Spinster Ever After (The Spinster Chronicles #7) - Rebecca Connolly Page 0,12
in shock.
It was perfectly comical, and Charlotte could have burst for laughing.
“I beg your pardon,” Georgie eventually said with a wry, almost stiff giggle. “I thought you said you were obtaining a husband.”
“I thought she said that, as well,” Grace replied without any hint of laughter, her lips barely moving. “Extraordinary sensation.”
Elinor gaped freely at Charlotte. “That’s because she did say it. Charlotte Wright, are you ill?”
“Not at all.” Charlotte folded her hands calmly in her lap. “Why shouldn’t I? The rest of you have husbands, and it is no longer fashionable to be a spinster and write for the Spinster Chronicles. One does not wish to stand out so conspicuously.”
“That’s not a good enough reason to marry,” Georgie snapped, any hint of amusement gone. “Who in the world have you decided to wed?”
This wasn’t going according to plan at all, not that she’d specifically ironed anything out into specifics. That was what she had hoped they would do here, but clearly, she’d have to explain herself first. Provided she could explain herself without baring her soul. They might persuade her out of it if she did that.
“No one in particular,” she replied with a shrug. “Hence my need for Elinor’s information. I need to know who my options are, and which man would be best to pursue.”
Her friends looked around at each other in disbelief, then looked at her again.
“I already hate this plan,” Grace muttered. She sat back roughly on the sofa, her posture slouched and entirely inappropriate for a lady of her station. “The phrase ‘obtaining a husband’ is not intended to be an orderly process of selection as though we are fetching something from the grocer.”
“Why not?” Charlotte shot back. “I’m an agreeable person, and my charms are not inconsiderable. I’m willing to fall in love now, so why should it not be a straightforward process?”
Georgie put a hand over her face and exhaled with a groan, which seemed entirely unnecessary. “It’s as though you learned nothing from what the rest of us went through. Charlotte, you cannot plan such things!”
“I disagree.” Charlotte shook her head emphatically. “I am determined to marry, and to marry for love, and when I want something, I get it.”
None of them had a rebuttal for her there, likely because they knew it was true. Charlotte was many things, but she had never in her life lacked determination, will, or commitment. Fate itself would make way for Charlotte Wright when she was on her mettle.
With an almost smug lift of her shoulders, Charlotte grinned around at her friends. “So, how should I do it? Pick a date for my wedding and will it into existence?”
Izzy’s mouth popped open in shock. “Why in the world would you do that?”
“Why would you think that would work?” Elinor sputtered in derision.
Georgie’s hand dropped from her face as she gave Charlotte a hard look. “Nobody has ever said ‘Oh, I think I’ll get married on October the second,’ and then miraculously found their true love on a schedule! If you want to marry John Brown from Kent and have no care for affection, that might work, but if you want something emotionally substantial, that’s just a load of tosh and nonsense.”
“How would you know?” Charlotte asked, folding her arms as she considered Georgie. “You didn’t try it.”
Her friend scoffed softly. “I have a modicum of sense, Charlotte, which is apparently more than you have.”
Charlotte sniffed and looked over at Grace, who had yet to say anything. The beautiful woman stared at nothing in particular, but in Charlotte’s general direction. Her expression was thoughtful, but not troubled.
She would take that as a good sign.
“Grace?” she prodded. “What do you think?
Grace blinked, her expression clearing as her eyes focused on Charlotte. Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t say much at all. “I think you’ll have a difficult time forcing love into a schedule or picking it out of a file of options. I presume you don’t want to marry for comfort?”
Charlotte shuddered and made a face. “No, indeed. I’ve always said I wanted a love match, and I will marry for nothing less. I have independent wealth and connections, so matrimony only makes sense if it is for love. And I refuse to surrender myself for the sake of something as paltry as comfort as Emma did.” She bit her lip and glanced at Elinor in apprehension. “Apologies if you…”
Elinor shook her head, holding up a hand. “No need. Mr. Partlowe was not my choice