Page 31 of The Winter Rogue
Her mother cupped her face with one hand.“Are you well, Charlene?”
“I am, Mother, thanks to Drew.He not only gave me shelter, but he and Billy rescued John in the middle of the snowstorm.”She looked back at him, offering him a grateful smile.
“Honestly, all we did was collect him.Ch—Lady Charlene had done the rescuing, ensuring he was safe until we arrived to transport him here,” Drew offered.
Lord Brookhaven glared until he wanted to squirm.He ended up tugging at his necktie for a moment.Was this thing slowly strangling him?
In an effort to distract himself, or maybe her parents, Drew motioned to the seating in the middle of the room.“Please, sit.I'm sure Polly is preparing breakfast for everyone.”
“That won't be necessary.”Lord Brookhaven's words fell like chips of ice.Nothing about his demeanor was thankful or warm.
He clearly did not trust that Drew had remained a gentleman—and honestly, Drew could not think poorly of him for such suspicions since he had not, in fact, behaved as a gentleman should.He had lusted after Charlie from the moment she'd landed on his doorstep, a veritable icicle.He had proceeded to take her maidenhead, making love to her not once, but multiple times over the last few days.
Still, he had to say something.“I see.”
“In fact,” her father drew up to his full height, however shy of Drew's own six feet he was, “we should leave for Brookhaven immediately.The sooner we arrive there with our daughter in tow, the sooner we can dispel any distasteful rumors that may result from this debacle.”
Drew stilled for a moment, as did Charlie.
“Father,” she whispered, horrified.
“My lord, I can assure you there will be no rumors to worry about from this quarter.I would do nothing to harm your daughter's reputation.”Drew's words came out rougher than he'd intended, but he was insulted by the man's suggestion that he might do or say anything harmful to Charlie.
What he had done to Charlie certainly hadn’t been harmful.
“Yes, well, be sure that neither you nor your servants should do such a thing.I would hate to see your budding shipping business fail when it is just beginning to do so well.”He narrowed his gaze at Drew as the man's brown eyes hardened.
Drew once might have thought those eyes were like Charlie's, but he couldn't remember hers ever looking so hard and unyielding.Perhaps they had snapped with fire, glittered with flames to retaliate against him for some perceived slight, but never so coldly or ruthlessly.It seemed, even without any obvious evidence, that her father suspected all was not as they presented.And once again, how could he blame the man?
He nodded listlessly.What more could he really say?
Chapter Sixteen
Charlene'sheartpoundedasher parents moved toward the door of the drawing room.She followed them, her footsteps slow as she looked at Drew.When he refused to meet her gaze, the small spark of hope he might speak up sputtered, and was snuffed out.
In the main hall, Polly was helping everyone with their cloaks, stepping forward with bright eyes but silent lips.
As Charlene was bundled up, she stopped and looked at her mother.“What of John?”
Her mother sniffed.“We'll send the coach back to collect him and your things.”
“I'll ensure John is ready to travel when the carriage returns, and I'll have your things packed as well, Lady Charlene.”Polly curtsied and backed away from the group.It was all very proper.All so different to how things had been, but minutes ago.
Polly was looking at her as though she expected the young woman to object to something.But what could she say?Drew hadn't spoken up to claim her, or even suggested they might see each other again.He had just caved to her father's threat about his business.He was letting her walk away without even a token protest.
All she could say was, “Thank you, Polly.”
“Of course, my lady.”Polly disappeared.
Drew opened the front door to reveal her parent's coach waiting for them.“I wish you safe travels, Lady Charlene.”He bowed to her then turned to her father.“Lord Brookhaven.”And finally, to her mother.“Lady Brookhaven.”
Charlene wanted to correct him, remind him she should have been addressed last as the least consequential person in the trio, but she suspected he had made a conscious choice to address her first.She nodded curtly.“Mr.Wentworth.I appreciate your very kind hospitality under the inauspicious circumstances.”
He seemed to want to say something more, and for a moment her heart lurched in her chest.Would he say something?Stop her from leaving?
When she'd awoken that morning and found him watching her, she had thought for a moment he might say something then.Her heart had certainly skipped a few beats, and she'd looked at him and realized how deeply she'd fallen in love with the bloody man.
It wasn't particularly a shock to her.She'd suspected after their first night together, and last night had only confirmed her inklings.But as she had hesitated in hopes he might speak up, all hope was dashed when he merely nodded.
