Page 54 of Pining for Lord Lockhart
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
“You certainly do if you come storming out here trying to get me tied to a woman in marriage.” He turned apologetic eyes to Charity. “Right after we’d just decided to be friendly to one another.”
Lord Lockhart looked from one to the other. “Well, if that’s the case then you’re both making yourselves look ridiculous. You are a man with a known reputation. Just by association you could be ruining her.”
“I really don’t think it’s necessary to step in here, Lord Lockhart.” She tried to send warning gazes in his direction.
“But I think it is necessary. I’ve watched you. You’re different. You’re flirting for heaven’s sake, Charity. And you’re spending time with the biggest rake in London.”
“You have no right to censure me. No right.” Her fury rose up in a sudden storm that brooked no restraint. “You, with your morality, your pretend caring, when this is the most selfish act of all. You who has descended so low, how dare you come moralize with me.”
His face drained of color. “Descended? There is no descension here.” He stepped closer. “I need you to believe this of me.”
“How can you even say such a thing?” Her voice rose.
Lord Wessex put a hand on her arm. “Might I suggest that we discuss this at a later time with fewer people in attendance?”
Charity closed her mouth, biting back a tirade of words that wished to flood the air around them, drowning out Lord Lockhart and his presumptions. “You are correct.” She turned from them both. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Her feet hurried away, racing against the words that still fought for release. She must find Her Grace. They must leave. And she must never see that wretched Lord Lockhart again.
As the thought formed, she fought against a sob in her throat and the finality of her inclinations.
But what choice did she have? She must shut her mind and heart to Lord Lockhart forever.
Chapter 14
Lord Lockhart paced back and forth. “Descended.” He sighed. “Descended.” Did she believe the worst of him? His mouth pressed together. And he deserved her censure. She had a right to be angry with him. But he’d hoped to avoid her derision. Could she believe him capable of the most heinous acts? Things he’d thought he would not need to deny? Not to her. A sharp pain behind his left eye had come to reside in his head. He rubbed at his temples.
He had descended. Not in the way she might assume. But in character and quality. Charity was everything he thought well of in a woman. She was his perfect choice for a woman, smart—so very smart—witty, a conversationalist, passionate, focused on making a positive change in the world. And beautiful. She was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. Anyone besides Charity would be a descension.
Just thinking these thoughts was bringing a pain so sharp, a longing so deep that he had to stop his pacing and clutch his chest for a moment. “Charity.”
The street below his home was empty. A low-lying fog hid the pavement from his view. He moved to the window and placed his forehead against the cool glass. Still nothing happened on the street below. Even his irrational longing that Charity would suddenly appear below in front of his house would not bring her there.
Tomorrow was the opening day of the school. Everything was in place. Volunteers were signed up. And a small contingent of Bow Street Runners and footmen were employed to keep the place safe.
Would Charity be there? Should he attend? They didn’t need him. He’d done everything behind the scenes to get that place up and running. And there was no need for him to personally step foot in the place.
But he knew he would. Charity might be there. The old Charity, the woman he knew before Lord Wessex entered her life. He grimaced. It wasn’t really Lord Wessex’s fault that Charity had changed. The Charity before he’d broken her heart was the same woman as the Charity before she knew Lord Wessex. That’s what he should refer to her as. He sighed. But should he go to the school? That was the real question here, and he didn’t know the answer. She was not happy with him right now. And continuing to be in her presence when he didn’t know what he offered her was not wise, or kind to either of them.
He stepped away from the silent foggy street view and climbed up into his bed.
After a sleepless night, he climbed out of bed to a chilly morning and knew he was going to the school. Whether he wanted to or not, he was going. And he wanted to. He could no sooner resist Charity or her passions or the school than his need to eat food.
And he’d done a lot to see this school got off the ground. He wanted it to succeed almost as much as Charity did, more so if her most recent behavior was anything to go by.
He ate a quick few bites and then made his way to their new location. If all went well, they would begin that very day with their first lessons.
The minute he hopped down from his carriage, he knew something was wrong. “Wait here.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Children were arriving, hesitancy apparent on their faces. But the doors weren’t opened.
He stepped up to a woman who was smiling at the children, reassuring them that school would start any minute, they were just waiting on a few things. When she saw him, relief crossed her expression, and Andrew hoped he would be able to assist in some way.
“We don’t have the key. And we don’t have the materials. And frankly, I’m not sure who is going to be doing the actual teaching.”
