It was a week before the three of them were able to reconvene to discuss Charlotte’s situation. They met at Hatchards and spent a pleasant half hour choosing new books. Anya was allowed one novel if she also chose two ‘improving’ or educational books. Both Piety and Charlotte had no such restriction and each left in possession of a couple of intriguing tomes, including the latest from Lord Byron, promising to lend them to Anya once they were done.
Anya wasn’t particularly concerned. She’d decided on the latest release from the mysterious ‘Lady’ author who had penned the wonderful Sense and Sensibility, and had, in addition, picked out a new atlas of Europe and an older book on treaty negotiations that made the shop assistant raise his brows. Anya had affected a wide-eyed gaze and asked. “Do you think my Papa will like them? He’s very interested in the talks in Europe and it’s so hard to find a birthday present he will actually enjoy.”
This earned her an approving nod from both the assistant and an older lady browsing nearby. Piety nearly spoiled it though, choking on a laugh and brushing it off as dust from the street. She knew Baron Fitzgerald’s interest in the Continent began and ended with the cost of his brandy.
Over tea and cakes at a nearby tea shop, Anya leaned in. “Now, if we’re to resolve your unhappy situation, Charlotte, we need information.”
Her cousin looked puzzled but nodded readily enough.
“My first question is, what do you want?”
Charlotte’s brows drew together in more confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Do you want to end the engagement, or marry him?”
“Oh.” Charlotte sat back. “I’d never even thought about that. Ending it, I mean. Although I suppose it’s possible.”
She stared out of the window for several minutes as Anya and Piety sipped tea and tried not to fidget with impatience, although that may have just been Anya.
Charlotte sighed and brought her gaze back to the table. “He’s annoying, and neglectful but he’s the most interesting, handsome, clever man I’ve ever met, and when he can be bothered with me, he’s simply charming. I’ll marry him.”
“Good. So we need to come up with something that’s going to get him back to London, and his attention firmly fixed on you.”
Piety asked. “What do you have in mind?”
Anya fought a shrug, ladies do not shrug. “He needs to believe you DO want to end the engagement, and not only is it all his fault, but there are other men already on hand, eager to step into his shoes.”
The DNA of Stories 