Page 16 of To Woo a Wicked Widow

She shook herself, as if awakening from a dream. “I beg your pardon, Elizabeth. I was woolgathering. But I do believe I have found a way to solve our problem.”

“What problem?”

“Well, Jane observed last night that eligible men were few and much in demand this time of year. What we need is a private place to entertain them, so we can have them to ourselves. But we couldn’t think of a place to hold a house party.” Charlotte arched her neck and raised her chin. “But I believe I have found just the place.”

“Where?”

“Lyttlefield Park.”

Elizabeth cocked her head sharply. “What is that?”

“An estate left to me at my husband’s death as part of my dowry and to which I will remove before Edgar’s arrival.”

“Has Sir Edgar not yet returned from his grand tour? I must tell you, I thought it in exceedingly poor taste that he would go to the Continent immediately after his father’s death.” Elizabeth sipped her tea and lowered her voice. “It seemed so disrespectful.”

Charlotte snorted. “Edgar’s tour had been scheduled long before his brother’s and Sir Archibald’s deaths. As soon as his uncle told him the funds were at his disposal, Edgar refused to let anything stand in the way of his pleasure.” She stared over her cold teacup at her friend and confided, “I am just as pleased that he has been absent these eleven months. I have almost six more weeks of respite until his return in early August.”

“But what have you discovered about Lyttlefield Park?”

“Lyttlefield Park?” Jane’s strident voice filled the small room as she strode in.

“Jane, at last.” Charlotte rose to buss her cheeks.

“Good morning, Elizabeth.” Jane stripped off her gloves and unfastened her spencer. “I didn’t know you were here already.”

Charlotte poured her a cup of tea.

“Two lumps and lots of milk, please.”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “I would think after living with you for almost twelve months I would know that, my dear.” She plopped the sugar into the cup and tipped the milk pitcher the required amount of time, then handed the cup to Jane. “Let’s see how well I managed.”

Jane smiled and sipped. “Delicious. So, Elizabeth, are you—”

“Lady Stephen Tarkington and Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick.” Thorne, her late husband’s staid butler, ushered them in.

“I sent the carriage around for them earlier, before I went out.” Jane rose to greet their guests.

Lady Stephen, Fanny to her friends, had been married to a younger brother of Jane’s husband. Lady Georgina, or Georgie, was the youngest of the widows in their little group, her circumstances the most dire. Thorne assisted them with their pelisses.

“More tea, Thorne.”

“Yes, my lady.” He withdrew, shutting the door with a loud click.

“Lady Marable was quite put out that you did not call with me, Charlotte. She said she had some questions for you about last night.” Her cousin sent her a droll look before reclaiming her seat.

“Precisely the reason I did not accompany you.” Charlotte nodded emphatically. She surveyed her circle with satisfaction. They had come, but would they all be willing to go through with the plan?

“I am so very pleased you came this morning, ladies.” Charlotte embraced her friends. “I was just telling Elizabeth I propose we create a club—we have already, you know—called the Widow’s Club.” They all settled themselves and Charlotte poured tea. “It will consist of the five of us who seek to marry or,” she shot a glance at her cousin, “take an interest in men once more.”

“It’s to be like the gentlemen’s clubs,” Elizabeth added.

Jane frowned. “Like White’s or Brook’s? How is that to help us find men? Unless perhaps you were thinking of a joint outing somewhere . . .”

“No indeed.” Charlotte shuddered. “No, the club is simply similar in structure. We have always met to talk about fashion and children and—”

“Men.” Fanny spoke up eagerly.

“Exactly.” If anyone would get right to the point, it would be Fanny. “Except we will carry it a step further. Before the end of the Season, we will invite certain gentlemen of our acquaintance to a house party. Once there, we shall have the opportunity and the time to talk and flirt with them without constraint. Best of all, we will have these gentlemen all to ourselves.” Charlotte raised her chin, her gaze darting from face to face.