Page 37 of Married to the Icy Duke
He was saved from a response by Tommy running forward, face alight. He seized Charlotte’s skirts in both hands, and she laughed, crouching down until she was on eye level with him.
“Doyoulike it, Tommy?” she asked, laughing.
He nodded confidently. “Green,” he said, glancing firmly around.
Madame and her assistants only laughed, clapping and smiling at the child. They didn’t understand the significance.
Isaac heard Mary suck in a breath, and he realized that he had been holding his.
A third word. It’s all because of her.
Clearing his throat, he got unsteadily to his feet.
“We’ll take the dress and any other accompaniments Lady Charlotte and her sister-in-law see fit,” he said, his voice unwavering. “Now, tell me, what else do you have in this color?”
Madame blinked. “In this color? Why, Your Grace, we have many things. Fabrics, of course, but also gloves, ribbons, buttons …”
“I’ll take them all.”
Madame missed a beat. It was the first time that she had seemed genuinely amazed.
“What?” she managed, her impeccable French accent dipping just a little. “You can’t mean …”
“I mean all, Madame,” he responded smoothly. “You know who I am. You know I can afford it. So, everything green—including this gown—is to be packed up and shipped to Arkley Hall. Do you agree?”
She swallowed thickly. “I … Yes, Your Grace. Of course.”
Isaac turned, straightening his waistcoat, and found Charlotte staring at him, a blush creeping across her cheeks. He gave her a short, wry smile and bent down to sweep Tommy into his arms.
“Is there any more shopping to do?” he enquired. “Or have I suffered enough?”
CHAPTER 11
Charlotte’s head was reeling. She couldn’t make sense of the wretched man. At one moment, he was steely and aloof, and the next, he was buying everythinggreenfrom a popular modiste’s, simply because … well, why? Was it because Tommy had said the word? Was it because it was her favorite color? She couldn’t decide.
The decision had been made to go to Gunter’s teashop afterwards, for ices. Tommy seemed extremely excited at the prospect. So was Mary, who had clearly not had the opportunity to enjoy ices before, although her excitement was more controlled.
Isaac had not said a word to anyone after his gesture and led the way along the busy London streets towards the popular teashop. Thalia had fallen behind to help Mary with Tommy, who wanted to walk but seemed inclined to dart off the instant his nurse released his hand. He was getting to that troublesome age where he wanted to run away, she guessed.
Charlotte was busy, lost in her own thoughts, when an arm slid through hers, and she glanced over to see Sybella smiling at her.
“My brother seems quite taken with you,” she remarked, without preamble.
Charlotte flushed. “Oh, forgive me, I think you have misunderstood. We are not …”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Sybella laughed. “I know it is not a love-match. Who has the leisure for such things in this day and age? I do think you are well-suited, however. I’ve wanted to see my brother married for quite some time, but the proper woman never presented herself.”
Charlotte chewed her lower lip. “I am not sure I am theproper woman.”
“Aren’t you? I think you are. Time will tell, however. I wish you all the best of luck, you know. I don’t know what it seems like to someone looking in from the outside, but my relationship with my brother is …” Sybella paused, and seemed to wilt just a little. Frowning, she twisted her fingers together and glanced away. “Well, it is complicated,” she resumed at last. “Enough of that for now. All you should think about is your own future, which in my opinion looks rather bright.”
“I wish I could agree with you,” Charlotte muttered, before she could stop herself. Sybella shot herself a quick, inquisitive look, and Charlotte cursed herself for being so loose-lipped.
“Well, time will tell,” Sybella responded easily. “My brother is not an easy man, but as I say, he’s quite taken with you.”
Charlotte paused, turning to face the woman. Ahead of them, Isaac had gone striding into Gunter’s, no doubt to find a table for them all.
“I appreciate your confidence,” Charlotte said at last, her voice tentative, “but let me be blunt, Sybella, please. There is nothing between your brother and I. Isaac is a kind man, I believe, underneath it all, but he is nottakenwith me. This is a marriage of convenience, plain and simple, and I would not like matters to become … well, to become inconvenient. We wish to avoid complications.”
