Page 51 of Indecent Desires of a Proper Lady
Charles clapped his hands. “Come. Let us not dwell on business this lovely afternoon. Let us think of the ladies and enjoy their company to its full extent.”
He has winked again!
For the first time in her life, Margaret had the strange desire to slink under the table in order to escape the situation. She didn’t like what his closeness and lingering looks were doing to her heart or her limbs. It was as if the world had gotten everything wrong in its timeline, and now her old dreams were coming true, after she had already made new ones.
The hour had passed pleasantly enough. Margaret tried her best to remain hidden behind her teacup and scones. She would answer questions put to her by Charles, but she did not ask him any, and she allowed Juliet and Leonard to lead most of the conversation. Her mind was spinning. She wanted to calm her nerves and regain her strength.
After Charles had left for his business trip, it seemed like finally she was able to breathe and move and make changes to her life that needed to happen. Now with him back, she felt like a little girl again. Instead, she wanted to be the woman that she was with Philip: strong, confident, intelligent.
Charles laid the napkin back down on his lap after he had dabbed at his mouth and turned to Margaret. “Now that tea is finished, Margaret, I wondered if you might take a turn with me about the garden. It is a lovely afternoon after all, and I would not want to leave before I have been able to spend another pleasant half hour in your company.”
Margaret opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was so stunned into being asked for so private a conversation when he had never done so before.
Leonard said, “Of course. Juliet and I shall wander about the garden as well, but we will keep to a different end.”
Charles smiled. “Perfect. What say you, Margaret?”
She tried her best to smile as well, without obviously looking daggers at Charles, as he had already stood and was leaning down to take her hand in his.
Tentatively, she got out of her chair. “Thank you, Charles. I would be happy to accompany you.”
“Wonderful. Let us go then.” He allowed her to walk ahead of them to choose the path, and then they were off in the garden, and Margaret had no idea what she was doing there.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Charles was silent at first, while Margaret waited with agonizing anticipation. What could he possibly have to speak to her about and privately? Even though he was quiet, she could practically feel him grinning beside her, and it was too much. Her palms were sweating; she could feel a headache coming on. She wanted more than anything to be back at her writing or painting.
“Margaret,” Charles suddenly began. “I have been so busy of late, doing business with your brother, that I was never able to spend any time speaking with you.”
It is not business which kept you from doing so, Charles,Margaret thought vindictively.
She still felt a little pang of bitterness at the thought of having wasted so many years on him. Wasted affection, wasted love on a man who did not want it. So what was this now?
“I see. And since that business is somewhat concluded, you wish to be able to spend time speaking with me?” Her eyes faced forward, and she was grateful for the slight protection of her bonnet. She kept her hands clasped in front of her as they maneuvered themselves through the hedgerows and flowerpots.
“You have hit upon it exactly. You see, I thought it a waste that we did not know each other very well, even though we have been acquainted some years. I have known you since you were a child.”
At that moment, Margaret turned to him, and she saw a warm, affectionate expression on his face. It confused her so much that she nearly frowned but instead looked away, so as not to embarrass him or herself.
“It does seem that way, does it not? And what a foolish child I was.”
Charles chuckled. “Yes, I do remember your fiery nature. But we are all fools in youth, I believe. And yet, I fear that I have been the greater fool in more ways than one.”
Margaret’s heart did a little flip, and she turned to him again, wondering if he was going to open up to her about his debts and the trouble he was putting all his friends through.
“Will you tell me of your foolishness? It would make me feel better, of course, knowing the foolishness of others, when mine was so obvious back then.”
She laughed nervously, hoping to make him feel comfortable enough to share. The situation with him as well as with the strange man at the park made her so curious that it had eaten up much of her time, when she was not daydreaming about Philip. She needed to know! This could have been the moment!
Out of the corner of her eye, she could spy Juliet and Leonard arm in arm walking around the garden. They were in conversation, pointing at various plants, but Margaret knew that their eyes were on her, and that they were just as curious what Charles might be discussing with her as she was.
He smiled. “Of course, I shall indulge your curiosity. I have been a fool all these years to not notice your kindness, your intelligence, and your beauty.” Charles voice had slowed down to a lull, and it was like the whisper of a lover as he spoke.
Margaret could feel her heart sped up, and tingles crawling all over her skin. Her face paled, and she was concerned that the breath had completely fled her lungs, and that she would not be able to fill them again.
“I see,” was all that she could stutter out. Her tongue felt momentarily dry. “I did not realize that made you a fool.”
“Well, I believe it does. It is something a man should take notice of. When a woman is as talented and wonderful as you are.”
