That earned her a raw glare, but Charlotte returned to the letter with a huff of some offense. “ ‘You’ll hardly countenance this’,” she read in a stiff tone, “which she got right, ‘but I am to be married. It will take too long to describe in this letter, but the man to be my husband is Hugh Sterling.’” Charlotte snarled like a rabid dog. “The very idea. What nerve, the idiot girl. ‘He is much changed, and I cannot wait for you to know and accept him as I do.’ Not bloody likely.”

Edith sighed and shook her head as she sipped a rapidly cooling cup of tea. “Is there any chance of getting the information without having the additional commentary?”

Charlotte huffed even louder at the request. “You’re a peculiar friend, Lady Edith, and I’m not sure I appreciate it.”

“Alas, I’m the only one ye’ve got at the present,” Edith replied without concern. “The letter, if you please.”

“Very well,” came the dry response. “Let’s see here… Hmm…. oh, here. ‘As luck would have it, our engagement was not the only one that took place at Deilingh this Christmas. My cousin Barbara is to wed Mr. John Winthrop, brother to Lord Winthrop, and my disagreeable and desperate cousin Letitia has consented to wed my father’s cousin’s son, Rupert Perry, which we all find to be a dreadful idea.’ Well, at least it’s a husband, so well done, Letitia, I say.”

Edith grunted without commitment, disagreeing heartily, but deciding not to go into that. Everyone knew that her marriage had been unhappy, though no one on the earth knew the reasons behind it. It was best that those details remained secret.

For now.

“Oh, and Janet Sterling had her baby!” Charlotte exclaimed, sounding much more delighted by this topic.

“Was she up at Deilingh, as well?” Edith asked, bewildered at the idea.

Charlotte gave her an incredulous look. “Of course not, I’ve only just remembered it. Why in the world would Janet Sterling be at Elinor’s family estate during her confinement?”

“I dinna ken, Charlotte,” Edith sighed heavily, sinking back against the couch. “Tha’s why I asked ye. What else does Elinor have to say?”

“Well, she invites us to the wedding, but I highly doubt I can attend.” Charlotte sniffed as she refolded the letter and set it down, reaching for a biscuit.

Edith eyed her friend with amusement. “Why ever not? Do you have a more pressing engagement?”

Charlotte looked at her, biting hard into the biscuit, her dark eyes flashing. “No, but I am certain I could find one. I highly doubt Mrs. Asheley would look kindly upon me spitting at the groom during the service.”

“I would concur with that.” Edith snickered softly, shaking her head. “Charlotte Wright, you’re a rare one.”

“So I’ve heard,” she replied, breaking a smile for the first time in minutes.