“Miss Richardson, are you ready?”

Hiding a smile at the exasperated look on Lady Perrin’s face at the howls of dismay coming from the hallway, Charlotte rose from her seat in the drawing room and made her way to the door. “Is everything quite all right with Lady Emma?” she asked softly, seeing Lady Perrin grimace.

“My niece has found a small tear in the bottom of her new gown,” she explained, stepping aside so that Charlotte could walk through. “As I am sure you understand, this is quite unfortunate, but we simply cannot be any later than we already are for the ball. I instructed the maid to mend the tear as best as she can, and—much to my relief—it cannot even be seen.”

Charlotte frowned, wondering why Lady Emma was still so dismayed.

“Unfortunately, my niece wished to change her gown entirely, but I have insisted that we leave,” Lady Perrin continued, walking quickly along the corridor. “Come now, we are late already, and I do not want you to miss Lord and Lady Montague’s receiving line. He is a marquess after all, and one does not leave a marquess and marchioness waiting!”

Hurrying after Lady Perrin, Charlotte tried not to cringe at the cries of irritation coming from Lady Emma. It was not a surprise to see her stepsister act this way, of course—for Lady Emma was something of a spoilt child, who insisted on having everything her way. Her father, of course, had given her everything she could wish for, wanting to do his best for his daughter, but that had, unfortunately, resulted in Lady Emma becoming something of a selfish creature.

Things had already begun to change, given that the earl was now married and would focus his affections and attentions on his new wife, but the presence of Lady Perrin—the earl’s older sister—had already proven a little trying for Lady Emma.

Lady Perrin was made of sterner stuff than her brother and certainly was not giving in to Lady Emma in the way her father might have done. Secretly, Charlotte thought that this was for the best, although it was causing something of an upset in what she had been told was normally a quiet household.

“The carriage is already waiting, Emma,” Lady Perrin said sharply, as they walked towards the front door where Emma was busy fussing with her shawl. “Now stop that shrieking and make your way to the carriage, if you please.”

Lady Emma stomped her foot. “Aunt, I simply cannot—”

“Then we shall go without you,” came the crisp reply. “Come, Miss Richardson.”

Charlotte did not dare glance at her stepsister, not wanting to add fuel to the fire. Instead, she did as she was asked, made her way outdoors, and took the hand of the coachman, who helped her inside. Lady Perrin followed soon after, as did a very angry-looking Lady Emma. Lady Perrin knocked on the roof; the door was closed; and away the carriage went.

“You may as well take that dreadful look off your face, Emma,” Lady Perrin said calmly, looking out of the window instead of at her niece. “You are being utterly ridiculous.”

Lady Emma muttered something under her breath and glared at Charlotte, who turned her gaze away at once.

“You are looking quite lovely this evening, if I may say,” Lady Perrin continued, turning her head to fix Charlotte with a smile. “Have you any particular gentlemen callers that I should know of?”

Charlotte blushed deeply as Lady Emma cackled loudly.

“Charlotte? Have callers?” Lady Emma sneered, sounding stunned that her aunt would have thought as much. “Goodness, Aunt, you are being quite ridiculous now. Charlotte cannot gain anyone’s attention, not with her coloring!”

“Hold your tongue!”

Lady Perrin’s mouth was a thin line, as she sliced the air with her hand. A stunned silence came across the carriage, as Lady Emma looked as though she had been struck and settled back in her seat with a look of pain on her face.

“Where you got that tongue from, I will never know!” Lady Perrin exclaimed, clearly upset with her niece. “How dare you speak to Miss Richardson in such a way?”

“Truly, I am not offended,” Charlotte interrupted, not wanting to cause a scene. “It is quite all right, I assure you. I understand that we are in a time of transition and things can be a little unsettled.” She gave Lady Perrin a small smile, ignoring the wave of shame and embarrassment that crashed over her again and again. “Do not trouble yourself.”

Lady Perrin frowned. “So long as you do not take my niece’s words to heart,” she replied firmly. “You have your own quiet beauty that I assure you will not go unnoticed.”

Charlotte’s smile was a genuine one. “I thank you for your compliment, Lady Perrin. I will be honest, however. I have not met anyone of particular regard, given that I have long been out of society.”

“That was hardly your fault,” came the reply.

“No, it was not, and nor am I sorry for it,” Charlotte replied. “My year of mourning for my father did not even seem long enough at times. I am not sure I shall ever truly be free from the grief of his passing.”

The carriage grew quiet, as Charlotte finished speaking. It was as though no one could quite work out what to say in response. Charlotte contented herself by looking out of the window, seeing the lamplighters already hard at work.

“Well, I am quite sure you will find a great many gentlemen eager to sign your dance card this evening,” Lady Perrin remarked, breaking the silence as the carriage turned into the grounds of the Montague house. It had its own grounds and was one of the largest houses in town. Charlotte could not help but feel a little excited at the prospect of being at the ball of a marquess. She was the daughter of a viscount and therefore of a lower title than Lady Emma. Her chance of being seen as a good match by anyone of good breeding was not particularly high, but that did not matter too greatly to Charlotte. In her mind, Lady Emma would marry first, and then, mayhap, someone might find her reasonable enough to consider as a potential bride. After all, with her mother’s marriage to the Earl of Hardwick, her connections, at least, had improved.

“Now, there is to be none of your nonsense this evening, Emma,” Lady Perrin warned, as they drew up to the house. “None of your catty remarks, and—so help me—should I hear you speak badly of your stepsister to anyone, then the consequences shall be quite severe.”

