P&P The Untold Stories: Charlotte Lucas on New Year’s Day

Charlotte has an unexpected visitor

Author Note: This is part of a mini-series of scenes telling the story of Charlotte Lucas’ other romance. Here are the previous parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

January 1, 1812

Lady Lucas was all aflutter at their first visitor in the year of Our Lord 1812. “A happy new year to you, Judge Braxton! This is an unexpected pleasure. I cannot recall the last time our home was honored with your presence. Please sit down and allow me to order some refreshments.”

Charlotte was paralyzed for a moment until she realized the judge was alone. Even then, after a polite greeting, she attended to her work with more than her usual diligence. She had no reason to suspect this was anything more than a social call, but it seemed odd that Willoughby’s uncle would make a rare appearance just at this moment.

The judge was slightly more stooped than she recalled, but his pride of bearing was still evident. “The pleasure is mine, and please accept my good wishes for the new year. I spend most of my time in London these days, but even I can wish to see my own home at Christmas, and if it affords an opportunity to renew my acquaintance with my neighbors, so much the better. I am hoping to persuade you to attend a Twelfth Night dinner at Ixton Place. Not a ball, just a friendly gathering.”

Lady Lucas clasped her hands together as if this were the most delightful news she had ever heard. “We would be honored to attend. Would we not, Charlotte?”

Charlotte forced a smile. “It would be a pleasure.” She would run away from home before she would go willingly to Willoughby’s home.

“Splendid!” He nodded at Charlotte. “And I hear there is to be a wedding soon. I hope you will forgive me if I still half expect you to be a young girl rather than a lady on the brink of matrimony.”

After a visit of perhaps half an hour, the judge announced that he must be going. When Lady Lucas, all attentiveness, would have seen him out, he instead requested the company of the bride-to-be.

Charlotte, her stomach clenched in knots, walked beside him until he stopped just short of his carriage.

“Miss Lucas, as much as I respect your parents, the main purpose of my visit was to speak to you.”

“To me, sir?” said Charlotte faintly.

“Yes. A rather disturbing report regarding my nephew has come to my attention, and I hope you can assist me in determining whether it is true.” His keen eyes drilled into her.

“I do not know him well.” How had he learned of the wager?  Had Willoughby bragged about it so freely?

“Still, perhaps you have heard of this business.  Apparently he made a wager that required another young buck to seduce and abandon a certain young woman of his acquaintance, a young lady against whom he held some past grudge. Do you know anything of this?”

“Your nephew mentioned as much to me when we met last,” Charlotte said tightly.

“Are you aware of the nature of the grudge?” His tone demanded a response.

She hesitated, feeling sympathy for barristers forced to plead their cases before him. “I can only surmise that it may have related to a time years ago when he approached the lady without any intentions which could not be called honorable. The lady reported it to her brothers, who took some sort of action against him, but I cannot say what it was.” It was the truth. They had taken great pleasure in refusing to tell her what they had done.

“I see.” The judge nodded. “Is it your impression that his intention was to injure the lady in question?”

“To injure and humiliate her, and perhaps to blackmail her,” she said bitterly. “He made that much clear.”

He frowned. “I am very sorry to hear it. However, I will make certain that he does not trouble you again.”

“I would appreciate that.” Charlotte heard her voice trembling.

“I would also be particularly grateful if you would attend my Twelfth Night gathering rather than indulging in a headache or whatever else it is that young ladies do these days. I can promise you that my nephew will not be in attendance.”

“In that case, I will do my best.”

“Nor will he escape unscathed from this sordid affair. I will be making an announcement at Twelfth Night regarding a change in my will. Willoughby will no longer the heir to Ixton Place.”

Charlotte’s jaw dropped. “You would do that? Because of this?”

“I have had my doubts about him for some time, but this has confirmed it, and I have other nephews. My apologies, Miss Lucas, that you were affected by his lack of character.”  He inclined his head in what was obviously a farewell.

Could it be true, that Willoughby would actually suffer for what he had done to her? But she cringed to think of how publicly he must have boasted about her downfall, that his uncle would have heard of it. “Judge Braxton?” She spoke to his retreating back.

“Yes?”

“May I ask how this matter came to your attention?”

He gave her a long, thoughtful look. “I received a visit from the man— I cannot call him a gentleman—who had accepted the wager. To his credit, he apparently now regrets it, and was concerned that you might come to further harm from my nephew.  Under the circumstances, I did not consider his word to be reliable, hence my visit today.”

“I understand. Thank you.” Her cheeks grew hot. Mr. Robinson had tried to defend her.

“Please accept my best wishes for your marriage, and my sincere hope that your husband will be more worthy of your faith than these men who are best forgotten.”

“I hope so as well.” She curtsied as he stepped into the carriage.

“I will look forward to seeing you on Twelfth Night, Miss Lucas,” he called through the window as the carriage began to move.

Charlotte bit her lip as she waved with a smile that belied her feelings of humiliation.

Her mother was waiting for her just inside Lucas Lodge. “What did the judge say to you, Charlotte? He sounded very serious.”

“Nothing of great import,” said Charlotte, practical and calm as ever. “He wanted to be sure I would be able to attend Twelfth Night with my wedding so soon.”

“What condescension!” Lady Lucas said admiringly. “Then again, he did seem particularly fond of you when you were a child.  Mr. Collins will be delighted!”

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