She said, “I would not say you are particularly old.”
“Dear child, you need not flatter me. I am old, and rather proud of the fact. Growing older is nothing to fear, odd as it may be for one so young as yourself.” The Dowager Duchess laughed softly, and Charlotte was struck by how much softer she seemed when she was alone. “I have lived a good life, and in all my years, I have learned a great many things.”
“I am sure you have,” Charlotte said.
“Our lives are for living, dear girl. And over this trip, I have seen how soft a heart you have. How you genuinely care for others and the depths of your compassion.” The Dowager Duchess smiled warmly at Charlotte, and she could not help but smile in return. “It is rare to see someone so truly altruistic.”
Her cheeks flushed.This is not how I thought this conversation would unfold.“I… I do not know what to say.”
“You need not say anything though perhaps it would do you well to learn how to receive a compliment. I shall have to instruct my grandson to give you more practice. Men do so easily forget the importance of such things.” The Dowager Duchess frowned at Charlotte’s left hand. “I see my grandson has not even managed to arrange an engagement ring for you. It is lucky for him you are so patient.”
“It is being resized.” Charlotte’s chest twisted at the thought of the ring.I doubt I shall ever see it.
She tried to remind herself that she had not liked the ring they had chosen anyway but could not help the pain that laced through her.
“Well, that is a relief.” The Dowager Duchess pursed her lips thoughtfully and added, “Though it has been rather a long time. Perhaps you should follow up with Mr. Mosely.”
“I am not sure I will have time to do so before we leave.” Charlotte could not bear the thought of returning to the jeweller’s.
“Ah, yes of course. I should have thought. No matter, I shall have Dominic do it.” Dominic’s grandmother nodded to herself, clearly indicating that the matter was settled.
Charlotte felt a stab of panic and said, “I am sure he already has the matter well in hand.”
“If he did, the ring would be upon your finger, Lady Charlotte.” The woman gently clasped one of Charlotte’s hands in her own, her grip surprisingly firm but not unkind. “I know engagement rings are not terribly common, but in this family, they are rather important.”
“Why?” Charlotte asked before she could stop herself, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “Sorry, that was rude of me. I should not have asked.”
“Nonsense. It is a perfectly reasonable question, and I doubt many of the family actually know the reason.” The Dowager Duchess gave her a conspiratorial look.
“Then you will share it with me?” Charlotte raised an eyebrow at her.
“I will.” The woman nodded and paused before saying. “It is to do with choice.”
“Choice?” Charlotte struggled to keep the surprise from her voice.
“Yes. My second husband gave me an engagement ring, and when I asked why, he said he wanted the world to know that we had chosen each other. Everyone should know the depth of our love, and the ring would be a public proclamation of that.”
“Do you still wear it?”
“I do. Though I do not wear it upon my left finger —that ring is from my last husband. I wear the other on this chain. The late Duke was very patient, but he drew the line at me wearing another man’s engagement ring.”
“I suppose that makes sense.”
“It does indeed. I would not like to be reminded of a lover’s past relationships, would you?”
“Not really, no.”
“Exactly.”
“So you passed the tradition to your family?”
“I did. I wanted my children and their children to know the same happiness and love I did. I wanted them to be unafraid to pronounce their love to the world, to tell everyone that they had chosen this person and in turn been chosen.”
“You are quite the romantic.”
“Romance is by far the most enjoyable form of entertainment.” She smiled but then shook her head. “Ah, look at the time. I have kept you too long with my silly nattering.”
“Not at all, I have rather enjoyed the time with you, Your Grace.”
