A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Prologue

Charlotte took a hold of her sister’s hand and pressed it. “I am so happy for you. You look beautiful.” Her throat closed up for a moment though she fought to smile. “I know that father would have been delighted at this day.”

Her sister, Amelia, smiled back at her though there were tears dampening her eyes. “I know he would have been. He thought as well of Hesterway as I do.”

Charlotte took in a deep breath and forced herself to set aside the sorrowful memories of the past. Her sister had been waiting for over a year to marry the Earl of Hesterway and now, finally, she had been able to do so. “You must promise to visit very soon.”

“Oh but we are going to London for Christmas, did not Hesterway tell you?”

A slight frown danced between Charlotte’s eyebrows. “No, he did not.”

“Yes, we are to go to London for Christmas and though it will be the little Season, we should very much like you to join us there.” The smile on her sister’s face dimmed just a little. “I have not yet spoken to Lady Barcsay but I presume she will permit you. Given the way she clearly despises the both of us, I should think that she would be glad to have some freedom!”

Charlotte winced but said nothing. Their father had remarried only two years before he had passed away unexpectedly and, during their mourning period, it had become perfectly clear both to Charlotte and to her sister that Lady Barcsay had no interest in her stepdaughters whatsoever. Slowly but surely, she had begun to withdraw, choosing to dine separately and thereafter, to sit alone in her own private parlor than in their company. For a time, Charlotte had thought that it had been because of her grief but the increasingly caustic remarks and sharp looks had convinced both Charlotte and Amelia that Lady Barcsay did not like them in the least – not that Lady Barcsay let anyone from society know of that, however! During the wedding, she had been nothing but gracious and kind, smiling, laughing and putting her arm around both Charlotte and Amelia at different times, as though she truly did love and care for them. It had taken all of Charlotte’s strength not to pull away, especially when the harsh things Lady Barcsay had said to her only the previous day had come floating back to her.

“Will you fare well?”

Charlotte looked back into her sister’s face, having become lost in thought for a time. “What do you mean?”

Amelia bit her lip, then spread out her hands. “I am a little concerned, leaving you at home with Lady Barcsay, especially since our brother is still away on the continent.” Thomas, their elder brother, had gone to the continent a little before their father’s illness and, despite his desire to return home, had accepted his father’s requirements of remaining where he was and bringing the work there to a close. Even news of Lord Barcsay’s passing had kept him there, telling both Charlotte and Amelia through letters that he was determined to bring to an end all that was held there, simply so that he might return to England and never again leave. His absence had been difficult to endure – even more so for Miss Hannah Montague, his betrothed.

“But you are married as of today and you need not concern yourself with thoughts of me,” Charlotte answered, quickly. “You must concentrate solely on being the wife of Lord Hesterway. I shall be perfectly contented, I assure you and our brother stated that he will come home very soon – and be wed almost immediately thereafter.”

Her sister’s expression did not change, telling Charlotte that she did not believe her. “Everything is going to change, is it not? The stipulations of the will dictate that you are to transfer all your belongings to a modest dwelling and reside there with our stepmother, a necessity that shall take effect upon our brother's nuptials!

That in itself will be a trial. For me, it is a little easier, given that I am wed now and must move all of my things to Lord Hesterway’s estate but for you…” Tears filled her eyes and she grasped Charlotte’s hand. “Would you be inclined to dwell in my abode?”

The desire to say yes was very strong indeed but with a sheer force of will, Charlotte shook her head. “No, I cannot. You must live with your husband and I will be perfectly contented in Haynes Manor.” The main estate had moved now to Charlotte and Amelia’s eldest brother, the new Lord Barcsay and his soon-to-be wife and thus, both Charlotte and her stepmother would settle into the Dower house instead, which was only five miles between the two houses. “I must hope that I too will marry sometime soon.”

Amelia let out a small sigh. “Indeed. You have missed the last two Seasons given that first, our father was unwell and, thereafter, because of our mourning period but there is nothing to prevent you from doing so now.”

“Though I may be considered something of a spinster!” Charlotte exclaimed, though her sister laughed but shook her head quickly. “The little Season will be a good beginning, at least. I should very much like to accept but –”

“There you are.”

Charlotte lifted her head to see their stepmother coming to approach them, though neither Charlotte nor Amelia rose from their seats to greet her. Lady Barcsay kept a smile pinned to her lips even if her green eyes held no warmth.

“I have just been informed by Lord Hesterway that you wish to take Charlotte with you to London for Christmas time,” she said, her tone a little clipped. “I should not like you to go, however, for otherwise I shall be quite alone.”

With a quick glance to her sister, Charlotte shrugged. “I should not say that. You will have my brother and his wife near you for Christmas.”

Lady Barcsay’s jaw tightened, her eyes flashing. “I do not think that you have any right to refuse me.”

“I think, Lady Barcsay, that you will find that by Christmas time, Charlotte will be of age to decide things for herself, will she not?” Amelia’s tone was amiable but there was a hint of steel within her words. “I do not think that you can refuse her simply because of your determinations.”

