Charlotte suspected that she had come in from her carriage because she wanted to check Charlotte’s appearance, and smarten her up if necessary, before shepherding her into society. For the first time in more than a year, however, Charlotte was feeling confident. Frances’s high-toned dresser had not only taught Lucy to do her hair in a becoming new way, but she had also directed them to shops and markets where everything from hats to slippers could be bought on the cheap. Charlotte had used a small amount of money to great effect, so that even though she had on the same velvet gown she’d worn to the play, she was pleased with the result. She was also very grateful for the warmth of the April evening. It allowed her to carry a new shawl rather than the embarrassment of her tired old cloak. Lady Isabella, in a floating gown of sea green satin that matched her eyes, surveyed her from top to toe. She gestured. Obedient, Charlotte turned in a circle. She felt thoroughly evaluated, from the knot of silver ribbons in her hair to the new evening slippers on her feet, and briefly, her nervousness returned.
