Page 69 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

Outside in the hallway, he congratulated himself for his hard-won battle.

What he didn’t want to admit was how much the kiss had affected him as well.

“Incorrigible!” Charlotte yelled from the other side. Something crashed against the door with a mightythud.

He smiled to himself. Not only the battle, but he was inching closer to winning the war. He only hoped he wouldn’t become a casualty in the victory.

Fists balled at her side,Charlotte muttered to herself. “Arrogant buffoon. Nodcock. Dolt.” And because she was alone, she added a few less ladylike insults she’d picked up from Nash to her list. Simon Beckham deserved every last one.

Pieces of porcelain that had once been a vase littered the floor. She tromped to the bell pull, tugging it so hard, she thought it might come off in her hand.

How could one kiss affect her so much? She’d wanted to run her hands through the hair on his empty head. Pull him closer to her as the heat of his body burned through her gown.

Gah!

And he knew! The sparkle in his eyes when he’d released her belied his restrained demeanor as he ended the kiss—too soon.

She’d wanted it to go on, and on, and on.

How would she suffer him on the long journey to Wiltshire? He’d no doubt bring it up countless times.

And what would hesuggestnext?

Knock, knock.

“Enter!” The single word came out of her like a strong wind.

“My lady—” Rose’s gaze dropped to the shattered vase. “What happened? Are you injured? Cut?” She stepped around the mess, then pulled Charlotte’s hands into her own. Her brow furrowed upon seeing Charlotte’s unblemished skin.

“I’m fine,” Charlotte lied. She was anything but fine. She most certainly was losing her mind.

Once Rose swept away the remains of the poor vase, she readied Charlotte for bed,tsk, tskingat Charlotte’s misfortune to have married a man who was all charm and no substance. “He vexes you, my lady. Anyone can see it.”

Charlotte kept her opinions about her husband to herself. Because something had shifted—only a fraction, mind you. But it disconcerted her nonetheless.

And as she lay in bed, trying to sleep, she wondered how she could rid herself of the troublesome feelings creeping up from her long-buried heart.

Because she wanted Simon Beckham.

And that would spell her ruin.

CHAPTER 19

At the sideboard the next morning, Simon whistled as he piled food on his plate. He’d slept soundly. Why did the expression saylike a baby? He peeked over his shoulder at his best friend. From the looks of him, Drake appeared not to have slept well at all. “Rough night?” Simon asked, adding one more piece of bacon before turning around.

Drake peered up over his cup. Wisps of steam wafted from the dark beverage.

“Is that coffee?”

Drake nodded. Half-moon shadows darkened the skin under his eyes.

“But you hate coffee.”

“It keeps me awake. I don’t know if it’s the coffee itself or the taste.” Drake scrunched up his face as he took another sip.

Unfamiliar guilt snaked through Simon’s chest. “Are you certain you’ll manage without me? Charlotte and I can change our plans.” A small voice inside him pleaded,say you don’t need me. He pulled in a breath and waited.

Drake shook his head. “Go. I wrote to Mother and Juliana,and Honoria managed a letter to her parents. We expect they will descend upon us any day. Of course, she doesn’t expect Colin. Margery’s death devastated him. Between my mother and Lady Stratford, they’ll have everything running smoothly.”

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