Midnight Rain:

Chapter 7: The Sharma Ladies:

The Danbury household.

"Well, what do you mean she was not in her room?" The lady, Mary Sheffield-Sharma, asked her youngest daughter, Edwina, who was looking at the portrait of Lady Agatha Danbury.

"I went to find her after awakening, but she was not there." Edwina sighed, referring to her older half-sister, Kathani.

The two sighed, looking at the painting over the fireplace mantle.

"Lady Mary."

They turned to the lady of the house, Lady Danbury. 

"Lady Danbury. Oh, how delightful it is to see you." Mary smiled, walking closer to the governess.

"And you," Lady Danbury smiled at the woman she had knew from many years ago. "After all these years. You look well." Lady Danbury smiled, walking up to Mary to hold her hand as she complimented her.

"Allow me to introduce to you my youngest, Miss Edwina Sharma," Mary said as Edwina walked over, bowing to Lady Danbury.

"Ah." Lady Danbury smiled at the young girl whom she had never met before.

"A true pleasure, Lady Danbury. I am so grateful for your hospitality. Your home... it is magnificent," Edwina complimented.

"Consider it yours for the season." Lady Danbury smiled as the three of them exchanged a pleasant laugh together. "Though... I was expecting another?" she asked the two of them.

"Yes. My eldest. Kate..."

"Kate? Yes. Well, she did get off the ship with you last night, did she not?" Lady Danbury asked, playing it off with a laugh.

"Apologies."

The three of them turned to the mysterious woman whom James had just met: Kathani Sharma, Mary's stepdaughter. She was Mary's husband's first child from his first marriage, but Mary treated Kate like she was her own daughter.

"Kate!" Edwina exclaimed to see her sister.

"There you are, dearest," Mary said, slightly upset with Kate, who she had no idea where she was off to.

"I hope I did not keep you waiting long. The gardens here are so lovely. After such a lengthy journey, I found that I wanted some freshness and morning air..." Kate began to lie, implying that she was on a walk as she moved the bottom of her dress from the horse stables that had mud on it. "But, uh... I am here now." Kate said, clearing her throat.

"My eldest, Lady Danbury, Miss Kate Sharma," Mary spoke up as Kate bowed her head to Lady Danbury.

"Well, now that we are all arrived--"

"Almost," Kate spoke up, interrupting Lady Danbury.

"I beg your pardon?" Lady Danbury asked her.

"We have almost all arrived. There is also Newton." Kate said when Lady Danbury turned to look at Mary. "Is he still upstairs?" Kate asked Mary, who gave a nervous chuckle.

Meanwhile, at the palace, Charlotte sat under a canopy in the gardens with Brimsley and her ladies while she watched a servant hold a parcel for Evelina, who walked with Anthony.

"She seems happy. Never once had she told me to dismiss others for the attention of one." Charlotte smirked, watching her youngest daughter laugh as Anthony smiled and said something to her.

"It would appear to be a love match forming, Your Majesty," Brimsley said as Charlotte smirked to herself.

"That is all George and I ever wanted for her." Charlotte smiled, watching as her daughter seemed happy.