Chapter 5In the meantime, back at the cottage, Charlotte had decamped upstairs to put the finishing touches to her toilette. Having pleasantly anticipated the meal and the glad distraction of extra company, she was now dreading it. Drat Anthony, she thought crossly.
Sitting on the edge of the bed in the room she shared with Frances and Mary, she toyed with her hair, trying to tease out some tendrils around her face to emulate the new, softer fashion. At least my gown is presentable, she thought as she stood, smoothing down her skirts. Only a very keen eye could see that she had altered her dress to comply with the new high-waisted style without causing any extra expenditure.
After Anthony’s outburst, she felt defensive and vulnerable and was determined to look her best. She wished she ha
