Chapter Five: Ambition.

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principals which direct them." – Napoleon Bonaparte

Theresa sat in bed, her slightly damp hair hung over her shoulder as she nimbly worked her fingers; tightening the strands into a long braid. Her eyes watched the patterns and shadows the candle flickered on the far wall.

TAP TAP.

Theresa jumped a little, startled. She had to admit she had no idea who would be knocking on her door at this hour. Brushing the braid back over her shoulder she threw her legs over the side of the bed suppressing a shiver as her bare feet touched the cool hardwood.

"Who's there?" She called out softly as she slowly made her way towards the door.

"Open the door." Came Charlotte's impatient voice. Theresa already had the mental image of Charlotte tapping her fingers against the doorframe impatiently. Shaking her head; Theresa swung the door open without hesitation; and poised herself leaning against the doorframe; blocking Charlotte's entrance.

"What are you doing'…. Your father is gonna .." Theresa started, hand on her hip.

"Oh tish tosh!" Charlotte waved a hand dismissively. Charlotte pushed her way past the shorter woman and shrugged out of her robe laying it on the vanity chair. Theresa laughed as Charlotte threw herself into Theresa's bed none to gracefully. Popping her head back up in a manner that really reminded Theresa of a Meerkat.

"What ARE you doing?"

"Nothing." Charlotte settled down into a comfortable position on her side her hand supporting her head; reaching out she rubbed the empty spot on the bed. "Come here, let us have a chat." Theresa raised a dark eyebrow but sat across from Charlotte tucking her feet under herself.
"I'm so sorry by the way, darling…I've been so busy helping father prepare for his ball; that I feel I've neglected you terribly." Charlotte reached out patting Theresa's knee.

"Oh I'm perfectly capable of takin' care of myself."

"That neither here nor there. I'm terribly sorry."

"Really, it's fine." Theresa laughed, subconsciously she smoothed her hair, and couldn't help but notice Charlotte was eyeing her. "What?"

"Tell me about you week." Charlotte leaned forward hungrily. Her ears seemed to perk up as she jumped into sitting Indian style, with her elbows on her knees.

"Jeez…" Theresa tried to think of some glimmer of excitement that had happened…but couldn't. "uneventful." She sighed; shrugging. But Charlotte cocked an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Try again."

"What?"

"Try. Again." Charlotte had a smile from ear to ear and looked very much like that cat that ate the canary.

"Ughh… sorry I'm a bit dense tonight, what are you talkin' 'bout?" Theresa scratched her head a bit, cocking a confused eyebrow at Charlotte.

"Oh you're no fun!" Charlotte giggled a bit, waving her off. Charlotte tucked a few of her stray blonde hairs behind her ear, lifting her eyes to meet Theresa conspiratorially. "Your little dance lesson? Pray tell; what was all that about?" a slight smirk graced her lips.

"Oh god;" Theresa groaned rolling her eyes. "If you're insinuating that there something goin' on between O'Hara-"

"No." Charlotte shook her head so vigorously that some on her hair fell back out of place. "Not O'Hara."

"Tavington?" Theresa quirked and eyebrow again, frowning. "Even worse."

"Dear, I'm just pointing out, darling…that you did not seem to mind terribly when he cut in."

"'Cause O'Hara is a terrible teacher."

"Oh." Charlotte's eyes glinted mischievously, and her pouty lips spread smartly into a half smile. "I just find it interesting, one moment your calling him a ….. Oh what was it?" Charlotte tapped a finger against her chin dramatically. "Oh that was it! A 'twat', and all of a sudden you allow him to…touch you." She visibly shivered, making a strange face.

"Well, I mean; I danced…jeez since when does dancing for a minute mean that I'm like running away with some one? As for the sudden civilness…Well, he apologized" Theresa said simply with another shrug. "Generally when someone apologizes…you like; move on."

"He what? " Charlotte's face contorted in shock, her upper lip raised and her nose scrunched as if she smelled something rotten.

"He said he was sorry for being rude, and I wasn't exactly wonderful either so… " She shrugged. "It is what it is."

"And you actually accepted!" Charlotte hissed, brown orbs wide with shock.

"Yeaah, was I not supposed to?"

"No!" Charlotte roared, quickly recovering she covered her mouth with her hand; shaking her head. "No; I can grantee you it was not sincere." Charlotte leaned forward as if she was sharing some sort of scandalous gossip.

"Ok, so what? It really doesn't matter." Theresa eyes shifted from side to side, and she turned her attention to the shadows the candles cast on the far wall.

"I suppose it doesn't." Charlotte messaged the bridge of her nose. "Just be careful, alright? Just yesterday the colonel was in my fathers' office ranting and raving about how you must be a spy…it was too convenient that you appeared from nowhere; needing help…..and he's determined to prove it."

"But I'm not!"

"I know; and father knows….it's just be careful… he's a bit," she seemed to look at the ceiling, choosing her words carefully. "Untrustworthy. He is very ambitious."

"Ambition is a bad thing?"

"Too much of it? Certainly." Theresa shrugged, and nodded as if saying 'I guess.' "Now." Charlotte pushed herself off the bed, grabbing her candle off the nightstand; it had burnt down quite a bit. "I must get to sleep; busy day tomorrow… please be awake just after sun rise; we really must spend the day getting ready." Charlotte spoke over her shoulder as she made for the door.

"You're gonna help me get ready for the ball?" Theresa said almost giddily.

"No. of course not!" Charlotte laughed waving her off. "Silly. But I will get ready with you and the servant with help us, darling... now get some rest…cannot have you with bags under your eyes." Closing the door behind her. Theresa was left sitting Indian style on her bed; hair half braided; trying desperately into figure out what that whole conversation had actually been about.

A/N: Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews and points I truly appreciate them so much!