After sending Albert a note postponing their scheduled outing, she arrived at the Salvation Army’s location in Whitechapel. Although Charlotte belonged to the Church of England, she highly regarded the work of William Booth and his outreach to the poor. Of course, the sinful vices of her private life were inappropriate in the eyes of this sect of Christianity, so she kept her personal affairs hidden for the most part. Nevertheless, she had been allowed to work alongside lower-ranking cadets in the army to lend a helping hand with “soup, soap, and salvation,” which was their slogan.
“Lady Rutherford, nice to see you.” Captain Brown greeted her enthusiastically with a warm smile. “We weren’t expecting you here today.”
“I hope you don’t mind, Captain. My day was free, and you know what the good book says about idle hands.”
The captain snorted a laugh. “Well, I think that was Chaucer’s statement about idle hands are the devil’s workshop, not the good book’s word.”
“Oh dear,” Charlotte replied. An embarrassed blush burst on her cheeks. “I’m afraid my ignorance of the scriptures has become quite evident.”
“No worry. You know how much we appreciate your support.”
“That reminds me,” Charlotte said. She opened her purse and retrieved the five-hundred-pound winnings from the casino. “This is for the Hanbury Street Shelter. Please see it’s put to good use for the ladies who find refuge there.” The captain’s eyes widened at the generous donation. Charlotte struggled with guilt, offering vice-filled earnings. Nevertheless, it was a trifle she did not need. Hopefully, there would be forgiveness from above regarding its gain.
“You are most generous, Lady Rutherford.” He looked at the folded bills and lifted his eyes to Charlotte. “It will be put to good use.”
“Fine then,” Charlotte replied, pushing aside the guilt. “I’m off to the soup line.” Charlotte grabbed an apron from the kitchen and wrapped it around her waist. She was familiar with the task at hand and started her duties as the stream of homeless and needy lined up for lunch. As she dipped the ladle into the pot of broth, wishing it had more substance of meat and vegetables, she poured it into the bowls and offered a smile to each who passed by the table. Their thankfulness never ceased to be evident whether it be a word or nod.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Charlotte smiled, and a warm glow filled her heart. Today she felt especially grateful Albert had not been there to lecture her about decent society. As the hour passed and the pot emptied, Charlotte turned to the kitchen for a replacement. She went to grab the two handles at either end, but another pair of hands reached out instead.
“Let me help with that, miss.”
Nothing could have prepared her for what she witnessed as Albert stood before her, offering a helping hand. “I assume the kitchen is in this direction?” He nodded his head toward a door.
“Albert, what are you doing here?” His surprise appearance had brought both shock and pleasure at the same moment.
“It appears I’m here to help replace this pot of soup.” He grinned.
“You know what I mean. How did you find me here?”
“When I received your note, I feared I had grossly offended you yesterday by my comment, so I set out to your residence to apologize. Your housekeeper, after a bit of prodding, finally told me where you had gone.”
“Oh, I see.” Charlotte pondered his statement. She decided a slight reprimand would be due Gladys upon her return home. “A dozen red roses would have sufficed with an apologetic note.” Hungry eyes were staring at the two of them, so Charlotte quickly changed the subject. “Follow me then.” She led Albert toward the kitchen, and a few of the staff turned their heads and eyed him up and down in his finery. Overdressed for the occasion of soup scooping, Charlotte didn’t quite know what to do. “The pot is empty.” Albert set it down on a side table.
“There’s one on the stove ready to go,” the cook replied. “I’ll bring it out straightaway.”
“So why did you come here, Albert? I find it strange, knowing how you fear for your life in this part of London.”
He shuffled in his stance while glancing at the site of a tattered and dirty room full of people, waiting for nourishment. “Because I wish to understand better the woman you have become.”
Charlotte scoffed. “I doubt anyone can truly understand me.” After pausing a moment, she studied Albert with his furrowed brow, betraying how he felt about the surroundings. Thankfully, a rat hadn’t scurried across his fine footwear. “Why don’t we meet tomorrow, and we can discuss it further?”
