Page 75 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

Charlotte had arrived at Pemberley the week before, but already her appearance was so altered that she had to look twice at her reflection in the mirror to convince herself the change was real.

Miss Horatia Stevens, Elizabeth’s personal maid, had been taken into confidence regarding Charlotte’s hope of finding an eligible suitor, and the maid had taken a particular interest in the guest’s appearance.

Every morning during that first week, Horatia experimented with a new hairstyle until she found one that suited Charlotte’s face and the shape of her head.

On the very first morning, Miss Stevens stood before her mistress’s friend with her fists on her hips and said, “Miss, I am going to speak plainly now. Please do not be offended, and do not cry. Mrs. Darcy told me that you wish to attract a gentleman, and I will help you, but you must also help yourself.”

Stevens removed the ribbon and pins that held Charlotte’s tight topknot fixed at the crown of her head, and the hair fell nearly to her waist.

“The back of your head is flat, and your forehead is quite large. Because of this, all the suggestions I make today will be in an effort to conceal those two prominent features.”

Charlotte was stricken, and the maid could read it in her face.

“Are you well, miss? I have transformed many women, and each one has had to listen to my observations and guidance, but they have all been pleased with the results. Shall I proceed?”

Charlotte wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. She had always known herself to be plain, but never had her flaws been listed like items in a drawer that required sorting.

Stevens laughed. “Miss Charlotte, there is no need to cry. None of us is perfect. You are going to learn how to conceal your peculiarities so they do not detract from your appearance.”

She picked up a pair of scissors.

“Miss, will you allow me to cut your hair? I will make you a pretty woman, but I must be permitted to cut it to achieve the desired result.”

Charlotte was afraid. She had never cut her hair. What if it looked dreadful? She looked up at the maid.

“Very well. Do what you can for me.”

Stevens grunted. “You will be pleased with the result, I assure you.”

Charlotte saw long strands of pale blond hair fall to the floor around her. Then great swathes were trimmed from the sides and the back. Tears ran down her cheeks as she heard the clicking of the shears.

“You have beautiful waves in your hair, Miss Charlotte,” Stevens said gently. “Open your eyes and see how fine your new fringe looks.”

Charlotte wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and was astonished by the striking change in her appearance. Long, wavy bangs covered her forehead and dipped to her eyebrows, framing them. They made her eyes appear larger and concealed the shiny prominence of her brow.

For the first time, Charlotte felt like a beautiful woman.

Stevens stood back and studied her handiwork.

“You are a beautiful woman, Miss Charlotte. Now I shall dress your hair in an elegant chignon. You shall wear it that way today, and we will see whether it flatters your face. Tomorrow, I shall dress it more loosely and allow a few tendrils to fall at your temples and the nape of your neck. Some ladies look best with the looser chignon worn low. We shall determine which suits you best.”

Stevens dressed her hair quickly, then handed Charlotte a small looking glass so she might see the back of her head.

“How do you like it? The chignon worn low hides the flatness at the back of your head. Do you see?”

Charlotte did see. No one would guess her head had an unflattering shape with this new arrangement.

Stevens added, “Your hair was too long and heavy; it would not hold a chignon properly. Now that it is cut, the style should remain in place all day. You have thick, wavy hair, and that is your beauty, Miss Charlotte. You must always make the most of your hair.”

Charlotte was so pleased with the result that she began to cry. She drew a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her face.

Stevens looked alarmed.

Charlotte laughed softly. “Forgive me, do not be concerned. I am so pleased. I have never looked so well in my entire life. I think I almost look pretty.”

“You do look pretty, Miss Charlotte,” Stevens said with a warm smile.

She rang the bell and asked that Mrs. Darcy be sent for.

A few minutes later, Elizabeth entered the room carrying two small pots in her hands.

She stopped short when she saw Charlotte’s blond hair strewn on the floor, and then, when she looked at her friend seated on the bench, her mouth dropped open.

“Charlotte! You look beautiful. You will surely attract one of our resident bachelors.”

She raised her hands and smiled. “I have brought you something, my dear.” She handed the covered pots to Stevens.

“Do not look so alarmed. One is a lip stain tinted with carmine. It is barely noticeable, but it will add a subtle touch of color to your lips. You know, my dear friend, your lips are so pale, one can scarcely see that you have any lips at all. The other is henna to darken your brows. The shop girl assured me it gives a very natural effect. Stevens directed me to purchase it when I described your brows to her. She will teach you how to apply it.”

Stevens stepped forward. “Miss Charlotte, allow me to apply the lip stain. It does not rub off, so you need not fear it will smear your teeth or bleed into your skin. It will remain fixed.”

She bent over Charlotte, dipped a finger into the stain, and gently rubbed it across the surface of her lips.

“There. Look in the mirror.”

