Page 45 of Pining for Lord Lockhart
Penny cleared her throat.
After a long breath, he turned to her. “I’m woolgathering, aren’t I?”
“Is that what you’re doing?”
“Yes. I believe that’s what it’s called when your mind wanders.” He needed to stop and converse with politeness the woman he was planning to marry. The words choked their way into his mind.Marry.
“I suppose I’d do the same if Auggie were here.”
That was the first time she’d said his name. Auggie. It seemed fitting. “But he will be near when we return to my estate.” He studied her. He knew many people had side relationships while married as long as the heir and another were thriving and well, but he’d never wanted a marriage like that. And even given the circumstances, he did not want a marriage like that now.
She shook her head, her face suddenly bright pink.
“Apologies.” He glanced around them.
“We aren’t…we don’t…”
The crowd was growing. People moved past them in both directions. “Might we go elsewhere to have such a discussion?”
She nodded.
But Lord Wessex returned at that moment and lifted a hand in their direction.
Andrew stood taller and braced himself.
The look Charity sent his way was worse than if she’d just ignored him outright. She’d mastered the indifferent mask. And he suddenly wished to shock it from her face.
“Lockhart.”
“Wessex.”
“We were just on our way out and wondered if you’d like to join us?”
“Oh? Where are we going?”
“I thought for a ride in the park? I have my phaeton, and the weather promises to be enjoyable.”
A group of ladies passed by, every one of them eyeing Lord Wessex with expectant eyes, but the man didn’t seem to notice them. Had he truly reformed his ways? Charity was enough of a prize to turn any man’s heart for good. Perhaps she’d succeed with his. But Andrew didn’t trust him. Not one bit. And he didn’t want Charity’s heart caught up in his. From what he’d heard, Wessex would stick around only long enough to know he’d made another conquest.
But what could Andrew say? He had already used her most ill and might have broken her heart already.
She looked up into Lord Wessex’s face as if sharing a secret.
Though she seemed to have recovered remarkably quickly.
Everything seemed too difficult at the moment. He was obviously willing to do good for his childhood friend, but obviously not completely since he could hardly bear to think the words. He’d hurt his most dearest love and pushed her into the arms of the biggest rake in all of London, and a part of him could not let her go, and he certainly couldn’t let her be hurt by this cad of a person. But his childhood best friend was in the direst straits. And as of yet, he’d not been able to think of any solution for her besides the one that forced him to marry her and destroy all of their happiness.
He bit back a sigh and nodded. “I think we’d enjoy a ride in the park. Penny hasn’t had a good view of it this visit.”
“Or ever.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “This is my first time in London.”
“Is it?” Lord Wessex grinned. “Well, then we shall have to give the longer tour for Miss Penny, what say you?” He turned to Andrew who could only nod.
Two couples with very little to say to each other moved toward the front door of the museum out onto the street and then toward the phaeton.
Lord Wessex laughed when he handed Charity up. “It might be cozy, but I’m sure none of us will complain.”
He handed up Miss Penny next and then climbed up himself, leaving Andrew to wedge himself in after, with only Lord Wessex to converse with.
