Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman by Amelia Grace Treader

the crush before the
set forms.”
    Early the next morning, Freddy as
he warned, left Bath to attend to business issues. Elizabeth felt a
bit downhearted at seeing him go. She decided she would look for
her friends as a diversion. Though she wouldn't look immediately as
they were usually much later at rising than she was.
    While Dr. Answorth was consuming
his prescribed morning dose of the hot sulfurous brew dispensed in
the pump room, Miss De Vere and Mrs. Answorth were introduced to a
distinguished looking woman of an uncertain age. She wore fine
clothes, was heavily powdered with rouged cheeks and wore a
brightly colored wig over her close cropped gray hair. The woman
began,“Why Mrs. Answorth, what brings you to Bath?”
    Seeing that Mrs. Answorth did not
quite recognize her, she continued, “It seems so long since we met,
but it was only last year. Have you been keeping well? No don't
answer for I can see that you have.”
    Mrs. Answorth searched her memory
and put a name to the face. “Are you Carol? Lady
Chalfield?”
    “ The same.”
    “ It has been a long time since we
last met. You should visit us more often, Chalfield isn't far from
Staverton. What brings you to Bath?”
    “ The waters, and the company.
London is so gauche nowadays. I don't know why I spend so much time
there.”
    “ My husband, Dr. Answorth is here
for his gout.” She pointed to Dr. Answorth as he grimaced and tried
to swallow more of the water. The doctors at the Rheumatic hospital
kept that part of his regime, stopped the long hot baths,
discontinued the dose of rhubarb water, and had given him a
prescription for a very small amount of a tincture of the autumn
crocus, a novel treatment from Vienna. It seemed to be
working.
    “ Is that so? Mine has long since
departed to meet his maker. I suppose that is why I spend so much
time on diversions in London.”
    Mrs. Answorth remembered Lady
Chalfield as a flighty young woman who lived a life dedicated to
amusement and pleasure. Both her and her husband had especially
enjoyed the pleasure of gambling. She replied, “Diversions? Surely
by now you have begun to settle down, to reflect on
life.”
    “ I still feel the need for
entertainment, it helps the time pass. Otherwise, life would be so
tedious and dreary. Who is this beautiful young lass that you have
attending you?”
    “ Miss Charlotte De Vere, Lord
Staverton's daughter. She has been kindly lending us her
continence.”
    Lady Chalfield immediately attached
herself to Miss De Vere with an inspired devotion. Her devotion was
inspired by her fond remembrances of Lord Staverton. He was a sure
mark for a sucker-bet, and remarkably generous when he was in
funds. She hoped his daughter would be similarly inclined. One way
for her to find out was to talk with Charlotte and see if she had a
similar combination of soft head and warm heart.
    “ Miss De Vere, I knew your father
and mother well. Back in the '90's.”
    “ Really? I remember my mother
fondly, but she died while I was still young and we never really
got to know each other as adults. You must tell me about what she
was like as a young woman.”
    “ She was one of my best friends.
Both she and your father.”
    Charlotte's naive response played
right into Lady Chalfield's wishes. “What did you do
together?”
    “ We went to parties, at homes,
rode in Hyde park, all the thing's society does in
London.”
    “ I've never been to London, I'd
like to see the sights. See where they lived.”
    “ Miss De Vere, next week I am
headed back to London. Would you like accompany me? You can stay in
my town house.”
    “ I would love to, but I should ask
my companions, Dr. and Mrs. Answorth.”
    Elizabeth came into the pump room
in search of Charlotte. “Miss De Vere, I hoped I would find you
here. Would you like to ride up Claverton Down this afternoon,
maybe a bit beyond if we have the time?”
    Charlotte introduced her friend to
Lady Chalfield. “Lady Chalfield, this is Miss