a moment, she nodded her agreement.
“But of course,” she said, turning back towards the door. “There is another shop only a few yards away. If you are willing to walk, then we can be there within a few minutes, or if you would like to return to the carriage, then –”
“I will be quite contented to walk,” Charity replied hastily, wanting nothing more than to depart from the shop at once. “Please, lead on, Lady Hayward.”
It was not until they were outside, back into the frosty air under grey skies that Lady Hayward finally asked Charity what had happened.
“Lady Norwich spoke to me,” Charity answered, keeping her head lowered so that the wind would not manage to spread its icy fingers around the back of her neck. “She spoke of Lord Hosmer. She asked why he would dance with me when only a few minutes earlier, she had been refused by him.”
Lady Hayward frowned but said nothing until they had entered the second milliner’s shop which, much to Charity’s relief, was quite empty save for the proprietor who greeted them warmly.
“And why would she do such a thing?” Lady Hayward asked, as Charity shook her head, the tension beginning to fade from her. “Why would she be upset about Lord Hosmer’s rejection of her, given all that has passed between them?”
“I do not know,” Charity replied, honestly. “But needless to say, I was rather taken aback by her sharp words. It was as though she blamed me for his choice in some way, as though I am the one responsible! There was a good deal of anger there and it was directed solely towards me.”
“That is very strange indeed,” Lady Hayward answered, looking at Charity carefully. “I do hope you are not at all upset by it.”
Charity closed her eyes for a moment and drew in a long breath.
“I confess that I was,” she admitted, as Lady Hayward’s eyes filled with concern. “She stated that she holds me solely responsible, although quite what I am responsible for, I could not say! I fear that there will be some sort of consequence brought to bear, given the depths of her ire.”
“Then you must speak of it to Lord Hosmer,” Lady Hayward replied, firmly. “You must tell him what has occurred and state the truth of your feelings. I am quite certain that he will have no knowledge of what Lady Norwich said and will be quite taken aback by it all. But I believe it to be imperative that he is aware of what she has said, given that it has been expressed so strongly.”
Charity nodded in agreement, the final wisps of strain and upset leaving her as she took in Lady Hayward’s practical words.
“I shall do so,” she agreed, as Lady Hayward smiled quietly. “Whenever I am next in his company, I shall make it my sole purpose.”
“That will be at the ball, I presume?” Lady Hayward asked, one eyebrow lifting as Charity nodded. “I wonder if he will ask you to dance again, Lady Charity.” Her smile grew. “Will you be glad to accept him?”
Hesitating in her response, Charity considered all that Lady Norwich had said.
“I will not permit Lady Norwich to dictate what I can or cannot do,” she replied, speaking with as much confidence as she could. “If he should ask me then yes, I will accept him. Although, I confess I wonder what Lady Norwich will think, should she see such a thing occurring again.”
“And what the ton might think also,” Lady Hayward added, as Charity flushed. “You must be careful now, Lady Charity. There is more to this matter than I think either of us are fully aware of.”
“So it would seem,” Charity agreed, softly. “I will be careful, Lady Hayward. Very careful indeed.”
“My Lady, you have a visitor.”
Charity looked up from her needlework in surprise, turning her head to glance out of the window and confirming to herself that yes, the snow was falling very heavily indeed. It had been doing so for most of the morning and now, given that it was the afternoon, she had not expected there to be any afternoon callers.
“Might I ask who?” she said, as the butler came forward with the gentleman’s card.
“Lord Hosmer, my Lady,” came the reply, as Charity picked up the card and saw his name printed there. “What shall I say to him?”
Charity considered for a moment. Lady Hayward had gone to her room to rest for a short time and, whilst Charity could