Page 28 of The Virgin Duchess

“Oh, do I now? Well, I must admit it is a delight to hear that I possess such a skill. Between my jokes and my apparent ability to astound you, I should have quite the illustrious career as a clown.”

Charlotte laughed, rolling her eyes at the man and shaking her head until she met his stare again. When she did, Charlotte leaned forward across the table, squinting at Frederick and cocking her head.

“Hmm, you shall need a bit of white cream for your face then.”

Frederick laughed, and Lord above, the sound was simply fantastic. She’d heard it rarely, and on each occasion, shefound herself enjoying it, Charlotte felt that much dizzier in his presence. No man should possess that lilting of a laugh, that dazzling of a smile. It was an unfair act forced on her by the Creator, and she feared she would not survive it.

Leaning up from his seat, Frederick met her in the middle of the table, their faces hovering inches apart. He grinned, flicking his stare to her lips and then back to her lidded gaze.

“And still, you tease me. Shall I never manage to gain the entirety of your respect?”

Heart pattering against her ribs, breath lodged in her throat, Charlotte rolled her lips between her teeth, fighting a smile.

“Perhaps. The night is not over yet.”

What am I saying? Your promise to yourself…Oh, Charlotte, what will you do?

“Hmm…” Frederick hummed, his breath tickling over her face. “I suppose it is not. And how now shall I gain that praise, hmm?”

She was frozen there, hovering over the table as it bit into her ribs. The position was hardly comfortable, and she didn’t dare move or pull back. Every fiber of her being longed to be right there, right next to this bewildering man.

“Certainly, you can come up with your own idea. Or shall I have to provide you with them for the whole of our marriage?”

A glimmer in Frederick’s eyes sparkled in the firelight. Then his lips were upon hers, crashing them together in a kiss that stole her breath in seconds.

Charlotte’s head spun, and she hardly noticed as Frederick got up from his seat and circled the table to better reach her. Their lips scarcely parted during the entire movement, and as her husband stood over her, he lifted her face toward him, holding it with both hands as he devoured her lips.

Fire danced through her blood, and Charlotte perched on the edge of the chair, her hands finding the flat plain of Frederick’s chest as she reached up for him.

Stars above, I should burst into flames at any moment.

“Frederick!”

The both of them jumped back as Rose threw herself through the door and rushed up to her brother. A crumpled letter was squeezed in her grip, and her cheeks were stained with fresh tears. Even more, the young girl shook from head to foot, and when she reached Frederick, she crumpled to the ground as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Rose? What’s happened? Talk to me, sister.”

She didn’t answer, only holding her hand up to deposit the letter in Frederick’s hands. He took it, keeping one of his hands on her shoulder as she sobbed into his chest. As his eyes scannedthe words, Charlotte watched a downpour of fury rain over him. Whatever moment they’d had just seconds ago was utterly forgotten by the upsetting words on that paper.

“Rose, are you all right? What’s happening?” Charlotte kept her voice low, stepping closer to the girl and laying a hand on her shoulder.

She didn’t provide a response, and the brother and sister shared a look. Rose appeared to be silently pleading with Frederick, but he shook his head. The room remained quiet aside from the persistent cries coming from Rose, and Frederick would not look at her, keeping his eyes pinned to the floor as he stroked his sister’s head.

“Of course, apologies. That was silly of me.” Charlotte’s chest ached, the sensation like she’d been struck by a cannon blast directly to her heart. “I am intruding. Excuse me.”

Charlotte didn’t understand what she’d expected. Of course, they weren’t going to divulge anything to her. She wasn’t anactualmember of their family. This marriage was one of convenience, and she’d allowed herself to forget that.

She hurried to the door, Frederick calling out after her. “Charlotte!”

But she didn’t stop. It was clear that she had no place in that conversation, and Charlotte wouldn’t permit herself to be used only to satiate Frederick’s desires. She was better than that. Andeven if the man had been exceptionally kind, they were still not a true partnership. They were hardly friends.

And it appeared to Charlotte that it would remain that way indefinitely.

Chapter Fourteen

The Baron had threatened his sister. In writing as clear as day, the man had promised to ruin Rose with the flick of his wrist—like it was nothing.

Frederick’s heartbeat was a deafening roar in his ears, the blood in his veins laced with the acid of rage. He could do nothing about it from his house, and he’d yet to find the bastard to put a stop to this. Worse, he’d allowed himself to be utterly distracted by his marriage—one that was intended to be purely of convenience—and Rose’s tears now stained his shirt.

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