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Charity understood that her mother was worried that Father would have one of his episodes, but Charity reminded Mother that he had been in good spirits since they came to Bath. The weather and the waters always agreed with him. This was Bath, not London.
“Besides, Mother,” Charity said. “You know we cannot hide him away for days on end. Members of the Peerage need to see him sometime, or there will be talk.”
Lady Shalace nodded. She had no wish to try to explain how The Earl of Shalace was still doing the work of the realm when he did not know who he was from one day to the next.
“Perhaps the waters of Bath are improving his state,” Mother said, “but it is not a cure all.”
Father blustered and Charity took his part.
“Mother, you must admit, it certainly seems that his mind is clearer of late.” Charity argued. When he might have gone off on a tangent and fallen prey to some delusion after only a half an hour, now his conversation seems more clear and his propensity to make untoward comments more controlled. Why, Charity thought, he might sit for an entire session if he understood the goings on. Charity had not seen her father so improved for a long time. She felt as if her Father had been returned to her.
“He wishes to go, and he has not voiced his own opinion for an age. He seems so much better. Do you not think so?”
“Perhaps.”
“Please Mother. I know you are worried that he will say something out of sorts in front of someone of import, but I will not leave him out of my sight. Truly, keeping him indoors is as likely to cause rumor as allowing him this outing. We should have no reason to interact with anyone and yet, he will be seen listening to the music. It will soothe him.”
“I suppose I have no say in this,” Lady Shalace said at last, wringing her hands nervously. She would have cancelled her engagement, but after the argument, Father forbade her to come with them to the concert. Besides, others would wonder why Lady Shalace was begging off, and she could not plead illness if she went to the musicale.
“I suppose you will just get agitated if I come with,” Lady Shalace said to her husband.
“I am escorting my daughter,” he said. “And only my daughter.” Father spoke with his old authority.
~.~
The following morning dawned bright and beautiful. Lady Charity called to a servant in the hall to see if the Earl still felt well and intended to keep their appointment. She had just finished splashing her face with cool water when it was confirmed that the carriage had already been called and Lord Shalace’s man, Robert Benton needed only tie his cravat to complete his preparations.
Charity flew through her morning ritual so as not to make her father wait. She would give him no opportunity to change his mind.
“My Lady” her father’s manservant greeted her with a nod. “Shall I call for a lunch of three to be set in a basket?”
“No,” Charity bit her bottom lip with barely restrained glee. “Just two, if you will. Father shall be my chaperone this day, and I, his.”
Her father’s man looked uncertain with the arrangement, but knew better than to question Lady Charity. A lunch was prepared and a blanket provided on which they might sit while listening to the soothing musical tones of Bath’s most popular string quartet.
It was a beautiful day and the park would soon be teeming with those who had come to listen, and so Charity was impatient to be off. She bid her farewell to her mother, who was off in the opposite direction to meet her ladies. One of Mrs. Thompson’s friends had a promising second cousin, twice removed, that just might have potential as a match to her daughter. He was the eldest son of a Viscount. Mother tried to tell Charity of his virtues, but she barely heard her mother. She was so excited to be going on an outing with her father.
“Do not be late, darling,” her mother warned while wringing her hands. “You know that he tires shortly after his meal. He shall need his rest.”
Rest, Charity thought. The special code they used to refer to keeping Lord Shalace from making a fool of himself in public. Charity knew that the outing must be kept short, lest he allow his mind to wander. It was one thing for the Peerage to think that her father had short bouts of illness. It would be quite another for them to be aware that his mind was addled.
“Are you sure you feel well enough?” Lady Shalace inquired of her husband as they prepared to leave.
“Shut up, woman,” her father growled. “You are my wife, not my jailor.”
“’At least he remembered which of us was his wife,” Charity whispered and her mother nodded nervously. Her mother shook her head and looked to the sky as if it might provide some enlightenment
“Do not worry, Mother,” Charity replied, “I shall be careful. We will not engage in conversation with others, only so much as is necessary. People will see Father with his daughter and that is all. Plus, Father shall have a wonderful afternoon. If he growswearywe shall return home at once. I am well aware of his tendencies. If he thinks that I am you, well, I shall feign a headache and we will return home, posthaste.”
Charity’s Mother had grabbed her gloves and a lace parasol, placed her lips to her husband’s forehead, and preceded them to the door.
“Go,” the Earl said, shooing his wife out the door with masculine brusqueness. “You are hovering like a mother hen.”
Charity was determined that she might prove herself capable by suppling all of her father’s needs for an ideal afternoon. Perhaps, he might be tempted to another outing once he learned what fun might be had. Charity was determined to prove to all of the members of her family, including herself that she was capable of taking care of her father.
The ride to the park could not have been more ideal. Lord Shalace looked out the window at the streets of Bath and commented on how refreshing it was to be touched by the healing waters. He pointed out various landmarks that just a week ago he would not have recognized. His daughter nodded in response, her face dominated by a smile that could not fade. She was beginning to think that, perhaps, there was something to the rage about the mineral water. Her father was definitely better. Bath had healed her father, of that there was no doubt. Her heart was filled with joy.
Charity had chosen a soft blue day gown, the color of the rippling waters with which she felt newfound solidarity. She thought of the sea as she donned it and nearly removed the garment for another, but the color did much to draw attention to the brilliance of her eyes. Of course, the dye of the fabric paled in comparison.
