Page 32 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

“Attraction?”

Simon wanted to wipe the smug look off his friend’s face. “Attraction aside—and I admit to nothing—I can’t talk about what happened right now with my family present, although my mother has read about it in that scandal sheet.”

“The Muckraker?”

“Yes. And I’d like to keep it from my father and sisters. As far as they know, this is a love match.”

“And just how do you expect to pull that off?”

“I fooled society into thinking I was a duke. How hard can this be?”

“Need I remind you that you’re not the only party in this arrangement? What about Lady Charlotte? Does she truly want this?”

“No. But she knows it’s the only way.”

“Simon!” his mother called. “Quit monopolizing the duke.”

“We’ll discuss this later. But will you at least stand by my side tomorrow?”

“Yes,” his friend said. “But I won’t like being part of this deception.”

Honestly, neither would he.

CHAPTER 10

The next morning, Charlotte stared out the window of her bedchamber. Dark clouds hovered, reflecting her mood. The gray skies scowled in ominous portent. Her hand trembled as she released the curtain and whispered a prayer it wouldn’t thunder and lightning. At least, should it storm, the daylight kept the night’s darker terrors at bay.

When Honoria had married the duke last summer, Lady Stratford kissed her daughter and said, “Happy the bride the sun shines upon.”

Charlotte cast another glance out the window, and a derisive laugh escaped that the building storm forecasted her fate.

Despite Honoria’s insistence that they could find another way to salvage her reputation, Charlotte knew accepting Simon’s offer was the only way. And even marriage wouldn’t undo the damageThe Muckrakerhad already wrought. Lady Cartwright had been in Madame Treadwell’s when Charlotte went for her last fitting, and the woman had given Charlotte the cut direct.

Lady Cartwright!The very woman who orchestrated acompromise between her own daughter and the Duke of Ashton.The nerve! The audacity!

Well, Charlotte would show them all. She’d hold her head high and act like nothing had happened.

She sighed. Who was she fooling? They’d laugh behind her back that she had married below her station, that she had been so disgraced she had no other choice than to marry a commoner—and a rake.

“Charlotte?”

She turned at Honoria’s soft voice. Goodness, her friend looked exhausted. She held a hand to her back, her slight frame bulging with the weight of the child inside her.

Charlotte worried for her friend. “Are you sure you want to attend this debacle?”

“There is still time to change your mind if you want.”

Charlotte shook her head. “No. It isn’t like I would make a good match with someone else now. And Mr. Beckham has promised to respect all my wishes. He even put it in writing as I asked.” An ironic smile tugged at her lips. “And at least he’s not Lord Middlebury. Nash told me about the scheme Beatrix Townsend concocted to get out of that mess. Of course, Nash played a huge part in it. Which he was quite proud of. And that worked out well for her.”

“Well, then we best get you to the church. Drake will accompany Simon, but I thought I would ride in the carriage with you. Miranda will meet us there.”

As they turned to exit the room, Simon’s father appeared. “Pardon, ladies. Lady Charlotte, I wondered if you would do me the honor of escorting you to church and walking you down the aisle. I’m not your father, but”—he splayed his hands out—“I will be your father-in-law.”

Something strange lodged in Charlotte’s throat. She’d hardly said two words to Simon’s family at supper the previous evening. Granted, her lack of participation didn’t deter the rest of themfrom chattering excitedly. Joyous exuberance emanated from them. Even Frannie, the quiet one, cracked a few jokes at Simon’s expense, which—to Charlotte’s further annoyance—he received in good fun. Such family love and acceptance was foreign to Charlotte, and although they tried to pull her into the conversation, she felt like an orphaned child outside in the cold, peeking in through a window and gazing upon a warm hearth and full table.

No one brought up Roland again, but Charlotte felt him lurking in the shadows. And yet, Mr. Beckham was offering to act in Roland’s stead. Why would he offer such kindness?

Suspicion colored her words. “Did Simon ask you to do this?” And more importantly, if he did, what would he want in return?

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