Read Online Fortune Knocks Once by Elizabeth Delavan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Delavan
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running from the room to hide her shabby, unfashionable attire.
“Charlotte, I am so happy to make myself known to you. I hope that I may call you Charlotte? I couldn’t be happier for Colin. When he told me about your marriage and asked me to come today I was delighted to do so.
“I am sorry to intrude but I couldn’t wait.” Lady Elizabeth said as she approached with both arms outstretched to clasp Charlotte’s hands in her own.
“Who s-s-s-sent you?” Charlotte asked, her voice quivering in panic.
Did this vision of loveliness say Colin, her Colin, had sent her here? And what is her design in coming?
“But Colin, of course. Did he not tell you I was coming?” Lady Elizabeth asked.
She calls him Colin??!!
Charlotte shook her head.
“Oh, that dratted man! That is just like Colin. Is he not the most frustrating male imaginable? Then you must think me terribly presumptuous?”
Who is this woman? Colin has no living female relatives to speak of.
Charlotte’s heart sank to her stomach as she contemplated the other relationship this beautiful woman and Colin could enjoy. Charlotte just stared at her wondering how to ask what she most wanted to know and realizing there was no polite way to do so.
He surely wouldn’t present his, his…..to his wife? Would he?
Seeing the dismay in Charlotte’s eyes, Lady Elizabeth’s face immediately changed from eager anticipation to concern.
“Whatever is the matter dear? Do you not know who I am? Do not tell me that he didn’t explain me? You can’t think that Colin and I…? Oh no, no, no, we are good friends, nothing more, never anything more.
“Colin was kind to me when I first came to London. It was a terrible time for me and I desperately needed a friend. That is why he knew he could enlist my help for you.”
Lady Elizabeth took a deep breath and held out her hand to Charlotte. “We must become the best of friends Charlotte. Colin is like a brother to me and now you must be as a sister to me. What do you say?” she said softly.
“I w-would like that,” Charlotte whispered quietly, mortified that Lady Elizabeth could read her thoughts so well. Charlotte slowly took her hand. Her face softened and she smiled tentatively.
I’ve never had a sister…or a friend.
“All settled then. Let us not bother ourselves with him anymore. We must make you ready and do it quickly. She chattered away circling Charlotte and slowly examining her front to back, head to toe. “And aren’t you a darling – so young and fresh looking.”
“R-r-ready for wh-wh-what?” Charlotte murmured.
“Ready to meet London and establish Colin as the most romantic madcap man in all of Britian for snatching you up and stealing you away as he did. Does that sound like a good story for the poisonous tongues of this town?”
Charlotte nodded her head.
“But still and all, it is clear we do have much work to do,” she said seriously. Charlotte stood there woodenly and awkward, feeling like an attraction in a freak show.
See the strange and unusual creature, right this way.
“Now you must not be offended at anything I say. Friends can say anything to each other, can’t they?” She gave Charlotte a warm smile that had just a hint of doubt.
Charlotte nodded her head in agreement and they gazed at each other for several seconds before they both broke into slight giggles.
“You must call me Lizzie, all my friends do.”
Charlotte nodded shyly.
“Let us sit and discuss our battle strategy.” Lizzie said as she yanked the pull to call for tea and then quickly conveyed her request to Gil when he appeared. Gil raised his eyebrows in surprise at her take-charge manner and glanced at Charlotte. When Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and gave him a sheepish grin, he immediately left to carry out the woman’s orders.
“Colin says we are to start
“Charlotte, I am so happy to make myself known to you. I hope that I may call you Charlotte? I couldn’t be happier for Colin. When he told me about your marriage and asked me to come today I was delighted to do so.
“I am sorry to intrude but I couldn’t wait.” Lady Elizabeth said as she approached with both arms outstretched to clasp Charlotte’s hands in her own.
“Who s-s-s-sent you?” Charlotte asked, her voice quivering in panic.
Did this vision of loveliness say Colin, her Colin, had sent her here? And what is her design in coming?
“But Colin, of course. Did he not tell you I was coming?” Lady Elizabeth asked.
She calls him Colin??!!
Charlotte shook her head.
“Oh, that dratted man! That is just like Colin. Is he not the most frustrating male imaginable? Then you must think me terribly presumptuous?”
Who is this woman? Colin has no living female relatives to speak of.
Charlotte’s heart sank to her stomach as she contemplated the other relationship this beautiful woman and Colin could enjoy. Charlotte just stared at her wondering how to ask what she most wanted to know and realizing there was no polite way to do so.
He surely wouldn’t present his, his…..to his wife? Would he?
Seeing the dismay in Charlotte’s eyes, Lady Elizabeth’s face immediately changed from eager anticipation to concern.
“Whatever is the matter dear? Do you not know who I am? Do not tell me that he didn’t explain me? You can’t think that Colin and I…? Oh no, no, no, we are good friends, nothing more, never anything more.
“Colin was kind to me when I first came to London. It was a terrible time for me and I desperately needed a friend. That is why he knew he could enlist my help for you.”
Lady Elizabeth took a deep breath and held out her hand to Charlotte. “We must become the best of friends Charlotte. Colin is like a brother to me and now you must be as a sister to me. What do you say?” she said softly.
“I w-would like that,” Charlotte whispered quietly, mortified that Lady Elizabeth could read her thoughts so well. Charlotte slowly took her hand. Her face softened and she smiled tentatively.
I’ve never had a sister…or a friend.
“All settled then. Let us not bother ourselves with him anymore. We must make you ready and do it quickly. She chattered away circling Charlotte and slowly examining her front to back, head to toe. “And aren’t you a darling – so young and fresh looking.”
“R-r-ready for wh-wh-what?” Charlotte murmured.
“Ready to meet London and establish Colin as the most romantic madcap man in all of Britian for snatching you up and stealing you away as he did. Does that sound like a good story for the poisonous tongues of this town?”
Charlotte nodded her head.
“But still and all, it is clear we do have much work to do,” she said seriously. Charlotte stood there woodenly and awkward, feeling like an attraction in a freak show.
See the strange and unusual creature, right this way.
“Now you must not be offended at anything I say. Friends can say anything to each other, can’t they?” She gave Charlotte a warm smile that had just a hint of doubt.
Charlotte nodded her head in agreement and they gazed at each other for several seconds before they both broke into slight giggles.
“You must call me Lizzie, all my friends do.”
Charlotte nodded shyly.
“Let us sit and discuss our battle strategy.” Lizzie said as she yanked the pull to call for tea and then quickly conveyed her request to Gil when he appeared. Gil raised his eyebrows in surprise at her take-charge manner and glanced at Charlotte. When Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and gave him a sheepish grin, he immediately left to carry out the woman’s orders.
“Colin says we are to start
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