He turned, and a note of relief relaxed his worried facial lines. “Yes, the park perhaps? We could take a leisurely ride in a rowboat on the water. Would that suit you?”
A rowboat. Charlotte wanted to roll her eyes at his suggestion but curbed her disappointment as she thought of drowning him to rid herself of the contest. “Shall I meet you at Hyde Park around one o’clock at the boat docks?” she suggested.
“One o’clock it is,” he replied with a smile.
“Coming through,” the cook declared, carrying the next pot of steaming-hot sustenance.
“Well, I must feed the hungry,” Charlotte announced, turning from Albert. By the uneasiness in his stance, he was ready to leave.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he replied. For a moment Charlotte watched him depart, questioning why he bothered to seek her out when he couldn’t stand being in Whitechapel. It made no sense.
The line continued for the next hour, and Charlotte’s feet ached. When she took a second to wiggle her toes in her shoes, another bowl was shoved in her direction.
“Soup?”
A little girl in a tattered dress with dirty hands held the bowl. Her wild blond hair, filled with nits, matted together in greasy strands. It appeared she hadn’t bathed in months, but she had bright blue eyes and the face of an angel.
“Here you go, sweetie,” Charlotte replied. Captain Brown came to Charlotte’s side and spoke in a low tone.
“The poor thing lost her mother a few days ago to typhus,” he sadly announced. “We are trying to make arrangements at the orphanage.”
“Oh dear Lord,” Charlotte moaned. “No father?”
“Gone... dead... no one knows.”
Charlotte watched the poor girl carry her bowl to a table and sit down. “I don’t know how you handle the daily wretchedness of the plight of the poor. It breaks my heart, and I’m only here once a month. There is so much more I could do.”
“No one person can take it upon themselves, Lady Rutherford. We are most appreciative of the time you spend with us and your donations. We are all soldiers of one kind or another, carrying on the Lord’s work.”
“What’s the little girl’s name?”
“Lily,” the captain replied. His eyes sparkled as he watched her at the table. “She’s a pretty little flower, isn’t she?”
The child appeared about six years of age. A tear trickled down Charlotte’s cheek.
“Now, now, enough of that,” Captain Brown said, taking the ladle from Charlotte’s hand. “Why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and wipe away those tears.”
Not protesting, Charlotte stepped away. It had been an emotional afternoon. Thankfully, Albert hadn’t seen her weaknesses. Unable to leave Lily on her own, Charlotte joined the little girl and sat down next to her as she slurped her soup.
“Hello, my name is Charlotte. What’s your name, sweetheart?” The little girl stopped and glanced up.
“I’m Lily.”
“Lily is such a pretty name. Do you know you are named after a beautiful flower?”
“No, ma’am. What’s a lily look like?”
“Well, someday I will have to show you.”
The little girl’s big blue eyes watered as she spoke. “Me mum died.” Her voice quavered.
“I know, darling, and I’m so sorry. Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“No. Just me.”
Charlot
te put her arm around Lily’s shoulder, pondering the child’s future. It would not be a pleasant one. Most orphanage institutions were as terrible as the poor houses. As her eyes glanced around the room at the bleak surroundings and hopeless souls, Charlotte wanted to do more than merely pour soup into a bowl. Perhaps she had found the answer.
Chapter Eleven
Row Your Boat
Albert stood by the dock, waiting for Charlotte’s arrival. He glanced at his watch and noted the time. Ten minutes remained to their meeting.
The day had turned out to be a splendid one with sunshine and warm temperatures. He closed his eyes and inhaled the fresh air. After smelling yesterday’s East End odors, anything else would do. Albert wasn’t quite sure what he’d hoped to accomplish by seeking Charlotte out at the soup kitchen. Perhaps she was right—a dozen red roses might have been more appropriate.