From the slight look of worry on Lady Emma’s features, Charlotte could see that her stepsister knew her aunt was not shamming in the least. A warmth slowly spread across Charlotte’s chest as Lady Perrin smiled at her. The lady, it seemed, was quite determined to treat her as one of the family, for which Charlotte could not have been more grateful. It was a protection that she needed—for to have her stepsister spread gossip and rumors about her, it would have been a heavy burden to bear.

“I thank you,” she murmured, as she alighted from the carriage and began to walk towards the steps leading to the front of the house. “You are very kind to me, Lady Perrin.”

“You are family now, are you not?” Lady Perrin asked, in her firm manner. “And as family, we look out for one another. We do not fight like cats and dogs in the street.”

Charlotte could not help but laugh, ignoring the way Lady Emma glared at her over her shoulder. “Indeed, we do not,” she replied, as they entered the house. “Then you must call me Charlotte, Lady Perrin. No more formality if we are meant to be family.”

Lady Perrin’s eyes twinkled with a sudden spark, and Charlotte felt a flurry of affection blossom in her heart.

“Then you may call me Aunt Agatha if you wish,” the lady replied softly. “Come now, enjoy yourself, Charlotte. After the pain you have been through in recent years, I wish for you to have as wonderful an evening as you can.”

The lump in Charlotte’s throat took some time to disappear, but she managed to greet their hosts without too much difficulty. She was quite overcome with just how kind Lady Perrin had been to her. Seeing that Lady Emma hurried away to greet her friends and acquaintances almost at once, Charlotte chose to stay beside Lady Perrin as they entered the ballroom.

The dancing was already in full swing, and Charlotte could not help but smile as she saw the colorful skirts twirling around the ballroom.

“And does your mother permit you to waltz?”

Charlotte smiled and nodded, remembering how her mother had agreed to such a thing only a year or so prior to this event. “Yes, some time ago, although I confess I have not had much opportunity to do so!”

Lady Perrin regarded her carefully. “Is it because you do not know a great many of those present?”

“No, indeed,” Charlotte replied quickly. “I have some very dear friends in London, but after my year of mourning, I found it somewhat difficult to return to the way life had been before.”

“I see,” Lady Perrin murmured thoughtfully. “I believe I understand.”

Charlotte made to explain further, only for one of her very dear friends, Miss Augusta, to approach. Delighted to see her, Charlotte grasped her friend’s hands and quickly introduced her to Lady Perrin. Once the appropriate introductions had been made, Lady Perrin excused herself, and with a reminder to Charlotte to enjoy herself, she made her way towards where the other companions and wallflowers sat.

“I have not offended your aunt, I hope?” Augusta asked, her light blue eyes filled with puzzlement. “She took her leave very quickly.”

Shaking her head, Charlotte laughed softly. “She insists that I have the most wonderful of evenings, and I believe that she thinks her presence by my side will prevent that.”

“Oh,” Augusta murmured, her eyes still following Lady Perrin. “Is she quite good to you then?”

Charlotte nodded. “She is, yes.”

“Kinder than her niece?”

Aware that Augusta knew of how Lady Emma had treated her in the two weeks they had been living together in London, Charlotte sighed heavily. “Lady Perrin is firm yet fair. She frustrates Lady Emma terribly, and the house has not had a day without some kind of falling out between them.”

Augusta frowned and looped her arm through Charlotte’s. “Lady Emma does not want a sister, it seems.”

“No,” Charlotte agreed sadly. “It seems she does not.” Taking a breath, she gave herself a small shake, refusing to dwell in melancholy. “However, I am quite determined to do just as Lady Perrin said and have a wonderful evening. Thus far, we have only been to card parties and recitals, so I am looking forward to having at least one dance.”

“One dance!” Augusta repeated, sounding horrified. “One dance will never do, Charlotte. You think much too little of yourself. Come now, let me introduce you to some new acquaintances of mine. We shall have your dance card filled within a few minutes. I am quite certain of it.”

Laughing at Augusta’s determination and thinking it a little misplaced, Charlotte allowed her friend to lead her through the crowd towards a small group of gentleman and ladies, all of who turned to greet them as they approached. Putting a smile on her face and trying her best to ignore the sudden flurry of nerves rattling around in her stomach, Charlotte allowed Augusta to make the introductions, curtsying carefully.

“Miss Richardson,” one gentleman said, smiling broadly at her. “Might I see your dance card? I simply must secure a dance with you.”

“And I,” said another, slapping the first gentleman on the back. “That is, if I may be permitted to put my name there, Miss Richardson?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Charlotte replied a little breathlessly.

She could hardly believe that no less than five gentlemen signed their name on her dance card, and she saw Augusta’s wide grin as the last of them stepped away. Her eyes caught sight of Lady Emma standing just behind one of the gentlemen and was somewhat startled by the malice she saw there. Turning her attention back to the smiling gentlemen, she chose to ignore her stepsister entirely. Instead, she smiled back at her companions.

“You are all very kind,” she finished, glancing down at her card and seeing it almost filled with names. “I cannot remember the last time I had so many dances.”

“And I believe our dance is just being called this very moment,” said one of the gentlemen, stepping forward to take her hand. “Shall we, Miss Richardson?”

“Thank you, Lord Martin,” Charlotte heard herself say, her heart bursting with joy as she was led onto the floor. It appeared that Lady Perrin was to get her wish—for Charlotte knew she was bound to enjoy this evening, now that she had so many gentlemen to dance with. She would have to remember to thank Augusta later.