Bath,
September 1823
Three weeks had passed since Charlotte's arrival in Bath. And their days had been so filled with hustle and bustle, with social calls and shopping and so many new experiences, that Charlotte found herself with scarcely a moment to dwell on her heartache. Which is not to say that she did not dwell. She did. Only very little, for her mind was occupied by far more wonderful thoughts during her waking hours.
Her sleeping hours however, well those were plagued with imaginings of what might have been, what was and all that she wished could be.
This morning, though, was different. With the rise of the sun over the roofs of the city came the papers from Town, and with the papers from Town came the knowledge that Sydney Parker was irrevocably joined with Eliza Campion. That they were, at last, united within the tender embrace of matrimony.
Lady Susan tried to cheer her friend but Charlotte was in no mood this day for high spirits. People say misery loves company. People were wrong. Any yet she would would smile and make conversation and she would hide the turbulence in her soul. Because misery makes for poor companions.
