been mostly downs for as long as she could remember. The moment she gave
birth to Dalton, Gilbert had withdrawn from her. She had learned soon enough
the only reason why he married her was to get an heir. Once that bit of
business was done with, Gilbert had no further need of her. He didn’t even want
a second child as insurance that something might befall the first one. It was
hard to accept, at least at first.
She’d
been a fool to be taken in with his sweet courtship. She thought him kind and
considerate, and overlooked his awkwardness around her. Her parents approved of
the union, and they were married within three months. She had been looking
forward to being the mistress of her own home. With Gilbert by her side, she
thought they would enjoy a happy and fulfilling life filled with love and
children.
It
didn’t take long for her to learn the truth. Gilbert didn’t have a romantic
bone in his body, and his clumsy lovemaking those first few months confirmed
for Charlotte that her husband detested sex, or at least sex with her. After
the birth of their son, he never touched her again. She had cried and pleaded
with him, but he was steadfast in his refusal to come to her bedchamber ever
again. It was a devastating lesson for a young woman to learn that her husband
detested the sight of her.
“Thank
you Mayson. You’re a dear. We won’t be late. See you later.”
“Enjoy
your dinner with Lady Tisbury. Good night, my lady.”
Charlotte
grabbed her shawl and went downstairs. At least she was happy to be seeing her
dearest friend this evening. That was one of the few blessings from her union
with Gilbert. She had met Mary Tisbury and they had became fast friends.
Gilbert
and Dalton waited for her in the front parlor.
“Are
you ready to leave?” she asked.
“We’ve
been ready for quite awhile,” Gilbert snapped at her.
Charlotte
glanced at her husband, but his stare held nothing but contempt for her. His
cold blue eyes held no warmth. He was easy to pick out in a crowd with his
shock of white hair, although he had a trim physique for a man nearing sixty.
He saved his charm for his friend’s wives or anyone that could benefit him. She
was used to his ways and ignored him.
“Fine.
Let’s go,” she said.
Dalton
stepped forward. “You look beautiful, Mother.” He offered her his arm and she
took it with pleasure. No matter how unpleasant her marriage was , she would never regret it because it had produced her
beloved son.
“Thank
you, Dalton. You look very handsome yourself.”
Chapter 6
Isabel
looked in the vanity mirror as the maid put the final pins in her hair. Their
bedchamber was a large and airy room with a over-sized
four-posted bed. She’d never seen such a pretty room before, and the blue and
cream décor was perfect for them. She had changed into a navy dress and Rachel
had combed her hair and secured it in a bun.
“There
you are, Miss Knott. Will you be needing anything else?” Rachel asked.
“No,
thank you. That’s all for tonight.”
“I’ll
come back and help you undress when you’re ready to retire for the evening.”
“That
won’t be necessary. I will be fine and I don’t want to wake Georgette. She
needs her rest.”
Rachel
nodded and slipped out of the room.
Isabel
made sure Georgette was resting comfortably before she left her dozing. She
looked so small in the large bed. Her sister could barely keep her eyes open
and there was no way she would have the energy to come down to dinner. The
journey to London had tired her more than she wanted to admit, but Isabel hoped
with a good night’s sleep, Georgette would soon regain her strength.
She
bounded down the stairs a few minutes before seven o’clock and walked down the
hall. She looked in the front parlor, but Mrs. Quinn was not there. Perhaps she
was already in the dining room. She turned and went back the way she came and
peeked in the next door. Success. This was the dining room. She walked in and
noticed
birth to Dalton, Gilbert had withdrawn from her. She had learned soon enough
the only reason why he married her was to get an heir. Once that bit of
business was done with, Gilbert had no further need of her. He didn’t even want
a second child as insurance that something might befall the first one. It was
hard to accept, at least at first.
She’d
been a fool to be taken in with his sweet courtship. She thought him kind and
considerate, and overlooked his awkwardness around her. Her parents approved of
the union, and they were married within three months. She had been looking
forward to being the mistress of her own home. With Gilbert by her side, she
thought they would enjoy a happy and fulfilling life filled with love and
children.
It
didn’t take long for her to learn the truth. Gilbert didn’t have a romantic
bone in his body, and his clumsy lovemaking those first few months confirmed
for Charlotte that her husband detested sex, or at least sex with her. After
the birth of their son, he never touched her again. She had cried and pleaded
with him, but he was steadfast in his refusal to come to her bedchamber ever
again. It was a devastating lesson for a young woman to learn that her husband
detested the sight of her.
“Thank
you Mayson. You’re a dear. We won’t be late. See you later.”
“Enjoy
your dinner with Lady Tisbury. Good night, my lady.”
Charlotte
grabbed her shawl and went downstairs. At least she was happy to be seeing her
dearest friend this evening. That was one of the few blessings from her union
with Gilbert. She had met Mary Tisbury and they had became fast friends.
Gilbert
and Dalton waited for her in the front parlor.
“Are
you ready to leave?” she asked.
“We’ve
been ready for quite awhile,” Gilbert snapped at her.
Charlotte
glanced at her husband, but his stare held nothing but contempt for her. His
cold blue eyes held no warmth. He was easy to pick out in a crowd with his
shock of white hair, although he had a trim physique for a man nearing sixty.
He saved his charm for his friend’s wives or anyone that could benefit him. She
was used to his ways and ignored him.
“Fine.
Let’s go,” she said.
Dalton
stepped forward. “You look beautiful, Mother.” He offered her his arm and she
took it with pleasure. No matter how unpleasant her marriage was , she would never regret it because it had produced her
beloved son.
“Thank
you, Dalton. You look very handsome yourself.”
Chapter 6
Isabel
looked in the vanity mirror as the maid put the final pins in her hair. Their
bedchamber was a large and airy room with a over-sized
four-posted bed. She’d never seen such a pretty room before, and the blue and
cream décor was perfect for them. She had changed into a navy dress and Rachel
had combed her hair and secured it in a bun.
“There
you are, Miss Knott. Will you be needing anything else?” Rachel asked.
“No,
thank you. That’s all for tonight.”
“I’ll
come back and help you undress when you’re ready to retire for the evening.”
“That
won’t be necessary. I will be fine and I don’t want to wake Georgette. She
needs her rest.”
Rachel
nodded and slipped out of the room.
Isabel
made sure Georgette was resting comfortably before she left her dozing. She
looked so small in the large bed. Her sister could barely keep her eyes open
and there was no way she would have the energy to come down to dinner. The
journey to London had tired her more than she wanted to admit, but Isabel hoped
with a good night’s sleep, Georgette would soon regain her strength.
She
bounded down the stairs a few minutes before seven o’clock and walked down the
hall. She looked in the front parlor, but Mrs. Quinn was not there. Perhaps she
was already in the dining room. She turned and went back the way she came and
peeked in the next door. Success. This was the dining room. She walked in and
noticed
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