even a hint that I am interested in her in any way.” Taking another sip of his brandy, Benedict shook his head. “No, Ramsbury. I shall remain just as I am at present. Of that, I am quite determined.”
Chapter Five
Charity could not help but feel a swirl of excitement run through her as she made her way into the assembly rooms. They had been done up very well, with green ivy snaking up the pillars near to her and holly berries entwined with fresh greenery that ran all along the sides of the room. The large fire and the many guests present meant that she could step out of her cloak rather quickly and, whilst there was still a slight chill in the room, Charity was quite certain it would not linger for long.
“A wonderful sight, is it not?” Lady Hayward said, happily. “I recall what it was like when I was present in London as a debutante. To see such decoration as this always made me very happy indeed.”
“As it does now?” Charity asked, as Lady Hayward laughed and nodded. “I confess that I was a little disheartened that I should not be coming to London in the spring but, now that I am here, now that I have attended balls, soirees and the like, I have found it to be all quite wonderful.” She smiled back at her chaperone, who had begun to nod in understanding. “It is not that I am ungrateful, you understand.”
Lady Hayward shook her head. “I should never think you ungrateful,” she said, firmly. “I quite understand that you were hoping for a spring Season but given that both your younger sisters will soon be out, I believe your father hoped to have you wed and settled very soon indeed.” Her eyes twinkled. “But if there is no-one of interest in London at present, then I will be very glad indeed to return with you to London in the spring, my dear Lady Charity. I am certain that you will make an excellent match, although I would also hope that any gentlemen who approach you will be well considered and very well acquainted with you, before you would even think of accepting anything from them.”
What had started as an easy conversation now grew into something a little more serious and Charity found herself nodding, wanting to reassure Lady Hayward that she understood precisely what she meant.
“I have had my sister Selina speak to me about such a thing,” she said softly, as surprise jumped into Lady Hayward’s eyes. “She stated that she had found such great happiness with Lord Barrington that she could never even imagine marrying a gentleman for nothing more than practicality.” Seeing the gentle smile cross Lady Hayward’s face, Charity let out a long breath and continued on. “She encouraged me to find a gentleman who was not just suitable in terms of his title and his fortune, but to seek out someone who might affect my heart also. Someone who is considerate, kind and generous. A gentleman who shows interest in my wellbeing rather than simply thinking that I will be an excellent adornment on his arm.”
“Precisely,” Lady Hayward agreed, happily. “I can only hope that you are willing to seek out such a gentleman, Lady Charity? It may take a little more time and certainly it can sometimes be difficult to ascertain whether or not a gentleman is being entirely honest in the character he presents, but I believe, truly believe, that it is worth the struggle.”
“And that is why you would be glad to return with me to London in the spring Season?” Charity asked, as Lady Hayward nodded. “That is very good of you, Lady Hayward.”
Her chaperone smiled back at her although, for a moment, Charity was sure that she saw a hint of sadness in the lady’s eyes.
“My dear, I was blessed with such a gentleman myself,” she told Charity, who quickly realized that Lady Hayward spoke of her late husband. “He cared for me deeply, as well as for the children. The love that he had for all of us was not something that I took for granted, for I knew that not every marriage was blessed with something so wonderful. And yet, those years were the happiest of my life, Charity. Now that I am without him, I feel such a great, lingering pain within my heart - but I shall never regret having such an openness and a love between us. It flooded