Page 48 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

Mr. Beckham chuckled, setting down his coffee on the saucer. “Leave the lady alone, Judith. They’ve been married less than a day, and already you’re expecting grandchildren. Allow them the enjoyment of each other for a while. I dare say things might have been interrupted.” The man’s gaze traveled to Charlotte’s hastily unpinned hair.

Why had she listened to her fool husband simply to give the appearance they’d been . . . ?

Gah!

“Now,you’veembarrassed her, Teddy.” Mrs. Beckham playfully slapped her husband on the arm. She turned toward Charlotte. “Forgive my husband. Your hair looks lovely down, just as Her Grace said. And you are among family here.”

Family?

The word had never struck a harmonious chord in Charlotte before, only one of dissonance.

Frannie tugged on Charlotte’s arm. “Don’t mind my parents. Come sit by me. We can commiserate as Georgie massacres poor Amadeus.”

Charlotte couldn’t help but smile at Frannie’s matter-of-fact assessment of her youngest sister’s talents. An unexpected spark of generosity ignited in Charlotte’s chest. “Ah, but she plays with such verve.”

Settled next to her, Frannie leaned in. “How is it you know my brother so well already? You met him less than a year ago. Is that not correct?”

“It is. In what respect are you referring?”

“That you understood Simon would go mad if he had to remain here and listen to Her Grace’s cries.” She nodded toward Georgie as she finished the piece with a flourish and bang. “Georgie is the most like him. A constant whirlwind of action, and no matter what they do, they do it with unbridled enthusiasm. Except stand still and wait. Simon told me once when he was stationed in the Indian desert, they had to wait in silence, simply watching a group of suspected marauders. He said it felt as if he was sinking into the sand and it would swallow him whole, choking the life out of him.”

Did that explain the terror and panic in his eyes? Charlotte had her doubts. “You give me more credit than I am due, I’m afraid. I simply believed him to be like most men. Unwilling or unable to deal with a woman’s pain.”

Frannie shook her head. “I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s because he fears for those in pain, especially those he cares for deeply.”

Charlotte rather thought Frannie also gave her brother too much credit. However, she admitted the girl knew her brother better than she did. “One must confront one’s fears in order to conquer them.”

Tense silence settled in the room, punctuated with scrambling footsteps and a few more feminine cries as time dragged on.

Shadows stretched across the room as the sun lowered in the sky. The clock chimed quarter past seven, and Charlotte frowned. The last cries had been almost thirty minutes ago. The knot tightened in her stomach.

Was something wrong?

She exchanged a questioning glance with Mrs. Beckham.

No doubt her mother-in-law’s smile was meant to be reassuring, but something in the woman’s eyes bothered Charlotte. “We should hear something soon.”

Whether she meant another cry or news, Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure.

Long minutes later, with shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows, Ashton appeared at the music room’s entrance. “All is well. His and Her Grace have a beautiful and healthy baby girl.”

A collective sigh of relief rose from the group.

“And Honoria?” Charlotte asked.

Ashton motioned her forward. “Come see for yourself. She’s asking for you.”

Me?Frannie’s comment about sinking and drowning in sand took on new meaning. Charlotte rose, but unlike Simon, who feared standing still, the thought of moving paralyzed Charlotte. Her legs were numb, her feet uncooperative.

Ashton motioned for her again. “Lady Charlotte?”

From behind, Frannie’s voice, soft and non-accusatory, released her. “One must face one’s fear.”

One step. Then two, and Ashton was escorting her from the room.

Once out of earshot of the others, Charlotte asked, “Is something wrong?”

“Not at all. I believe she has something to ask you.” Upstairs, he paused at the door. “Do be prepared, my lady. Honoria has had a trying day.” Smiling, he opened the door and ushered Charlotte inside.

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