his uncle that, for he wasn’t one to inquire about such intimate matters. He wasn’t one to inquire about anything, really. Elias kept to himself, and he preferred that others did the same.
“Well, what do you plan to do with her?” he demanded.
Victoria used her napkin to hide a laugh.
“Elias! What in the world has gotten into you?”
“I struggle to comprehend what is going on here. If you say this girl is not manipulating you for your wealth, then you must be manipulating her for…for…”
“Do not speak another word!” Lord Reginald begged.
“Uncle, what of your reputation? What of hers? You might be content to damn yourself as a man in his eighties, but do you truly plan to damn this young woman for the rest of her life? What will people think? What will they say?”
“When have you ever been one to care?”
Elias clamped his lips shut.
“Hear me,” Lord Reginald ordered. “Charlotte and Victoria are as good as family, and soon they will be family as well as members of this household. Is that clear?”
“Abundantly,” Elias all but growled. “And I hope that I have been equally clear in expressing that this is a bad idea.”
Elias turned on his heel and strode from the room, his anger burning hot.
“I am so sorry,” he could hear his uncle saying.