It warmed her heart like nothing else could.

“This falling in love business!” Charlotte wailed, throwing her hands up in a gesture of annoyance. “I cannot get a straight answer from anyone as to how to go about it, and obviously I’m not having any success by following my own inclinations. I have tried to fall in love with Alasdair, I truly have. I spent all yesterday at the task and was banned from my husband’s presence as a reward for such diligence and hard work. Last night, when Alasdair finally came to bed—”

Caroline’s eyebrows shot up.

“—he slept on top of the bedcovers. On top! The only reason he was even in my bed was because Batsfoam had dismantled his under some pretext or another. I’m telling you, Caro, I am at the end. I cannot go on like this anymore. I can’t think but for worrying about this problem. It’s bound to give me wrinkles if it continues, and then where will I be? Unconsummated and wrinkled, that’s where.”

“Perhaps you are trying too hard,” Caroline advised, watching as her friend started pacing the length of the room. Charlotte was forever pacing, Caroline noted to herself. It seemed to help her think. She wondered if she should try it herself at a later time. “Perhaps if you were to relax your attempts to fall in love with Lord Carlisle, you would have better success. Emotions are very difficult to force, Char. Sometimes you need to simply let them be.”

Charlotte shot her a disgruntled look as she paced by. “Nonsense. My emotions will do as I tell them. No, my problem is much more serious—clearly, my mind is off. It is just not functioning as it should, and as I…are you all right? Did you swallow your tea wrong? Shall I strike you between your shoulders?”

Caroline waved away the offer and fumbled for her handkerchief, mopping up the aftereffects of hearing Charlotte insist her mind was off, just as if it was week old mutton. “I am fine. Pray continue.”

“Well.” Charlotte pursed her lips and tried to think how best to explain the unwelcome thoughts and emotions that chased around inside her. “I have in the past always known my mind. You will agree with that, won’t you?”

“Oh, yes. Very much so.”

“Yes, and knowing my mind, I’ve always been able to see logically what the steps were that must be taken to gaining that goal. That, also, you will agree with?”

“Well…I might take exception to the word ‘logically,’ but on the whole, yes, I believe you followed through as best you knew how.”

“Exactly. Take recent events—I wanted to return home to my rightful place in Society. I thought it out, realized I must marry again, and went about selecting a husband who could provide me with everything I wanted. I had a plan, Caro, a good plan, a plan that came to tuition, just as my other plans have—”

“Fruition.”

“What?” Charlotte stopped pacing and cocked an eyebrow at her friend.