Charlotte lit some incense in the bathroom and soaked in the tub for half an hour, relaxing her stiff and sore muscles.
While lying there, bored, she couldn't help but think about how Robert Stephens had just come in with flowers.
He wasn't wearing a suit, probably not coming back from a party, but rather looking relaxed, likely having returned from a date with that elegant and noble lady.
Although she's rarely at home, during meals in the dining room, the maids are particularly dramatic, gathering at the door pretending to chat deliberately, reporting Robert Stephens' whereabouts these days to her.
What Robert Stephens ate for breakfast, if he had breakfast or not, what color tie he wore today, how many days he hadn't come home, and also, which lady he attended an event with...
She wondered how they managed to know Robert Stephens' whereabouts so clearly when they were always at home and hadn't left. How gossip-hungry they are.
