“What a wonderful idea. I shall be glad to.”
“Wonderful.”
Colin hesitated a bit, then bowed and left.
In order to avoid thinking about what her husband had said, Elizabeth focused on the mystery of who Lady Genevieve might have spent the night with. Throughout the day, she reviewed what she knew of all the men present and hoped it hadn’t been one of the married ones. She desperately wanted to talk to someone about it, but didn’t know who. Elinor was one of the few unattached women present, so she was most likely the best bet, but she spent most of the day at Amelia’s side, and Elizabeth didn’t want to burden Amelia with any more doubt than she already lived with.
Lizzie shuddered at the thought of how she would have felt in this situation if she hadn’t been with Colin the night before.
My jealousy would have driven me to insanity,she concluded.
“Oh, come on!” Isabella shouted when Lizzie missed again. “Just give the battledore to someone else!”
“All right, all right,” Lizzie said. “I’m sorry, I’m most distracted today.”
Lady Isabella’s temper died down a little. “It happens to all of us.”
“Perhaps you might join me for a walk?” Charlotte asked hopefully as Lizzie handed the battledore to Elinor, who looked frightened at the prospect of facing Lady Isabella.
“Of course,” Lizzie replied. “I don’t think I’ve ever been alone with you,” she said when they were out of earshot of the others.
“Well, yes, that is actually what I wish to talk to you about,” Charlotte said uneasily. “Oh, Elizabeth!” She stopped in the middle of the path and grabbed both of Lizzie’s hands awkwardly. “I am so ashamed of myself!”
Elizabeth was confused by this display of emotion from her usually cold sister.
“I’ve had a long overdue conversation with Nicholas about our father, our family, your place in it, and how we’ve all been treating you, and… I must beg your forgiveness!” She said earnestly.
“Do you mind first telling me why you’ve been so cold to me?” Lizzie surprised herself by asking.
“Oh,” Charlotte seemed taken aback.
Elizabeth got the sense she’d blush if she were capable of it.
“I don’t think I’ve set out to intentionally be cold to you – if I have, then please accept my apology for that as well. The truth is that our brother is, perhaps, the only person in my life I have a close relationship with.”
Not even your husband?Lizzie thought.
“I’ve always struggled with relating to others, partly because of my reticent nature, and partly because my mother trained me to appear unfeeling and dignified from a very young age. You’ve perhaps noticed yourself that I don’t have any real friends that I’m not related to.”
Lizzie considered the admission and compared it to what she knew of Charlotte.
She truly has no close friends,she realised.
“How do you propose we go forward? What do you think needs to change in our relationship?”
“I should like to get to know you and be more… be closer. Perhaps even like Sophie and her sisters one day. I would like to have someone I can talk to. Really be honest with.”
“I shall like that very much. Do you think we can accomplish that?”
“I’m certain in time, we could. We’d need to spend time together first, I think. You tell me, you’re the one with a lot of friends.”
Lizzie had never thought of herself that way, but could now see why Charlotte seemed to think so.
“I think this party is a very good start. Thank you for inviting us both.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Charlotte said, and they both smiled.
“There is one more thing,” Charlotte said hesitantly. “Nicholas and I have also spoken to Aunt Isolde, and she would like to apologise to you and, more importantly, to your mother. She’s given me a letter for her, and if she wants to write back, she can, but there is no pressure.”