Lady Barcsay drew herself up to her full height, her arms folding over her chest. “I was not going to tell you this today but given that you insist on being inconsiderate and selfish, I shall do so regardless.” She took in a breath and Charlotte’s stomach clenched, suddenly concerned with whatever it was her stepmother was going to say. “Within your father’s will there is a statement where he desired you to remain unwed and, instead, to be my companion. You will not be permitted, therefore, to engage yourself to any gentleman, or to marry either. There is no need for you to go to London then, is there, for you will not be able to pursue any gentlemen or let any gentlemen pursue you! I do hope that you understand, Charlotte. It is clear to me that your father was very concerned for my welfare and wanted to make certain that I was cared for.”

Charlotte did not say anything for some time, not quite certain how she ought to respond. Instinctively, she fought back against the idea, throwing herself away from it and refusing to take it in. How could her father have done such a thing? How could he have made such a statement without even discussing it with her? Had he not thought of her future? Had he not considered what she herself might want?

“I think that Charlotte has every right to see where that statement is written, do you not?” Amelia interrupted the silence which had grown between both Charlotte and Lady Barcsay, her hand now on Charlotte’s, squeezing it tightly. “You cannot say such a thing and expect her to simply believe it.”

This did not make Lady Barcsay flinch. Instead, she merely shrugged. “Very well. I shall have it procured and then you shall read it yourself, Charlotte.”

The confidence in her voice made Charlotte’s spirits sink very low indeed, crumpling into a ball and then burning up into smoke and ashes. Her father had, then, determined that Charlotte would give up any hope of a future in order to look after her stepmother, even though Lady Barcsay had very little requirement for such a thing.

“I do not understand why my father would do that,” she said, aware of the tremble in her voice. “He knew that I was looking forward to the Season.”

“And also knew that you were more than likely, on your way to becoming a spinster. After all, it is not as though any gentlemen pursued you with any great eagerness during your debut, was it?”

The biting remark made Charlotte wince inwardly, aware that the truth was in it all the same.

“He cared for me,” Lady Barcsay continued, her voice softening just a little though Charlotte caught the flickering smile in the corners of her mouth, a smile which said that she knew very well what she was doing and just how much it pained Charlotte to hear it. “It was clear to me that he loved me and even now, with his passing, there comes that same awareness of all that he felt for me.” She sighed and put one hand to her heart, looking away for a moment. “I am to be cared for, at his command, for the rest of my days.”

“No.” Amelia shook her head, speaking before Charlotte could even think of what to say. “You cannot insist that Charlotte follows what our father has said for her to do, even if you think that it is what ought to happen. I will not permit it.”

Lady Barcsay lifted one eyebrow. “You think that she will defy her father’s requirement of her?”

Charlotte closed her eyes, feeling her heart wrench. On one hand, she was free to make her own choice but on the other, the weight of responsibility to do as her father had wished her to do sat down heavily upon her shoulders.

“I do not know what society will think should they hear that the daughter of the late Lord Barcsay refused to do as was asked of her,” Lady Barcsay continued, her tone now holding a good deal of foreboding, a warning that she would be the one to spread such a story, should Charlotte refuse. “It is her duty.”

“Enough.” Charlotte broke through her stepmother’s words, her voice rasping with emotion. “Now is not the time for any such conversation. We are at Amelia’s wedding and it is to be a joyous occasion. Any sort of discussion can take place at another time.”

“Charlotte, no! You cannot be thinking of doing what she asks!” Amelia, ignoring Charlotte’s suggestion that they bring the conversation to an end, continued on fervently. “You deserve to have your chance at a home and a family of your own. I know that father cared deeply for all of us but he cannot have been thinking clearly when he made that statement. Besides which, even if he was, it is not a command, nor a dictate. You can still choose not to do so.”

Lady Barcsay snorted. “And what shame that choice would bring! Which gentlemen would look at you should you make that decision and should all the ton know of it?”

“Please!” Her vision suddenly blurred with tears, Charlotte rose from her chair and, not even looking where she was going, stumbled past her stepmother and made her way out of the drawing room at once. Wiping her eyes and forcing a smile so that those who walked past her would not see her upset, Charlotte made her way to her bedchamber and hurried inside.

Closing the door, she rushed to her bed and threw herself down upon it, her tears now flowing freely. She had known that her father cared deeply for his new wife but she had never imagined that he would ever do something like this! To give up all that she had hoped for herself, to give up her own life in order to be the companion to someone who did not care for her in the least… it took everything away from her.

Her heart broke apart and Charlotte began to sob. She did not hear her sister come in but soon, Amelia sat down beside her on the bed, offering her what comfort she could but it did not dull the pain.

She was now fated to reside in a state of perpetual spinsterhood, for the present and all times to come; and with that grim reality, all her hopes and dreams were utterly shattered, with naught but despair in place of any prospect for restoration.