Page 65 of Always the Chaperone
“…and with careful study, one is able to apply the pearls in a circular motion, like so, to prevent them dropping in the heat of a ball. Of course, if diamonds are your preferred choice…”
William let Miss Coulson’s words wash over him. There was nothing in Bath for him, not after burning his bridges so definitely with Charlotte. He would wait out the ball, try and find out why Lady Romeril had decided to go against her convention and host a second of the Season, then leave for home.
At least then, he could not drive himself mad by hoping to see Charlotte every time he turned a corner, or entered a shop, or walked into a room. Christ, it was as bad as Honora, wherever she was. His whole life, every breath seemed to be on hold for these two women. He would die for them, each of them, but he was no closer either than he was three years ago.
A gaggle of newcomers entered the room, and William’s heart skipped a beat when he saw a dull gray gown, but then it sank. It was not Charlotte.
In a strange way, he was glad. He did not want to see Charlotte again here, in a private ball full of strangers. What would he do when he next saw her? Mouth dry up, heart stop, stomach lurch?
Or perhaps, and the thought was physical pain across his forehead, he would not see her again. She did not appear to be at Lady Romeril’s ball, and if he carried out his plan and left in the morning, there was little chance of a meeting again.
“Ahem.” Miss Coulson was staring, obviously awaiting a response.
William hoped he was charming. “I do apologize, Miss Coulson, I thought I saw…an acquaintance enter the room. Would you be so good as to repeat that?”
A true smile crept over Miss Coulson’s face. “Of–of course, Your Grace! Well, as I said at the beginning, this gown is silk, of course, but ’tis not the silk one would normally find in…”
William groaned inwardly.
What he would do for Charlotte’s company.
He should have proposed properly, securing her hand from the moment he knew he could not live without her.
“You can barely notice unless you examine it carefully. And that is all to the good, if you ask me.”
He could have immediately explained who Prudence was. Teasing was all very well, but it had overwrought Charlotte’s emotions. He should never have done that.
“But of course, my favorite part, as I said before, is the sleeves. See how the stitching, so small and so careful, never going beyond the lines of the design.”
The more he looked back, the more mistakes he recognized. No wonder she had eventually walked away. She deserved better, more than a thoughtless laugh when she had needed him. That laugh had broken everything between them, and he would never get the chance to make it right.
“Do you agree?”
William started. “What?”
For the first time since they had been introduced, Miss Coulson scowled. “I…I do not think you have been listening to a word I have said, Your Grace.”
“Of course I have!” William said bracingly. “Please do continue, Miss Coulson, I was greatly enjoying hearing about the…erm…the stitching of the sleeves and the…the embroidery of the–the hem?”
Without saying another word but giving him a dirty look, Miss Coulson bobbed her head and stalked back to her mother.
Finally.William breathed out slowly and leaned against the wall, finally alone with his thoughts.
He pulled out his pocket watch. Already a quarter to ten. All he had to do was survive for another few hours. At Lady Romeril’s balls it was considered good manners to leave as soon as she had gone to bed, and that was never late. A couple of hours and he could leave, and then depart Bath in the morning. There was nothing left for him here.
Confused murmurings rose from the dancers, and William glanced over curiously.
People started to point. Was this some special entertainment Lady Romeril had organized? Was she to make an announcement, perhaps?
The hostess did enjoy drama.
The dancers started to move aside. A woman dressed in the most exquisite gown and drenched in diamonds, and wearing a tiara—the sort a duchess would wear.
She had such presence. William could feel it from the other side of the room. No wonder the dancers were moving aside for her—carriages on the street would move aside for her.
William’s jaw dropped.It was Charlotte.
But not the Charlotte ignored by the world. This one was adorned with diamonds—her neck, her wrists, her ears. The gown was shapely but modest, hinting at the splendid figure William knew all too well was under that silk.
