“I am not going to simply cross my fingers and pray it all works out,” Harriet said. “Early in our marriage Charles told me that I am one of the most astute strategists he’s ever known. I’ve already persuaded him to take a few days to unwind at his hunting lodge, where the gossip can’t reach him. But Charlotte, I must know. Did anyone see you?”
“Jane. She was in my room when I made it back from the island. She’s the source of the rumours.”
“She will be sent packing immediately. The rest of the staff will take note. And you”—she frowned at me—“will do nothing that could cause the tiniest hint of gossip from now on. You will be the very model of propriety.”
“I promise.” On this, I was committed.
“If all goes well, we will weather this storm, and in time I’ll find someone else for you.”
I knew I should feel grateful, but I felt a twinge of resentment as full control of my future passed to my sister, and part of me was wounded that she showed so little concern for my well-being. Her only real focus seemed to be how this could affect Charles and his political prospects, but I was starting to realize that my welfare was wrapped up in Charles’s. Hari was looking out for me, just as she’d done after our parents’ deaths and through all the family’s financial troubles. I had to trust her now.
Chapter Six
An hour later, I arrived at our old family estate after dropping Harriet off at Dr. Randolph’s. My mood lightened at the prospect of an afternoon of tea and a chat with my dear governess Wiggles. She had no family, so our father had given her a life interest in a small cottage in return for her years of service. We were passing the rose garden, about to make a right-hand turn off the main driveway towards the cottage, when I spotted my cousin Edward, pruning shears in hand. He waved us down.
I had vowed not to visit Edward. I knew I wasn’t being fair to Edward and his wife, Prunella—that my distaste for them was influenced by the fact that, after my father’s death, Edward had inherited my childhood home: the twenty-room manor house and surrounding three-hundred-acre farm, the formal gardens, the stables, and all the livestock.
In my heart, though, I knew my feelings were unfounded. I continually avoided blaming the one person whose actions were behind the downfall of my family: my father. He was the one who squandered his large inheritance and left our estate to Edward. His actions drove my mother to gamble, created the need for Hari to marry well, and forced me to try to make a decent marriage with no dowry. The sight of Edward, in what should have been my garden, was a painful reminder of all of that. My coach came to a halt.
“Why, Cousin Charlotte! Just the person I wanted to have a word with. How perfect. This saves me sending for you.”
“Lovely to see you, Edward, but I’m on my way to visit Miss Wiggins—not much time.”
I hoped my apologetic smile would carry the day, but he opened the coach door and held it firmly. “This will only take a minute.”
I could see no alternative than to step out with him into the garden. It annoyed me to see that he and I resembled each other. There was a look that ran through our family: freckled, reddish-blond colouring, tall, with long limbs and a tendency to carry a little extra weight.
At least I have all my hair, I thought.
Edward’s prize roses had been smartly clipped in time for the warm growing season ahead. It was hard to imagine the feathery beauty that these prickly stumps had so frivolously exposed to the world last summer. Now the severely pared-back bushes stood in neat rows like little soldiers at attention, awaiting further orders.
“You know I’m not one to mince words,” Edward began. “I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve been told you haven’t garnered a single marriage proposal since your coming-out three years ago. You know you’re getting up in years, don’t you? Not much hope now, I reckon.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he kept talking.
“Prunella’s been at me. ‘We have a duty,’ she says, ‘a Christian duty, to offer charity where it’s needed, especially when it’s family.’ I don’t hold much with that sentiment, mind you. I’ve never asked for a handout, but the wife won’t let it rest.”
I studied his face, looking for some awareness that he had inherited all that should have gone to Hari and me, but found none.
“The wife wants me to offer you a place here,” he was saying. “This could be your home for the foreseeable future.”
Despite my feelings for Edward, it was a kind offer, and I said as much.
“Don’t think you won’t earn your keep,” he went on. “Prunella’s been having trouble keeping nannies. With two sets of twin boys plus little Bess, she’s run off her feet. You can be the help, and when the children are older we’ll promote you to governess, in exchange for room and board. Your dear father saw fit to tie my hands by giving the dowager’s cottage to Miss Wiggins for as long as she lives, otherwise I could have offered it to you. The old governess is too long in the tooth to be of much use to me, and yet I can’t turn her out.”
In others words, I would work like a servant for little monetary reward, I thought, but bit my tongue. I had promised Hari I would be the very model of propriety. “I don’t know what to say, Edward.” That was the truth.
“Don’t get any fancy notions in your pretty little head, now.” He turned our path back towards the coach. “You’ll not
