Page 17 of Pining for Lord Lockhart
“And when she writes something, people take heed?”
“Oh certainly. It helps that she has an excellent eye and consults with the modiste often. She has an understanding of the styles and how they change.” Charity was proud of her sister. She herself could have never taken that path, but she’d been blessed by both her knowledge of fashion and her excellent cheerful outlook about the sisters’ situation in society. “I miss Kate.”
“Is she coming today?”
“Yes.” Charity grinned. “June, Kate, and Lucy will all be here.”
“And not their husbands?”
Charity frowned. “Often I can get Logan. He is very forward thinking in his work in the House of Lords, and we discuss and support his latest bills in the salon. But I don’t know if he will be here today. I haven’t heard. The others? I can only guess.” She turned to him. “As you’ve experienced, these meetings attract more women than men.”
“I’m happy to at least represent my sex.”
The duke grunted. “Like I said, you are welcome to join me at Whites.” He turned the page of his paper.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
He didn’t answer.
Lord Lockhart sat beside her as they took their breakfast. How companionably pleasant to share such a simple activity. How nice would it be to do so often with such a man.
She couldn’t believe the direction of her thoughts. When had she ever considered life with a man? Never, really. For most of her younger years, when they’d had nothing, when all five sisters still lived together in their cottage, she’d thought the opportunity to marry would never come. She’d happily sat back hoping one of the other sisters would have a chance and suspecting she might never attract a man. It was quite freeing to say whatever she liked and do whatever she liked.
But then she’d found great satisfaction in the learning and conversations and the change that could happen around them. She found that she could make a difference simply by speaking her mind. She’d discovered that much was wrong in their world. And she had been full of fire to be someone who would spark the change.
But now, with the other sisters marrying one by one, and now that she knew everyone had a chance to marry, she’d been concerned that she’d become too obviously focused on other things, that men would not even know how to approach her amorously.
And that’s when Lord Lockhart had captured her attention.
But she had no idea what to do with her feelings, especially since he’d told her of a possible responsibility for a woman back home. That seemed like a difficult obstacle for them to overcome if they were to ever be together. And the man likely viewed her as a companion in their work and nothing more. She’d never met someone so wholly focused on doing good with what he’d been given.
They ate quietly for the most part, now and again engaging the duke in conversation.
His Grace left soon after.
When the door closed after him, Charity held out her hand. “Let’s see this list of yours.”
He unfolded the paper and placed it between them.
His closeness, the goodness of his heart, the fact that he’d created such a list at all, reminded her how much she respected him.
She reached for her tea and their hands brushed, sending tingling awareness through her. She’d become accustomed to such waves of sensation and would have ignored them except that Lord Lockhart paused as well, and there was this space between them that felt full, and warm and charged with something…intense. The very air between them brought them closer, but not close enough. And so the feeling continued. And intensified. Until she rested her hand on the table, and he placed his beside hers. The space between the two but the breadth of a spoon. She sat very still, the anticipation of his hand near hers, the thought that he might move, just an inch, to touch her, grew and strengthened until when the door opened, she jumped.
“Goodness. Are you all right, my dear?” Her Grace nodded to them both as they stood when she entered.
“Oh, yes. You startled me.”
“I see that.” Though she surely had suspicions, she said nothing more and filled her plate.
“Are you looking forward to the salon, Your Grace?” Lord Lockhart seemed perfectly in control of himself, at least his voice sounded placid and normal.
Charity as yet did not trust herself to speak.
“Lawrence Hamilton is one of the great minds of our day.” The duchess sat across from Lord Lockhart. “When he has finished his presentation, I’ll have a considerable amount of questions to ask him.”
“Oh? What shall be your first?”
“Where has he been for the past fifteen years?”
