Page 30 of The Winter Rogue
“We can't.”
“Why ever not?”
“It's morning.We need to get up and get dressed before everyone notices what we've done.”
Drew’s brow furrowed at that.“You can't be serious?”he chuckled softly.“I'm quite certain that Polly and Billy heard you over the stables.”
Charlene was definitely blushing now.“I-I can't believe you said that.”She lifted the sheets and climbed out of the bed, away from him.
He sighed, but understood her desire to at least pretend that everyone was unaware of what they'd been doing.Going to the window, he opened the drapes and allowed the sunlight to stream fully into the room.
Behind him, he heard her moving around.
“Ah ha!”
Drew turned to find Charlene brandishing one of her stockings, then plucking her trousers from the hearth where Polly had thoughtfully lain them to dry.With all of her clothing acquired, she laid them on the bed and started to dress.Suddenly, there was a loud clatter downstairs.
They both stopped and stared at the other.He bit back the curse that had wanted to escape his lips.
Charlene paled.“Oh, no.”She began throwing her clothing on as quickly as she could and he followed suit, knowing there would be a knock sooner than either of them would prefer.Two heartbeats later, though he suspected it was minutes, the fated knock came.
“Mr.Wentworth, apologies for interrupting, but…but Lord and Lady Brookhaven are here and they are looking for their daughter.”Polly's voice passed through the door and landed like an icy bucket of water.
Charlie's eyes widened in pure panic as she froze.
Silence stretched as all the things he wanted to say to her rushed to the forefront.He'd been a bloody fool, thinking he had time.
A strangled noise came from her throat and she swallowed with an audible gulp.“Thank you, Polly,” she said as she pulled her gown over her head.“Please…please tell my parents I shall be down momentarily.”
“Of course, my lady.”Polly responded with a calm Drew was certain neither he nor Charlie felt at that moment.
The woman he cared for deeply looked at him and offered a sad smile.“I had better go put myself together before I head downstairs.It wouldn't do for my parents to see me in—well, in such a state.”She gestured, waving her hand down her body.
“Agreed.”Drew nearly choked on the one word.
He wanted to tell her he would marry her.That, though they had anticipated the wedding night a bit, all would be fine.Her parents would understand.They would support their marriage.But the words never came as he watched her turn and slip from his room, leaving him utterly alone.
With a sigh of resignation, Drew finished dressing and headed downstairs.He would greet her parents and attempt to occupy them while she pulled herself together.How hard could it be?
Drew entered the drawing room and found Charlie’s parents waiting not so patiently.“Good morning, Lord and Lady Brookhaven.”He bowed as they turned to look at him.They had not been sitting.
“Mr.Wentworth.”Lord Brookhaven looked displeased, to put it mildly.“Why is my daughter staying in your home unchaperoned?”
Drew stared at the man for a moment.Was he seriously asking him that?He drew in a breath and cleared his throat.“I'm afraid that by the time she appeared on my doorstep—in the midst of a snowstorm—I had sent all of my staff home to their families, with the exception of my housekeeper and stable master.Short of turning your half frozen daughter and her servant out on their ears, I had no choice but to take them in despite the—” he cleared his throat again “—uh, less than desirable circumstances.”
The man stared suspiciously for a long, silent moment.“Who else is aware of her presence here for the last few days?”
Drew blinked, confused for a moment.“As I said, by the time she arrived, my staff was all gone.Polly and Billy, my married housekeeper and stable master, remained here.Other than those two, your driver John has been here recuperating from his injuries sustained when the coach went off the road.That is all.”
Lord Brookhaven grunted but before he could say a word—
“Mother, Father!”Charlie rushed into the room looking fresh and placid, not as though she'd spent the night in his bed and in his arms being thoroughly debauched.
Drew much preferred her tousled appearance this morning as he'd watched her sleep.This prim and proper version of his wanton little rogue was not the woman he'd fallen in love with.
Oh hell, there it was again.
Her parents embraced her then looked her over critically.
