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

Elizabeth
Talbot.”
    The two women coldly examined each
other. Lady Chalfield, because she knew that any of the Talbot's
would be a difficult nut to crack, and Elizabeth because Lady
Chalfield plainly bore all the hallmarks of an adventuress. She had
met more than enough of them in London for her tastes, and found it
highly unpleasant to run into one in Bath. Lady Chalfield was the
first to speak. “Miss Talbot, I was just telling your friend that I
knew her parents, and invited her to stay in London with me next
week.”
    “ Really, have you met
mine?”
    “ Maybe, but I don't mix in social
circles that are below my rank.”
    Elizabeth gave her an ambiguous
response, “Neither do I.”
    Charlotte replied to Elizabeth,
“I'd love to come riding with you.” Then she asked Lady Chalfield,
“Did you wish for my company this afternoon?”
    Lady Chalfield replied, “Go ride
with your friend, my pretty one. There is plenty of time to arrange
our trip later. There is so much I should discuss with my old
friend Mrs. Answorth. We have a lot of old times to catch up
about.”
     
    Riding together up the Claverton
Down with Elizabeth's groom discreetly in tow, Charlotte turned to
Elizabeth and asked her, “Lizzy, I had the impression that you were
not overjoyed to meet Lady Chalfield. Why is that?”
    “ Nothing I can say directly, with
those manners, that dress and that horrible wig she doesn't move in
the first circles of London society, at least not the parts of
those circles I inhabit.”
    “ You move in the first
circles?”
    Elizabeth blushed, “Well,
Charlotte, I think I do, or at least as much as I want to. Except,
perhaps, places like Almacks and Carleton House where birth
completely trumps wealth.”
    “ As much as you want? Why wouldn't
you want to do?”
    “ I don't gamble, at least not for
real stakes in a gambling hell. When I'm there during the season,
Freddy and I get invited to so many balls and 'at homes', that I
have to turn some down.”
    “ Turn down an
invitation?”
    “ It's either that or be very rude
and just show up for a few minutes, then leave.”
    “ I do wish I could persuade Lady
Chalfield to invite you to come with me.”
    “ You can try, but I doubt you'll
succeed.”
    “ Oh, but you were so helpful here
in Bath, and London is ever so much bigger. I'd be lost without a
friend.”
    They looked out over Bath from the
top of the down. Elizabeth replied, “There is nowhere near London
where you get such a good view of the city as this view of Bath.
Should we try for a ride to Farleigh Castle?”
    Her groom coughed, “Ma'am it's a
three hour ride from here.”
    “ Darn. That is too far. Is there
anywhere closer? I am so enjoying this ride. It's much too soon to
return to Bath.”
    “ Monkton Combe is not too far
Ma'am. We could return by Warminster Road.”
    “ That's on the canal, isn't
it?”
    “ Yes Ma'am.”
    “ Charlotte are you game for
it?”
    “ I've been so idle these last few
weeks that any ride will do.”
    “ Then Monkton Combe it
is.”
    They worked their way down the
other side of the down to the small town of Monkton Combe and the
Somerset Coal Canal. Charlotte was surprised at the level of
traffic.
    “ Good Lord, Elizabeth. It is so
busy!”
    “ It is, isn't it?”
    They followed the towpath towards
the junction with the Kennet and Avon. Part of the way there,
Charlotte suddenly asked Elizabeth, “Lizzy, have you ever been in
love?”
    “ Where did that question come
from?”
    “ I don't know, it's just, well I
don't know what it feels like, and since you seem to know so much,
maybe you'd know.”
    “ Charlotte how old are
you?”
    “ Twenty-three.”
    “ I'm only twenty. So why do you
keep making me feel like an ancient crone?”
    “ Lizzy, you've done so much more
than I have. So what's it like to be in love?”
    “ I don't know. I once thought I
was in love with one of Freddy's friends. He visited while he was
in college. Freddy in college, that is, his