Rutland Place - Anne Perry [5]
“My dear Mina, how delightful to see you,” Caroline said as easily as if no thought had troubled her all day. “How opportune you should call.”
Mina turned immediately to Charlotte, her eyes bright.
“I don’t believe you have met my daughter Mrs. Thomas Pitt.” Caroline performed the awaited introductions. “Charlotte, my dear, this is my most excellent neighbor, Mrs. Spencer-Brown.”
How do you do, Mrs. Spencer-Brown.” Charlotte inclined her head a little in something like half a curtsy, and Mina made the same gesture of recognition.
“I have been so interested to meet you,” she said, looking Charlotte up and down, mentally taking note of everything she wore, from her slightly scuffed boots to the sleek styling of her hair, in order to assess the skill or otherwise of her maid, and thus the standard of her whole household. Charlotte was used to such judgments, and she met this one with unflickering coolness.
“How kind of you,” she said, her eyes amused and frank. “I’m sure had I known of you a little more, I should have looked forward to our meeting just as much.” She knew Caroline was regarding her anxiously, trying to get close enough to kick her under her skirts without being observed. Charlotte smiled even more candidly. “How fortunate Mama is to have such an agreeable neighbor. I hope you will stay and take tea with us?”
Mina had had every intention of staying, but was momentarily disconcerted to have the subject mentioned when she was hardly through the door.
“Why—why, thank you, that would be delightful, Mrs. Pitt.” They all sat down, Mina opposite Charlotte where she could face her without appearing to stare. “I haven’t seen you in Rutland Place before. Do you live far away?”
Charlotte was careful not to make Jemima an excuse. People in Mina’s position were not obliged to care for their children themselves; there would be first a wet-nurse, then a child’s nurse, then at five or six a nanny, and finally a governess or a tutor, and thus every possible need would be tended to.
“A little distance,” she said composedly. “But one gets involved with one’s own circle, you know?”
Caroline shut her eyes, and Charlotte heard her give the faintest of sighs.
Mina was temporarily at a loss. The reply had not elicited the information she had expected, nor yet led to another avenue of exploration.
“Yes,” she said. “Naturally.” She took a deep breath, smoothed her skirts, and began again. “Of course we have had the pleasure of meeting your sister Lady Ashworth—a most charming person.”
The implication was being made, very delicately, that if someone of Emily’s social distinction could find the time, then Charlotte certainly ought to.
“I’m sure she must have enjoyed it.” Charlotte knew quite well that Emily would have been bored to tears, but Emily had always been skilled at hiding her feelings; in fact, she seemed to have the entire family’s share of tactfulness.
“I do hope so,” Mina replied. “Does Mr. Pitt have interests in the city?”
“Yes,” Charlotte said quite truthfully. “I imagine he is there at this moment.”
Caroline slid a little down in her chair, as if she were pretending she was absent.
Mina brightened. “Indeed! How sensible. An idle man can so quickly fall into unfortunate company, and end up wasting both his time and his substance, don’t you think?”
“I have no doubt of it,” Charlotte said, wondering what had prompted the remark.
“Although naturally the city has its pitfalls as well,” Mina continued. “Indeed, some of our own neighbors here in the Place have the oddest of habits, with comings and goings in the city! But then, of course, young men are prone to do such things, and I suppose one must expect it of a certain sort. Family background always tells, you know—sooner or later!”
Charlotte had no idea what she was talking about.
Caroline sat up. “If you mean Inigo Charrington,” she said with only the barest