Page 24 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
“You… you agree?” he repeated, as Charlotte nodded. “You will do this for me?”
“I will. You showed great kindness to me as regarded Lady Foster and I am glad to have opportunity to return it.” With a chuckle at the way he closed his eyes tightly and then shook his head, Charlotte took his hand for a moment. “I do not know the full extent of your suffering but I can understand that it must have been great.” Her smile fell away. “The shock you endured upon seeing her was evident to me and I cannot imagine what you felt in that moment.”
Lord Crestwood opened his eyes, his thumb running back and forth across the back of her hand. “I do not deserve such kindness. It was foolishness itself which made me speak in such a way, foolish that I was though, you are right to say that it came from a place of utter shock and astonishment. This will, I am sure, push Lady Grifford as far back from me as she can be, which is what I want.”
Charlotte nodded slowly, tilting her head, studying him. “You are quite certain that you wish to do this?”
He nodded, his eyes widening just a little. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I did wonder if there was a part of you which desired to be near her again,” Charlotte answered, honestly. “It seems that she had a great hold of your heart.”
Lord Crestwood did not immediately answer though, when he did, there came a great sigh with it. “I believe I was deeply in love with her, Miss Millerton. It is not that I fear that I might do so again, more that my heart would be much too sympathetic towards her. She might then hope for a closer connection to me again and, I confess, I worry that I might feel myself obliged to that. Does that make sense?”
Smiling gently, Charlotte nodded. “It does.”
“But this betrothal will prevent that,” he continued, with an obvious sigh of relief. “You are very gracious and obliging, Miss Millerton.”
“Charlotte.”
The way he blinked and then smiled made Charlotte’s heart lurch, the light in his eyes making her own lips curve.
“Charlotte, yes,” he murmured, finally releasing her hand. “In private company, of course. You should also refer to me as Crestwood, if you wish.”
“I shall.” Charlotte paused, wanting to say more but feeling a building up of something – though she did not know what – between them. The murmur of conversation around them, the laughter and the music, seemed to fade as she looked into his eyes, wondering at all that she saw there.
Lord Crestwood was the first to pull his gaze away. “Your sister and brother in law are contented with this, then?”
Charlotte coughed lightly, trying to recover herself. “Yes, they are.” She looked back at him, a strange fluttering in her stomach. “I wrote also to my brother and to my stepmother, informing them of what has happened.”
“You did?”
She nodded. “The moment they were complete, I handed them to my sister and she made certain they were sent at that very moment. I do not want my stepmother in particular to think that I have stepped away from my commitment.”
Lord Crestwood’s eyebrows lifted for a moment, only for him to smile. “You are quite remarkable, I must say.” His smile returned. “I believe that thetonwill think me a very fortunate gentleman indeed.”
A warmth in her cheeks told Charlotte she was blushing. “How very kind, Crestwood,” she murmured, seeing the smile on his lips grow. “Now, shall we make an announcement of some sort or do you wish simply to let the news spread as it will?”
“I think I know what we should do.” A quiet chuckle broke from Lord Crestwood and he leaned closer, making Charlotte’s breath catch quietly. “There are two prolific gossips here this evening. Shall we inform them?”
Charlotte laughed up at him, taking his arm when he offered it. “At once. Let us tell them both about our Christmas engagement and see just how long it takes forallof society to know of it!”
Lord Crestwood grinned. “I should say, mayhap a day or so?” With another chuckle, he pressed her hand lightly as it rested on his arm, only for that grin to turn into something a little softer. “By the end of the week, at least, everyone will know of it. Are you sure you wish to do this?”
Taking in a breath, Charlotte smiled back at him. “More than certain. Now, let us go.”
Chapter Twelve
“Engaged?”
Samuel chuckled as his friend rushed into the study, his eyes wide. “Good evening, Trenton. How are you this afternoon?”
“Astonished is what I am!” Lord Trenton exclaimed, a light dusting of snow on his shoulders. “How could you do such a thing without informing me? You did not once think to tell me that she had agreed? That there was consent and that it would then be announced to all of theton?”
Samuel waggled a finger. “I did not announce it!”
“No, but I am certain you told it to those who would!”
Seeing that he had no choice but to admit that, Samuel laughed and shrugged. “Mayhap that is true.”
