Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman (11 page)

“
I said I will, now Lizzy, is
there anything else?”

“
No.”

“
Good, I'm due back at the shop
soon. I don't usually do this, but did you need a
nuncheon?”

“
I can pick up a snack from one of
the stalls near Cheap Street.”

“
I'll walk you that
far.”

As they approached Cheap Street,
they were met by Charlotte and the Answorths. They were walking, or
in Dr. Answorth's case limping, from their apartment to the pump
room. Charlotte waved to attract Elizabeth's attention. Freddy
stiffened, then quietly told his sister, “Sorry Liz, but I think
I'll go to the office now.”

“
Freddy?”

“
Remember you promised to keep me
free from that De Vere woman.”

“
I will.”

Charlotte ran over to talk with her
friend. “Lizzy, was that your brother?”

“
Yes.”

“
Is he coming to the concert
tonight?”

“
He will escort me. I think he
needs a break from business, and a concert is what is
available.”

“
I'd rather not talk to him, can
you keep him from me. Please?”

“
I'll do my best.”

Elizabeth's fears that it would be
difficult to meet her promise to Freddy and Charlotte apart at the
concert weren't realized. They both asked to keep the other away
from them, and Elizabeth agreed to try. It meant that she couldn't
meet with the Answorths and Charlotte before the concert, but they
could try to see each other there.

Elizabeth and Freddy entered the
assembly room, which was now set with chairs facing the musicians
stand. Charlotte stood in the octagonal room with Mrs. Answorth,
anxiously scanning to see her friend would arrive. She gave them a
quick glance then turned away. That Mr. Talbot was here. She
needn't have worried. Freddy was immediately descended upon by
three hopeful young women and expertly detached from his
sister.

“
Charlotte? Are you
well.”

“
Lizzy, I'm so glad you've made
it. What happened to Freddy?”

“
Word got out that a personable
rich single young man was at the concert and the usual swarm of
unattached beauties went after his attentions.”

“
Freddy?”

“
Freddy.” Elizabeth smiled at some
inside joke.

“
I fail to see what's funny about
it.”

“
He was just complaining that he
wasn't meeting any pretty women. This shows him that he has to be
careful in what his wishes for.”

“
I'm pretty. He's met me hasn't
he?”

“
Yes, but you don't like him, do
you?”

Mr. James King, master of the
ceremonies, a man dressed in formal, if somewhat old fashioned,
clothes came out and reminded the crowd that the music was about to
start and would they please take their seats.

The concert started, a mixture of
arias, mostly in Italian and by Mozart. Charlotte was entranced by
the music and sat there rapt in attention. She was lost in another
world. Elizabeth found it a bit screeching and sharp. As her
Italian wasn't up to following the music, she found it less than
entrancing and sat there slightly bored with the whole
thing.

Intermission came far too soon for
Charlotte and as a welcome relief for Elizabeth. As they rose and
made their way through the crowds to try to find some punch,
Elizabeth was accosted by several gentlemen. These gentlemen had
heard from their mothers, aunts and sisters that a wealthy heiress
was in town. More importantly, their female relatives passed on the
news that she was single and reasonably attractive. Someone
recognized Elizabeth as the heiress. The news quickly passed along
the gossip line that she was more than reasonably attractive, and
the swarm descended upon her.

Elizabeth vainly tried to include
Charlotte in the conversation, but was borne away. Charlotte stood
there, slightly upset at being left out but mostly puzzled by what
happened. There was a gentle touch on her elbow.

“
Miss De Vere?” It was Freddy, he
was smiling, and he was carrying two glasses of punch. “Would you
care for a glass of punch?”

“
Mr. Talbot. What are you doing
here?”

“
I have to apologize for Lizzy,
she shouldn't have left you alone like that.”

Charlotte paused, suddenly
breathless, unsure what to say.

“
She's not as good as I am at
quickly detaching leeches. Would you accept my company as second
best?”

“
Leeches?”

“
I'm sure you saw those young
'beauties' who surrounded me when Lizzy and I entered.”

“
I did, what of them? I'd have
thought you'd enjoy the attention.”

“
If they weren't just after my
pocketbook, I would enjoy it.”

“
What?”

“
They, like the men who just
accosted Lizzy, are on the lookout for a wealthy mate. I told mine
that we had a reverse on the markets and they fled like the morning
frost in a sunny spring day.”

“
Did you have a
reverse?”

“
A tiny one. The market always
goes up and down. Tomorrow it will be back up.”

“
That must be
unsettling.”

“
It's not for everyone, but we've
put enough into different assets that it can't hurt us.”
Charlotte's curiosity was peaked, “Mr. Talbot, sometime could you
tell me more, I mean if it isn't improper for me to ask you about
it.”

Freddy chuckled, “Certainly. I'd be
glad to, but they're calling us in to the second half of the
concert. May I escort you?”

They found seats together and
Freddy continued, “I enjoyed the music during the first half, but
couldn't understand the lingo. Did you?”

“
Oh yes, it was divine. I could
just lose myself in it forever.”

“
If you're not too lost in it,
could you give me a hint to what's being said?”

Charlotte later remarked to the
Answorths as they returned to their apartment, “I don't understand,
that Mr. Talbot sat with me for the last part of the
concert.”

“
We noticed,” said Mrs.
Answorth.

“
He brought me some punch, looked
after me. I'd have never thought he could be well-mannered and
considerate.”

“
What did you do?”

“
I translated the Italian for him,
or at least I tried to.”

