Page 14 of Married to the Icy Duke
Gabriel’s eyes bulged. Really, it would have been funny if Charlotte weren’t so nervous.
“I’d call it a trick,” he whispered, “but such a trick would make Society turn on him. A man’s reputation can weather a great deal, but notthat. Charlotte, I feel as though there is a great deal you aren’t telling me, so tell me now.”
Charlotte breathed in deeply. “Did you say that he was downstairs, in the parlor?”
“What? Yes, he is. Thalia is sitting with him, and I don’t plan to leave my wife with him an instant longer than necessary.”
Charlotte gave a brittle smile. “Then we should not keep either of them waiting. I’ll dress as quickly as I can and come down at once.”
“Wait, no! Don’t you dare close that door on me, Charlotte, I…”
“It’ll take too long to explain,” Charlotte interrupted, and closed the door firmly on her raging brother. He stood there for a moment—she could hear him muttering furiously—then he moved off down the hallway.
Charlotte stayed where she was, breathing in shallowly.
This is it, then. He’s here. If I refuse him, I imagine he’ll move swiftly onto another woman. I can’t be the only person in London who can coax a word or two out of that poor little boy.
She passed a hand over her face and realized that her hands were shaking.
I had better hurry.
In record time, Charlotte found herself washed, dressed, and ready. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, which were directly perpendicular to the parlor door, and listened carefully.
She’d chosen a simple green gown, something that Joan could help her put on in a matter of minutes. Her hair was roughly pinned up on top of her head, and already tendrils were beginning to come free.
Should I have dressed more finely? What if he changes his mind when he sees me?
At once, she felt a rush of anger at this thought. Why should shecareif he didn’t like what he saw? He hadn’t spoken of love or romance, or anything beyond what she could do for him and what he could do for her. Convenience. That was all.
Isn’t that better? Getting one’s heart involved makes a tremendous mess of a marriage, I think.
Naturally, there were exceptions to such matters, including Thalia and Gabriel’s relationship, but Charlotte did not believe she’d be as lucky as her brother.
She could not hear any voices drifting out of the parlor.
Perhaps he’s gone.
It was this thought that finally buoyed her across the hallway to see whether the room was empty after all.
It wasn’t.
Thalia sat in her usual seat, and Gabriel stood rigidly behind her, almost comically furious. The sofa opposite was where Thalia would encourage guests to sit, but the sofa was empty.
A tall figure stood by the window, silhouetted in the morning sunshine. Charlotte couldn’t help but feel that she recognized those shoulders.
“Are you sure you won’t take some tea, Your Grace?” Thalia asked, a touch of desperation in her voice. At that moment, she glanced over to the door and saw Charlotte in the doorway. Relief spread over her face.
“Oh, Charlotte, dear, there you are.”
The figure at the window turned.
The duke was wearing black velvet again, highlighted with strips of red silk around the collar and lapels. The side of his face bearing the eyepatch was thrown into shadow.
“Lady Charlotte,” he greeted. “Good morning. I imagined you would be up and about by now.”
“Did you?” she responded, before she could think twice. “I did not return home until three o’clock last night. I believe your party went on until dawn.”
“True,” the man acknowledged. “I think I am used to soldiering hours, and in truth, I have never required much sleep in any case. Never mind—you are here now.”
