"Why don't you two go chat. I will take the horses to the stable." He grabs the reins of Elene and Bernard, and meanders to the back of the inn. With Étienne's disappearance Charlotte grabs my hand. We rush through the inn, and up the stairs to my room.
"What happened?" She asks once we have both plopped on my bed.
"He taught me to ride." I play innocent. I don't to hear her opinions on the morality of our rendezvous.
"You were riding all day? That is impressive for your first time. You must be exhausted." I feel guilty knowing that I am omitting part of the truth.
"Well we rode for an hour and then had a picnic until we needed to get back." I can't hold back the truth, and
"That is a long picnic. You were gone all day." She winks at me, implying there was some form of immorality about this afternoon, which she is approving of. I don't know which I am more shocked about, her judgement of my morality or her approval of it.
"We had somethings to clear up." I try to shrug off the misunderstanding without explaining. As her friend I want to share, but I am seeing her brother.
"I was expecting you to come back my sister, or al least engaged." Well apparently, she sees my interest in Étienne as a benefit.
"What?" I blush. I am not ready for that conversation, but I can't dispute the fact that I do love Étienne. To be honest I am warming up to the idea of us moving forward, but I do fear.
"It Is obvious he likes you, and you seem to be partial to him." She winks again with a nudge of her elbow.
"I hope a marriage is built on more than merely liking someone." She thinks for a second.
"Do you trust him?"
"Of course. He has never given me reason not to." I am confused by her question but answer honestly.
"Then your relationship is built on more than attract for each other." She declares.
I sigh. "It needs to be more then that. This is why we needed to talk today."
"Wait are you going to be my sister?" Her eyes brighten.
"I…I am not ready to be a marquess." I struggle to find the words to explain my feelings and intentions.
"That is not a no." She responds, joy bubbling out of her. I roll my eyes but smile.
"I don't have a clue how to help Étienne run his land. I need your help to learn."
"My help?"
"He said to ask you. You know how to be a lady and I don't. You could show me the ropes." I explain.
"Well you are a perfect canvas. You have excellent conduct and are skilled with a needle." She praises.
"What else will I need to know?"
"Mainly how to greet various dignitaries based on your rank. Étienne is incharge of financing the lands, and it will be your responsibility to manage the money for the chateaux."
"Manage the money? Like how I would help Mother manage the inn's upkeep?" I try to clarify. If they are truly similar, it will ease my anxiety.
"Great example, but on a bigger scale."
"I think I could manage that." I state with a nod, wondering off into how I could run an entire castle.
"What kind of image do you want?" Charlotte jolts me out of my revelries.
"Image?"
"The people will form an opinion about you based on what you choose to portray. What are three attributes you admire?"
"Kindnesses, fairness and dedicated." I rattle off what I wish every noble had.
"Now you need to acquire these attributes."
"Aquire? Aren't you simply born kind, or honest?"
"No, any virtue can be acquired, first you must study it out." I tilt my head, trying to gather the information she is distributing. She sighs and continues.
"You should study what kindness is and try to incorporate it more fully into your daily life. You could do charity work to become more kind. Help those in need. This techniques works with any virtue. To Incorporate justice and fairness you can help Étienne settle disputes. Listen to both sides and find a compromise. Continue in these acts, even when you are overwhelmed to become dedicated to your people."
"Is this what ladies do?"
"This Is what any decent leader should do."
"Where did you learn all this?" I don't want to bring up the standing of public opinion of her father. Yet if he had been aware of such techniques wouldn't his image have been more favorable?
"Étienne taught me some and made sure I had proper governesses and tutors when he left."
"What virtue are you working on?"
"Listening"
"You are already great at listening to me."
"That Is the beauty of this. You can always improve, moving forward to a better self. I have been using our conversations as practice."
"I want to be better, to be worthy of Étienne."
"Camille, there is nothing wrong with you! You are already worthy; you just need a little fortifying for the storm. You are perfect with him, and with a little practice you will be ready to manage next to him."
"Thank you:" I throw my arms around her.