“
It sounds like you had a good
time. Did you enjoy the music too?”

“
Miss Corri-Paltoni was
phenomenal. I was in another world.”

Freddy and Elizabeth had a similar
discussion on the way back to their townhouse in the Paragon.
Elizabeth started it with, “Freddy you look lost in your thoughts,
what did you think of the concert?”

“
That singer seemed decent enough.
She was one of the few I could tolerate.”

“
You didn't mind your company, did
you?”

“
If you mean that De Vere woman?
You left her unattended. That was rude.”

“
I couldn't help it. I tried, but
those men.”

“
Those leeches.”

“
Yes, those leeches in human form,
how did you get rid of yours?”

“
I tried to sell them insurance,
shares.”

“
Are you serious?”

“
No, but I did mention that we'd
lost money on the stock exchange.”

“
Did we?”

“
A fractional amount. Normal daily
up and down.”

“
Oh, a
suggestio
falsi
.”

“
Don't you start with that blasted
lingo on me.”

“
I thought your Italian was very
good.”

“
It is. Actually I enjoyed sitting
with your friend Charlotte. When she's not trying to pinch at me,
she's not bad to be with. I had her translate for me.”

“
You didn't!”

“
She enjoyed it. I even held my
tongue and didn't correct her errors.”

“
I told you she could be good
company.”

“
Yes you did. She wanted to know
about shares and things. Probably just being polite. Pity I have to
go back to London so soon.”

“
I hope you can stay for the
assembly.”

“
When is that?”

“
Day after tomorrow
evening.”

“
I can stay 'til then, but I
really do have to leave after that.”

Early in the morning the next day,
Charlotte knocked at her friend Elizabeth's. She was let in and
escorted to the parlor where Lizzy was breaking her
fast.

“
Lizzy, you'll never guess what's
happened.”

“
You know I won't. What is
it?”

“
My great-aunt Lady
Alsop.”

“
What about her?”

“
She's come to Bath. I'm going to
be presented to her this afternoon.”

“
So?”

“
She's a Countess, real
nobility.”

“
Oh. So that's why it's
important.”

“
You're not impressed, are
you?”

“
I suppose I'm indifferent to
them. If all they've done is pick their parents well, then I don't
care. There are a few good ones though.”

“
So you're a raging
republican
ⁱⁱ
are you?”

“
Lord no! Not even a
Whig.”

“
Would you like to be presented to
her with me?”

Freddy popped his head in. “Lizzy,
it would be a lark, you should do it. See you this evening.” He
paused, and then nodded, “Miss De Vere, I hope you are doing well.
I'd stay and converse but the exigencies of my office call for my
attention.”

Charlotte nodded back and replied,
“Mr. Talbot.” He stared at her for a long moment, which sent
shivers down her spine. Then he replied, “Miss De Vere you're the
prettiest thing I'll see today. Thank you.” With that compliment he
left.

Elizabeth asked Charlotte, “What
should I wear?”

Charlotte didn't answer, so she
repeated the question. “Oh, One of your better gowns. Don't worry
about elegance, she's not expecting court dress.”

“
Pity, I'd like to give mine an
airing.”

Charlotte looked at Elizabeth in
dismay, saw she was trying to keep a straight continence, and then
broke into laughter. “You're joking aren't you?” Elizabeth joined
her laughter.

“
Yes. When and where do you want
to meet?”

Lady Alsop was receiving visitors
in the afternoon. She sat on a high backed stuffed chair on an
elevated platform at one end of the room, while persons filed in,
were announced, bowed or curtsied, then filed out after a nod of
acknowledgement. A very few fortunate ones conversed during the few
moments they had with the great woman. Charlotte and Elizabeth
numbered among the fortunate.

Reaching the entrance to the room,
Charlotte quietly told the footman her name and he then announced,
“Miss Charlotte De Vere, late of Staverton Hall.” She entered,
curtsied and was greeted with a nod, followed by, “So you're
Roderick's girl. Very becoming. Who is your companion?”

Elizabeth followed, and was
announced as “Miss Elizabeth Talbot.” She too, entered curtsied and
received her nod. Lady Alsop paused, unsure if a snub or a put down
of this tradesman's daughter, one who overreached her station in
life were in order, when she remembered that she had needed the
Talbot's bank to help her negotiate a long term resettlement of her
husband’s debts. It wasn't yet paid off, and snubbing the daughter
of the family might have unfortunate repercussions. “Miss Talbot, I
am pleased to meet you. The smell of the shop is barely apparent on
you, well done.” She then continued to Charlotte, “Miss De Vere,
surely there are better companions for you?”

Charlotte looked puzzled and
replied simply, “No, why would you think so?”

“
One does like to see rank and
station observed, you know.” Aware that their time with the Great
Lady was limited, the two women curtsied and left to allow others
their turn.

Outside Elizabeth found it
difficult to contain her tongue. “I'm sorry Charlotte, she may be
your great-aunt, and I'm happy that she condescends to recognize
people like me, but a woman whose one claim to distinction is her
birth shouldn't be looking down on someone who worked their way
up.”

“
Lizzy, did you work your way
up?”

“
Not directly, well no, I worked
every morning before Freddy arrived, and I've discussed ideas with
both him and my father many times. So yes, I've helped my family
work its way up.”

“
Lizzy you're talking like a
leveler, you know people should stay to their stations and ranks in
life.”

“
I don't think so.”

“
Lizzy!”

“
It would do you a world of good,
Charlotte, to have to work for your keep.”