Charlotte refuses to play

"No Priscilla." Charlotte was surprised by the strength in her tone. Miss Dunning too seemed a little startled by her refusal to submit.

"I thought we went over this dear," Miss Dunning spoke softly but with just the slightest hint of a threat in her voice. "I'd hate for any rumors to start circulating around London's society." Charlotte dismissed the flutter of fear that had paralyzed her earlier and instead she laughed at her late night visitor.

"I'd hate to have any unpleasantness as well Miss Dunning." As she spoke her confidence returned and she pushed Priscilla's hands off of her. "You know I haven't spent as much time in London as you have dear Priscilla, but I spent enough time in the Salons of the city to know that whenever a commoner and a Lord or Lady disagree about the details of a misunderstanding that the good Peers of the Empire almost invariably side with each other." Pricilla's face whitened noticeably even in the dim light and Charlotte knew that the tide had turned suddenly. Charlotte's smile was as sweet as Priscilla's had been and just as false, and she used her words like a knife twisting them with a cruelty that she didn't even know she had.

"I imagine that some-one like you who is desperately trying to find a place among us must be extra careful not to get involved in a dreary affair like that." No sooner than she spoke that she realized how true her words really were. Each year scandalous stories of impropriety rippled across the pool of society and at the end of the season only the slightest trace of any scandal remained, by the next year no-one even thought about the previous year's hottest gossip.

"Weren't you going to call out now Miss Dunning?" She asked with an unmistakable coolness, and when Priscilla sat in stunned silence on the bed looking small and childish now. Charlotte climbed from the bed and stood by the pathetic socialite's side, no longer ashamed of her nakedness knowing that she had turned aside the pretty blonde's venomous attack. Mr. Fuller would be proud of her, she smiled happily, just like him she refused to back down from an unpleasant encounter. Her smile turned to a fierce scowl as she decided that she did not care what he thought of her. Priscilla saw the fierce look on her face and shifted away from her, now clearly afraid of her hostess.

"You don't look well dear Priscilla." She told her firmly. "In fact, you are looking quite pale, perhaps you are feeling ill?" Miss Dunning nodded numbly. "I'm so sorry your visit to my estate has not agreed with you." Charlotte finished firmly as she took Priscilla by her hand and led her to her door. "I'm sure that my aunt's and I will understand when you decide to cut your visit here short and return to London."

Charlotte unlocked the door but before she let Priscilla leave she held her by the shoulders and shook her firmly. "Don't forget, Miss Dunning, any hint that I was anything less than a perfect host could result in a very unpleasant scandal. I'm sure a peculiar Lady such as myself would find it distasteful, but for a social climber like you it could be disastrous."

With that final warning Charlotte opened the door and push pretty little Priscilla Dunning out into the hallway, she closed the door firmly on the blonde as she opened her mouth. Charlotte didn't know if she planned to threaten, apologize or plead for mercy and at the moment she didn't even care. Still naked she pirouetted across the room wondering as she spun past the open window if Black Brand was seeing her as she flashed by.

Charlotte felt ecstatic as she sat down on her bed. She was powerful and daring and any man in England would be lucky to have her, it was just up to her to decide who if any she'd agree to have. Even if it was a common outlaw like Randolf Fuller.

She pulled on her nightgown with a chuckle as she imagined how her maid Sarah would cluck like a startled chicken if she found her mistress stretched out naked on her bed in the morning.