Once again, tears stung Charlotte’s eyes. Her lips were now defined; she could see that they had a pleasing shape, and the color was delicate.

Stevens met her gaze. “How do you like it, miss?”

Charlotte smiled. “You have made me look beautiful, Miss Stevens. I do not know how to thank you.”

“And now,” Elizabeth said, opening the second pot, “Miss Stevens will show you how to apply the henna with this fine brush. I purchased a light brown; it is just enough color to emphasize your eyes.”

Miss Stevens inclined her head. “You need only apply it once every three or four weeks. The color usually lasts that long. No one will detect it, not even the most observant eye. By darkening your brows a couple of shades deeper, you will see how they will also frame your eyes.”

When it was done, Charlotte studied herself in the mirror. “I look like myself, only pretty instead of plain.”

“You look like yourself after a long walk in good weather and a glass of wine,” Elizabeth replied with a grin. “Come now, we must get you dressed. We are visiting the rector today.”

Later that morning, the three gentlewomen rode out in the open carriage to the parsonage.

After a drive of twenty minutes, the carriage turned onto a track that led straight to a modest, two-story cottage.

Climbing roses covered one wall, and tall yew trees shaded the other.

The twisted, gnarled trunks made the parsonage appear as though drawn from a child’s storybook. The cottage was charming.

The rector, Mr. Gerard Roberts, received them in his study. When the housekeeper showed them in, he rose to his feet and bowed. Elizabeth made the introductions.

Mr. Roberts gestured to a couch. “Please, be seated, ladies.”

Elizabeth smiled at the handsome young man. “Thank you for receiving us, Mr. Roberts. We have come to discuss a Sunday School class for the children. We should like to teach them to read and write. Do you have time to consider this proposal with us?”

“I am at your service,” he replied.

Charlotte sat quietly and studied the man. He was tall and well-favored, with intelligent eyes and a gentle manner.

Elizabeth continued, “We should like to offer a Sunday class for the children of the parish, beginning this summer. The three of us will take turns leading the sessions. If the effort proves successful, we hope to encourage the wives and older daughters of neighboring households to join us, so that the sessions might continue throughout the year.”

Mr. Roberts nodded slowly. “You would offer instruction in both reading and penmanship?”

“Yes,” Charlotte said, speaking for the first time. “Basic letters, scripture readings, perhaps even arithmetic, if time permits.”

“You wish to use the small storage room attached to the church?”

“Yes, sir. We would need to clean it out to make room for the children to sit,” Elizabeth added.

The rector pursed his lips in thought. “Very well. You need not persuade me further. The church is fortunate to have ladies willing to serve. I shall make the room available by this Sunday. I recently discarded much of the rubbish, though some still remains. I can see to the rest this week.”

He paused. “We have nothing for them to sit on.”

Elizabeth replied at once. “I shall go to the wood shop in Lambton and use my pin money to have two pews constructed. Will you be so good as to provide the necessary measurements to the carpenter?”

Georgiana smiled. “I have pin money as well, Lizzy. You may use it.”

The rector looked pleased. “Ladies, I will inform the families at once. I daresay the children will be eager to begin. And Mrs. Darcy, I shall provide the measurements to George.”

Elizabeth inclined her head. “Thank you, Mr. Roberts. I am very much obliged.”

That afternoon, the ladies returned to Pemberley and gathered in the music room. Georgiana wandered to the pianoforte and sat down to play.

Elizabeth sat beside her friend. “Well, Charlotte, what of Mr. Roberts? He is very quiet, is he not?”

Charlotte shook her head. “No, not at all. It is a pleasure to be in his company. Lizzy, you must know how I sometimes long for silence. Papa speaks so much, on so little, that I often take a walk simply to escape the sound of his voice.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I did the same, though in my case it was Mamma’s prattle I fled.”

There was a pause, then Elizabeth said, “I think he is very handsome. What do you say?”

Charlotte frowned slightly. “He is too handsome. One wonders how such a well-favored man has remained unmarried.”

“As for that,” Elizabeth replied, folding her hands, “he was a poor curate for six years. The former rector passed away only recently, and Fitzwilliam has now given the living to Mr. Roberts. Until then, Mr. Roberts did all the work and received very little income.”

Charlotte nodded. “That was very decent of Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth smiled. “You see, he was too poor to support a wife, and the eligible ladies paid him no mind.”

Charlotte raised a brow. “You mean they would not look at him twice without a living to his name.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Precisely.” She looked at her hopeful friend. “Charlotte, Mr. Roberts showed no interest in getting to know you better, or am I mistaken in his manner?”

“Lizzy, I feel the same. I saw no interested looks, nor any effort to engage me in conversation. The rector was all business today.”

“It is well. There is still the physician and the landowner. We will try again tomorrow.”