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“Have you been well, Sir John?” Charlotte asked, with little preamble, uncaring of the forwardness of her question. Up close, she was more certain than ever that he was sick or deeply troubled.
“I fear that I have been rather worn out. I only just returned to Town. I am quite concerned about my mother’s health, and felt the need to journey out of London to make sure that she is well-settled in the country.”
“Oh dear, that sort of worry will certainly make one feel exhausted,” Charlotte responded, a sympathetic frown crossing her features. “Is she well, then?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. The country air agrees with her and she was in greater spirits. I suppose I worry needlessly, but she is my only remaining family. I’m afraid I have been over-wrought.”
Charlotte felt her heart melt at Sir John’s words, and the very obvious sincerity with which he spoke. Her own family was her heart and soul. She could not imagine the pain if her own dear mother were unwell. The other members of the Keening family were all sympathetically affected, and Lord Keegain proposed that Ashbrooke join them at Twinnings. An invitation which Sir John readily accepted. The conversation was kept light and pleasant, and Charlotte enjoyed seeing how Sir John gradually seemed to relax into the boisterous, affectionate atmosphere her family created. He had very little of his own relations, and certainly he was unused to the dynamics of a large family such as her own, but Charlotte could tell that he was warming to it perhaps, in spite of himself.
“Will you be free to walk with me tomorrow, Lady Charlotte?” Sir John asked, before the family took their leave. “The small park nearby to your family’s townhouse, affords some very lovely views, if I recall.”
“That would be delightful,” Charlotte replied demurely, casting a quick glance at her brother, who gave a slight, permissive nod.
Charlotte felt that she could not bear the wait between going to bed that night and meeting Sir John the next afternoon. The hours seemed interminable and she was longing to speak with him again at greater length.
* * *
The next morning,Lady Charlotte was uncharacteristically awake at an unreasonable hour. She could not go back to sleep for the excitement that filled her at the prospect of another visit from Sir John. She felt giddy with it even though it was likely he would not appear until after eleven, which of course was the earliest acceptable visiting hour.
If she were in the country, she would have gone for a blistering early ride, but of course, she could not do so in Town. A slow walk through the Park would not be satisfying, and she thought, there was no excuse for another gallop through Hyde Park. Therefore, she was relegated to sewing with her mother and sisters. Time dragged. She felt no satisfaction in the imperceptible movement of the hands of the clock.
Her mother looked up from her sewing. “Charlotte, dearest, you will wear a path in the carpet if you keep pacing like that,” the dowager remonstrated mildly. “Do sit down for half a moment. You are making me tired just by watching you.”
“I apologize, I am just rather restless today, I do suppose.”
“Longing for your appointment with Sir John Ashbrooke,” the dowager said with a smile. “I understand, my dear. Well, we must hope that it does not rain.”
“It would not dare to rain,” Charlotte exclaimed, leaping up from her seat almost as soon as she had taken it, looking as though she would fight the very weather if it crossed her.
“Of course not,” Jane soothed. “It is only a little cloudy, I am sure.”
When the time finally came, Charlotte browbeat Helen and Alice into donning proper attire for the outing, refusing to hear Helen’s complaints that it was surely going to downpour.
“It is a light mist,” Charlotte argued. “If I could go decently by myself, I assure you that I would. But as I cannot, you both must bear a little poor weather for my sake. And please, Alice, try to remember to hang back and give me a chance to speak with Sir Johnwithoutyour droll contributions.”
“Goodness, it isn’t as though I am a complete fool,” Alice protested indignantly.
“At least not all of the time,” Charlotte muttered uncharitably.
“Only most of the time?” Alice fumed.
“Do not mind Charlotte,” Helen intervened, sensing that their sister’s quick temper was already close to the surface due to her heightened emotions. “She is only anxious for everything to go well.”
“If I am to be dragged about in the pouring rain, I still think I might reasonably expect to not be treated like a brainless child,” Alice grumbled, but fell in step with her sisters nonetheless.
“Itisn’training,” Charlotte stated adamantly.
“Not yet,” Alice muttered.
Sir John arrived to escort them to the park and Charlotte nearly floated. She was struck all over by how handsome he looked. It seemed no matter how many times they met every time she saw him her heart fluttered pleasantly withing her chest, filling her with warmth. Although she was beginning to think he always looked splendid, even Charlotte was forced to admit Sir John looked better rested than he had on the previous evening, and she wondered if the thought of spending time in her company had produced the more relaxed effect. She certainly hoped so.
“It is wonderful to see you all again so soon,” Sir John said, bowing gracefully to the ladies. “And most kind of you to indulge me in a walk on such a gloomy afternoon.”
“I adore this weather,” Charlotte said quickly, before her sisters could say anything. “I cannot understand people who want to stay shut up inside on account of only a few stray clouds, can you, Sir John?”
“So, you don’t think it is going to rain?” he asked.
“Of course not,” Charlotte said. She had no intention of sitting quietly in the parlor with her mother all afternoon.
