Page 135 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

CHAPTER 36

Stunned, Charlotte glared at her brother, ready to tell him she loved her husband. But when she gazed askance at Simon, she withheld her words. He appeared as ghastly as the day they’d been forced into the untenable situation.

Oh, for her it was no longer untenable. But for Simon, her brother’s words had struck home. Simon didn’t want to be married to her, and he certainly didn’t want her love. He’d made that perfectly clear. Only his optimistic nature had allowed him to make the best of the situation.

No, if she professed her feelings in front of Roland, Simon would either brush her words off as lies to dissuade her brother or, worse, consider them an abomination he wanted no part of.

And she couldn’t abide being rejected—again.

For once in her life, she held her tongue.

And it was torture.

“Sister,” Roland continued, his sugary sweet voice no doubt taking aim at a chink in her armor. “Come home and let us quell the gossiping tongues and put an end to this unfortunate incident.I vow to you, I will not force your hand into a marriage you do not freely choose.”

Well, that was a surprise. She narrowed her eyes, doing her damnedest to discern his motive, which was most likely self-serving and vile.

“I’m already married.”

“And as I said, I have the power to see it annulled.”

“Charlotte.” Simon’s gentle voice caressed her skin, and, unlike Roland’s, rang with sincerity. “May I have a word?”

When she nodded, he grasped her elbow, his touch as gentle as his words, and pulled her aside. Pain radiated across his face.

“Are you becoming ill again?” Her voice edged upward in the register as fear gripped her.

“What? No.” He flicked his gaze away, took a breath, then met hers directly. “I release you from our marriage. Accept your brother’s offer of an annulment, and free yourself from something you never wanted.”

But she didn’t wish to be free. Not now. She swallowed her pride. “What do you want?”

“I want you to be happy.”

She wished the same for him. Perhaps releasing him was for the best. “Then we are of like minds.” Hope, a tenuous thing at best, glimmered in the distance, and she grasped at it like a lifeline. “What if I’m...”

“Pregnant?” Closing his eyes, he pressed his lips together, and sucked in an audible breath. “Have you missed your courses?”

“Not yet.”

“Then hopefully we’ll know soon. But if you are, an annulment is out of the question. Not only would it prove we consummated the marriage, but I will not allow even a whiff of illegitimacy to taint our child’s life. However, you can either return to your brother or remain here at the cottage without me. I only ask to be part of my child’s life.” A wan smile crossed his lips but didn’t sparkle in his eyes. “And if it’s a son,you will have fulfilled your promise to me, more than I have to you.”

Other than a sharp tingling in her fingertips, Charlotte’s entire body felt numb. How had things changed so quickly? Her cold heart, asleep for so long, had finally been resurrected, and—with a few words—it retreated to safety in its deathly slumber. She should have known better; should have trusted her instincts.

Normally able to make quick decisions, Charlotte needed time to sort through the quagmire of thoughts meandering around in her skull. She strode back to her brother with Simon on her heels.

“Give me time to consider your proposition—alone, if you please.” That last word stuck in her throat like an overcooked piece of mutton. But she uttered it more for Simon than Roland.

“Of course,” her husband answered. “Mylord.” He gestured toward the assembly hall. “After you.”

“I expect an answer before the evening is out.” With his nose in the air, Roland pushed past Simon and tromped toward the building.

“Take as long as you need,” Simon whispered, then followed her brother inside.

Sweet birdsong from a nightingale drifted on the hyacinth-scented breeze, more beautiful than the strands of music from the simple country orchestra. Should she free Simon from their marriage? Could she trust Roland to keep his promise?

She rested a hand on her abdomen. What if she was already with child? She had no doubt Simon would love the child, regardless of its sex. What would entail him being part of the child’s life? Would that include her, or would he insist she make herself scarce during his visits? Worse, would he insist the child live with him?

An odd ache filled the void in her chest at the thought. She’d never wanted children, or so she’d thought. Not like Honoria. But with the real possibility before her, she questioned her belief.

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