When he arrived at the mission, he stood for some time, viewing her pour soup into bowls. During the task, she managed to smile at each person. Albert admired her courage. Few aristocrats, including himself, would be willing to subject themselves to the sights and smells for hours. Even though he respected her for performing good deeds, Albert thought it unwise for Charlotte to work among the poor because of the inherent dangers.
“Are you proud of me?” Charlotte’s voice startled him out of his brooding thoughts. “I’m five minutes early.”
Albert turned around, pulled his pocket watch from his waistcoat, and noted the time. “Well, so you are,” he replied, snapping the lid shut again. “You are improving your punctuality.”
“I suppose that’s the least I can do,” Charlotte replied. “Exactly what lesson am I to receive today while in a rowboat? I’m a tad confused.” Charlotte glanced at the lake.
“Nothing of significance,” Albert replied.
“Conversation again?” She cocked her head and let out a soft sigh as if she were bored already.
“Yes, friendly dialogue. I have rented a boat. Follow me.” They walked down the dock until they reached the small craft. He stepped into the wobbly vessel and reached out his hand. “Here, let me help you.”
Charlotte grasped him tightly and climbed in without incident. Albert sat across from her and took the oars. With a slight push, the boat glided on the water. The lake teemed with other boaters enjoying the excellent weather.
Albert slowly rowed the small craft across the placid lake. The sun sparkled off the water blinding him, and he pulled down the brim of his straw hat to shade his eyes from the glare. The peaceful scenery brought respite. He glimpsed at Charlotte, noticing she had closed her eyes and lifted her face upward to the sun.
She appeared breathtakingly gorgeous in the light of day. Her translucent, flawless complexion shimmered, and the red highlights of her hair glowed. Fixated upon Charlotte’s plump lips with pink hues and cheeks turning rosy from the heat of the sun, the world around him disappeared. As much as he hated certain aspects of her character, she did possess the undeniable ability to give a man great pleasure by appreciating her attractiveness. No doubt, making love to her would be a stimulating experience.
“Oh, the sun feels delightful.” She heaved a sigh, keeping her head tilted backward.
“I would imagine with your light completion you sunburn quite easily,” he remarked.
Charlotte lowered her head and glanced at him. “You had to remind me of that fact.”
“I only have your best interests at heart,” he replied, grinning.
“I’m sure you do, Lord Beckett.”
She kept her eyes upon him as he rowed slowly, gliding the boat across the calm waters.
“Did you stay long after I left the mission yesterday?” he asked.
“For a few hours, but I still do not understand why you chose to follow me there when you despise that rung of society.”
“As I explained, I felt remorseful for my words the day before.”
“As I explained, flowers would have been sufficient.” Charlotte tilted her head back once again to soak in the sun.
Albert gazed at her intently while slowly rowing the boat. She wore a peach-colored day dress that accented her hair. Not only had the color heightened her features but the bodice and slim waistline folded around her body like a glove.
Perhaps he should have paid better attention to where he was rowing rather than admiring her loveliness because suddenly he heard a man’s voice booming from behind him.
“Bloody hell, watch where you are going, man!”
The shocking exclamation jerked Albert back to his senses just in time to notice he was rowing directly into the stern of another boat. Too late to correct his course, he rammed the vessel with a heavy thud, rocking both boats back and forth as if a tidal wave had hit them.
Charlotte roused from her restful pose, shrieked, and jumped to her feet in response to the surprising collision. When she did so, the boat lost stability and tipped, sending Charlotte hurling to the left, with Albert scrambling to hold on to the craft. Unable to keep it from capsizing, he fell into the water on the right, sunk into the depth a few feet, and then pushed himself to the top, gasping for air. He frantically glanced around, looking for Charlotte, who had toppled a few feet away. She screamed as her dress billowed around her in the water. Her arms wildly flailed in the air as he scrambled to grab hold of the side of the boat. As the seconds passed, she found herself sinking from the weight of the fabric, her undergarments, and shoes.
