“My lady,” Mrs. Smith replied courteously, then she glanced slyly at Charlotte and Martha. “Miss Hervey, Miss Martha,” she greeted them. “Is there anything I can help you with today? Perhaps something for your trousseau?” She looked pointedly at Charlotte.
At the mention of her trousseau, Charlotte blushed furiously. She had barely had time to think about the wedding, let alone all the linens and clothes she might need to take with her to her marital home. To the marital bed… She flushed even more at the thought.
“I – uh, I have not…” she stammered.
“Well, yes, I imagine you haven’t had much time to consider it,” Mrs. Smith said with a smirk.
Charlotte looked away. The woman’s impertinence was almost too much to bear. But as she turned, she saw that almost every other lady in the shop was looking at her. Those that were in groups were whispering to one another behind their hands, and anyone who happened to be there alone was making sure not to make eye contact with her, or to stand too close. No doubt they did not want to be associated with her lest their own reputation be tarnished by her scandalous behavior.
“Ignore it, sister,” Martha whispered, coming to stand next to her. More loudly, she continued, “Come, Charlotte, let us look for some ribbons for your bonnet.” And she led her across the shop to where the ribbons were all laid out.
“Everyone is staring!” Charlotte hissed. “It is excruciating!”
“They will soon get bored of it if you ignore them,” Martha replied. “Now, do you like the lemon yellow or this pale green color the best? I think that the green would match your bonnet better.”
Charlotte nodded, grateful that her sister was better able to hold her composure. But as she held up different ribbons and looked at them closely, she could still sense many pairs of eyes fixed upon her.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity for a sneer or a jibe, the viscountess approached them, with Alison following behind, a look of malicious amusement on her face.
“How do you like your newfound fame, then, Charlotte?” Lady Margaret said nastily.
Charlotte held her head up high. “I do not know what you mean,” she replied. And yet inside, her mind was reeling. How could everyone have found out so quickly? Did they all know about her indiscretion or only of the hasty engagement? Even if it were only the latter, which would be gossip enough in itself, they would all be drawing their own conclusions as to the reason for the rapid announcement and impending nuptials. The Duke had not been back home long enough to form an attachment that would lead to an engagement, and no one would be expecting her to be the lady in question, even after a more conventional courtship.
As if reading her mind, her stepmother responded. “News travels fast in the ton, to be sure. Especially news such as this, which has astonished everyone so very greatly.”
Charlotte blinked. Could her stepmother be the source of the gossip? It made little sense, as the shame that was heaped upon her would also have an impact on Alison, as well as Martha. But perhaps the viscountess was willing to take that risk to enjoy watching Charlotte humiliated. She certainly seemed to be enjoying herself, watching the drama unfold.
“Was it you that told everyone?” she asked in a low voice.
Lady Margaret widened her eyes with faux outrage. “Me? Of course not. I would not stoop so low.” She looked away and glanced around the shop again. It seemed that she was keen for people to see them. Anyone to provide an audience for her performance. “Ah, here are Lady Thomas and Miss Sofia! How pleasant it will be to converse with them.” She plastered a smile on her face and stepped across the room to greet them.
Charlotte gave a groan and followed. She knew that she could not avoid the conversation without seeming unforgivably rude and that none of this was the fault of the Thomas family, but she wished herself anywhere but here, right at this moment.
“Lady Haddington!” Lady Thomas said. “How pleasant to see you out today and with all your girls too.”
Much as she disliked being referred to as one of her stepmother’s girls, Charlotte had no choice but to smile as politely as she could in greeting and allow the conversation to take its course. It was not difficult to guess the direction it was likely to take, however, especially not with her stepmother at the helm.
“And we must offer you our congratulations, Miss Thomas, on your engagement!” Lady Haddington gushed. “How nice it will be for you to be so well settled, and Lord Harry is such a fine young man.” She eyed Charlotte slyly.
Charlotte found herself blushing again and felt furious at her own face for betraying her feelings. Her father and stepmother knew nothing of the secret correspondence, of course, but they had known something of Lord Harry’s initial attentions towards her. When it had become clear that he was not going to declare himself, she had thought the matter was forgotten. However, it seemed that Lady Haddington forgot nothing.
“Yes, indeed,” Lady Thomas replied, glancing at her own daughter. Miss Sofia Thomas was dressed in a very becoming pale pink gown with a matching bonnet and looking as demure as could be as she stood quietly next to her mother.
A perfectly behaved young lady, Charlotte thought, somewhat caustically, then checked herself. It was not Sofia’s fault that Lord Harry had turned out to be such a cad. In fact, she should feel sorry for her, rather than envy her, now that she knew the truth about her intended husband. She could not imagine that Sofia’s marriage was going to be a happy one.
“And we hear that congratulations are in order for you too, Miss Hervey?” Lady Thomas turned to Charlotte. “Most… unexpected news, indeed.” Her brow crinkled a little as she spoke. “And I understand that marriage is to take place soon, by special license? How difficult it must be to plan things so quickly. I am glad that we have a little more time to prepare!” She gave a little nervous laugh as if she thought she may have said too much, but there was a rather mischievous twinkle in her eye as she spoke.
Lady Margaret nudged Charlotte sharply. “You should thank Lady Thomas for her good wishes, Charlotte!”
Charlotte stumbled forward rather awkwardly. “Indeed, Lady Thomas, I thank you,” she said quietly, scarcely able to meet her eye. It really was most humiliating being stared at and spoken about like this. She was not sure how much longer she could bear it.
“Really, Charlotte, you are so clumsy!” the viscountess scolded her. “You will need to work on your deportment since you are to become a duchess. Although, as Lady Thomas says, there is not much time to work on it, after all!”
“Yes, Madam,” Charlotte said meekly. She was boiling with fury underneath, but she knew that causing a scene in the middle of the shop would help no one.
Martha stepped forward. “Charlotte, we have much to do. Come, let us make haste to the next shop on our list.” She turned to Lady Thomas and Miss Sofia with a sweet smile. “Forgive us, dear friends, but as you say, we have much to do before the wedding.”
Martha took Charlotte’s arm and led her out of the shop.
