Misunderstandings | Charles & Lydia
He’d meant it all to be done in secrecy.
Charles cared deeply for Honoria Waynflete, but the princess was not without her faults. They needed, desperately, to secure the support of the Avenian Queen, which also meant that they could not afford to cause any offense, however small.
Honoria could be unkind. She done well, thus far, to please the Queen, herself, but Charles had overheard her make some rather ill-natured comments directed towards one of the Queen’s ladies, regarding her dress. The lady in question (who Charles later discovered to be Lydia Greville) bore it well. He would speak to Honoria, but in the meantime, he meant to take measures to ensure that it did not happen again.
So he’d made inquiries as to who he should go to to commission a gown in the latest fashion. He was relieved to hear that the tailor did have her measurements. It had been from years ago, he confessed: Lydia Greville had not had a gown made there in a very long time. Charles hoped that they were still accurate, but he knew that there was little he could do to confirm it.
He was pleased then to see her that evening at the ball, dressed in the very gown he had sent to her. She looked so well, he did not think even Honoria could have found fault with her, this evening.
In between dances, he made his way over to her, wading through the crowded room to get to her. “Countess,” He greeted, inclining his head respectfully, “You look very well this evening.”
