Page 57 of Touched By a Traitor
“I miss the idea of a family.” Her words were measured and thoughtful. “I don’t particularly regret not having their company. I realize now how miserable I was, living with people who didn’t understand me at all and resented me for not using my charms to cultivate better connections for them. My father only thought about Mother. As much as I appreciated his efforts to keep her at home, I wish he had planned for my security and safety.”
Andrew’s hand moved a bit on the table as if to reach for her, then stopped, catching himself. Charlotte’s gaze drifted to his bare forearm, resting flat on the table. She watched, transfixed,as his muscles flexed and thick veins popped along the grooves of his skin, his fist clenching and relaxing in a display of strength.
“I cannot imagine what kind of parents would put their daughter in such a vulnerable position when they had the means to prevent it.”
From the tension in his clenched jaw, Charlotte knew he was angry on her behalf.
“Are your parents the reason why you wished to become an officer of the law?” he asked.
She nodded, impressed by his perception. “I did what everyone thought was impossible for the sole purpose of fighting the injustice in this society that treats poverty and illness as crimes.”
Andrew leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, a shadow of stubble appearing on his square jaw. As he did so, his biceps stretched the fabric impressively, drawing Charlotte’s gaze.
Feeling heat rise to her face, Charlotte searched for another topic. She quickly said, “What will you do about Lady Daisy after the trial is over?”
“I suppose I’ll find her a good suitor.”
“And if she refuses?”
Without meeting her eyes, Andrew fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. “She wouldn’t outright refuse,” he said at last, his words measured and careful. “She’d be gone before I learned of her true feelings.”
“Is that what happened when she went overseas to study?”
“Yes. I didn’t know how strongly she felt about it until she disappeared, leaving a note.”
Andrew studied her face for an uncomfortably long time, his gaze penetrating and thoughtful, before rubbing the crease between his brows with a finger.
“I thought about you for a long time after you disappeared six years ago,” he said, his voice low. “I’d meant every word when I said I wanted to marry you.”
Charlotte’s fingers tightened around the starched white tablecloth, crumpling the fabric in her grasp as she nodded in acknowledgment. “I believed you then,” she said softly, her gaze meeting his. “I left for the same reason I would have rejected your recent proposal if you had given me the chance.”
“Your work,” he stated, his words heavy with understanding.
“Yes. It was paramount to my happiness then, as it is now.”
“Truly?” Andrew’s eyes searched hers. “How can you be certain you wouldn’t find contentment as a mother and a wife?”
Charlotte regarded him with an indulgent smile, as if addressing a young pupil. “How do you know you wouldn’t be happy being a father and a husband while working as a laborer?” Her words were gentle yet pointed.
Andrew’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words.
“Did you consider staying and marrying me six years ago?”
“I did. I considered finding you and asking you to make good on your word when life became unbearable. But I persevered.”
“When did you stop thinking about me?” Andrew’s question hung in the air, surprising her with vulnerability.
Charlotte met his gaze, her heart swelling with a bittersweet ache. “I never have,” she confessed. “Women don’t forget their first.”
With those words, she rose from her seat and began clearing the table, her movements purposeful. She could feel Andrew’s eyes boring into her back, his gaze igniting a tremor in her fingers at the mere thought of his attention focused solely on her. Unbidden, her mind conjured up memories of the night they had shared, the carnal pleasures he had introduced her to.Her breath grew shallow, and she placed a hand on her chest, willing her racing heart to calm.
Just as she was about to continue her task, Andrew pushed back his chair with a screech, the sound jarring in the quiet room. He approached her, his presence both comforting and unnerving.
“If you’d like to wash, I’ll prepare supper tonight,” he said, his voice gentle.
Charlotte’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at him. “You?”
Andrew’s smile was warm and genuine. “Why not me?” he asked, his tone teasing.
