“Fine, thank you. Please, have a seat. I’ve rung for tea.”
“You did not stay for the presentation on rubber at the salon. I found it illuminating. William told me the next day that you weren’t feeling quite the thing.”
“I was sorry to miss it. Sometimes these things cannot be helped.” Charlotte shrugged, a list of questions running through her head that she could not manage to frame in an acceptably polite way, starting withWhy are you here? Get to the point.
“I understand. William tells me he is courting you.”
Charlotte clenched her hands to stop herself from fidgeting under his mother’s gaze. This was worse than being a débutante. It was being treated as a débutante when she was a decade older than one. “For lack of a better term, I suppose.”
The countess’s eyebrows drew together. “Might there be a better term? Come now Charlotte, we are both smart women. I am sure we can solve this dilemma together. You’re likely closer to my age than William’s. I know you loved your husband, which is lucky in many ways, but difficult when tragedy strikes. I thought this might be a step in your recovery—a dalliance with a much younger man? You are a businesswoman, as am I. Perhaps it would be best to negotiate terms, like length of contract.” Ruth’s expression was fierce now. A mama bear protecting her cub.
Charlotte was well past awkwardness to fury by the time Ruth finished. William wasn’t her cub, and her overbearance was not welcome to a woman she’d just admitted she saw as a peer. No, William was not Ruth’s cub. He was Charlotte’s puppy. And while she knew she needed to let him off leash, no one else had a say in how, when, or why. She was indeed a businesswoman, and a master negotiator. She busied her hands pouring and doctoring tea for them both. Then she lounged back in her chair, crossing her legs and swinging her foot, the embodiment of casual ease.
“With all due respect, my lady, William is an adult. I am an adult. So—and again, I do not mean to be rude—I am not sure what business it is of yours…?” She gazed unblinking at the countess, not allowing herself to frown or clench her jaw as she wanted, trying to appear open to understanding but firm. It was a fight to keep her fingers gentle on the teacup and saucer, but she managed it.
“You are right of course, my dear. Generally, it is not. I simply want to ensure that you’ve thought of these questions, and your answers to them.” Ruth paused to sip tea. “And I must speak plainly here. William will need heirs. Therefore, at some point, this will have to end. I like you. I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”
At the reminder of the heir issue, Charlotte’s anger faded. There was no way around that hard truth, and she could understand Ruth’s concerns after toiling behind the scenes for more than a decade to keep the earldom afloat and allow William time to finish university. She likely felt like he was throwing it all away.
Taking a deep breath, she ignored the slights from the mama bear. “I understand. He and I have discussed this—more than once. And I am certain we will again. Whilst I will not betray his confidence and share details of those conversations, I am sure you know better than I how persistent he can be when he wants something.”
“Like a dog with a bone.” Ruth said, unknowingly reinforcing Charlotte’s vision of him.
A snort of laughter escaped Charlotte.
Lady Harrington gave a wan smile, her brow still furrowed.
Charlotte dropped both feet to the floor and sat forward. “I care a great deal for your son, Ruth. I have also come to like and admire you. I should like to maintain both of those friendships. Finding the right balance will be difficult, but I assure you, I will not stand in the way of William’s path to the earldom or his need for heirs.”
“Thank you, Charlotte. He has much to take on. I hope both of us can make shouldering those burdens a bit easier for him.”
“I do have a request. As I said—and I feel certain he has as well—we are all adults here. Please leave the details to us to work out. I will come to you if I need help, just as William does.” She raised her brows.
Ruth’s lips tilted down as Charlotte spoke. After a moment, she blinked and nodded. “Yes. You have my apologies for the way I barged in this morning. I shall try to do better.”
“Thank you.”
Ruth hesitated rather than standing to leave.
“Did you want to discuss something else?” Charlotte asked.
“Ah, since I am here, do you have time to discuss these new developments in rubber manufacturing? Can I share my thoughts? Have you read anything on it?”
There was no time like the present to test their ability to balance this friendship. Charlotte smiled and settled in for a lively debate and education.
Chapter Twenty-Four
William was furious and distraught. More, he was overwhelmed and exhausted.
A letter from his solicitor had been waiting for him that morning. His father’s investment from last summer was worthless. The shipment had not been stored correctly for the voyage. His father’s friends liked to cut corners, which often resulted in total losses for investors.
The loss was sizeable enough to undo all the progress he had made and then some, bringing their estate finances to a dangerous low. He’d already cut their expenses to the bone to avoid having to send servants packing.
Now, he did not see a way around it. He was too angry to write a coherent letter, however. His father had made this mess, he should be the one cleaning it up. And where was his mother? She’d inexplicably gone out this morning, of all days.
William paced the library, tugging at his hair, vibrating with tension. Unable to get past his frustration, he whirled. Heading for the stairs, he called out one last directive to the footman hovering in the hall.
Upstairs, he pounded on his father’s door.
