Strawberry-Lemon Charlotte Russe with thyme Ladyfingers

A Charlotte Russe, made by layering sponge cake, ladyfingers, or cookies with a creamy filling, and often stabilized with gelatin, is akin to a trifle or an icebox cake. The one updated here from the New Royal Cook Book (1922) is simplicity itself: “Sponge cake or lady fingers...to be fill[ed] with whipped cream and serve[d] cold.” I unpacked the instructions a bit, and have called for homemade thyme ladyfingers and a boozy filling of lemon whipped cr