“Albert!”
Not waiting for another second to save her from distress, Albert swam in her direction and gripped hold of her arm. She clung to him, practically dragging him down under the water.
“Let go and let me pull you toward the dock,” he ordered in a stern tone. Finally able to swim and drag her to safety, they made their way and grabbed hold of a wooden pile. A few bystanders who saw the ruckus reached down and pulled them up onto the dock.
“What the bloody hell did you do?” Charlotte screamed, landing hard on top of the wooden planks. She heaved, catching her breath before continuing to rail at him for his stupidity. “One minute I’m enjoying the sun on my face, the sweet chirping of the birds, the gentle slurping of water lapping the side of the boat. The next second, I’m drowning!” She struggled for a moment and then stood upright.
“I’m so sorry.” Albert moaned. “I was distracted and rowed into another boat.” His shoes filled with water and his clothes clung to his body, sending a chill down his spine.
“If you wanted to go swimming, why didn’t you say so?” Charlotte raged.
“Well, I hadn’t planned on it this way,” Albert shot back. “It was an accident.”
Suddenly Charlotte unbuttoned the upper half of her dress, pulling off the wet garment and tossing it on the dock. Her breasts spilled over her wet corset. Albert’s eye’s widened, but his mouth remained clamped shut when she unhooked her skirt and stepped out of it. To his utter horror, she released the front of her corset and removed it as well. Her chemise clung to her form, and the cool water caused her nipples to become erect and press against the thin fabric. Unable to speak, he continued to watch her kick off her shoes. Everyone within eyeshot glared at her clothed in nothing more than her bloomers and chemise. A few nearby women gasped aloud in horror.
“Well, I might as well enjoy the water and go for a swim. Are you coming?”
A second later, she dove from the dock into the water, swimming as if she were an athlete. With all her splashing about in the lake a few moments ago, he assumed she couldn’t swim a stroke. She had tricked him into saving her and made him look like a fool.
Charlotte rolled over on her back, floating in the water like Ophelia. Her hair billowed about her head, and her breasts peeked up from beneath the water.
“Well, are you coming in for a swim? The water is delightful,” she called after him.
“I cannot believe you are swimming in your undergarments,” he cried in a high-pitched tone as she drifted farther away. “Get back here an
d put clothes on.”
“Oh, Albert, save me,” she shouted. “Save me, my darling!”
“Is that Charlotte Rutherford?” came a voice from behind Albert. The male chuckled, watching Charlotte’s antics in the lake.
“I’m afraid it is,” Albert replied. His stomach knotted in embarrassment. He turned around to see a finely dressed man standing nearby. His eyes twinkled as he watched Charlotte return to her Ophelia pose in the water.
“You know her?” Albert asked.
“Just an acquaintance with her late husband,” he nonchalantly remarked. “Looks like your boat is drifting. You should go fetch it.”
The gentleman was right. The boat aimlessly wandered as well as his straw hat floating on the water with Charlotte’s choice of millinery. People in other vessels were laughing at the scene, and a crowd formed around him. With a sigh, Albert removed his coat, kicked off his shoes, and then dove into the water and swam toward Charlotte. Slowly she drifted, oblivious to his approach. The opportunity was too excellent to pass up, and a stir of mischievous boyhood gripped him with vengeful enthusiasm. He splashed her, which immediately caused Charlotte to lose her position. When she glanced at him, continuing to engulf her in sprays, she returned it with the same fury.
“You scoundrel!” Charlotte shrieked, treading water in front of him and returning the spray.
The contagious moment of levity took hold of Albert, and he found himself laughing loudly. “You deserve every bit of it,” he roared. When he noted a few boats circling them to watch their antics, he relented and so did she. “I should get the boat. Why don’t you fetch our floating hats, dearest?”
Dearest.
He wasn’t quite sure why he used the term of endearment, except she yelled darling a few minutes ago.
Ladies of Disgrace Box Set Page 36