Page 28 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
Silence descended on the room as everyone turned their full attention to Charlotte. So great was the intensity of their look that Charlotte flushed, not quite certain where she now ought to look. Her gaze flickered around the room before she dropped it to her lap, her hands now twinning together as nervousness flickered through her.
“I suppose it would not be expected for you to read the will in its entirety,” Lord Hesterway said, though he spoke very slowly as though he were choosing each word with great care. “When you say that you read only that part, might I ask if there were statements and the like before it and afterwards also?”
Charlotte blinked, a light frown on her forehead. “I do not think there was, no. I read only the piece of paper which held the instructions about my duties as regarded my stepmother.”
Lord Hesterway glanced at his wife then looked back to Charlotte. “So there was nothing else there.”
She shook her head no.
“But it was signed by your father?”
“Yes, it was. I presumed that it was added later, perhaps once the rest of the will had been written,” Charlotte answered, feeling herself all the more embarrassed, as though she ought not to have done something – or should have done something else! “But it was signed by our father, sealed with his signet ring and then certified by the solicitors, I am sure of it.”
Another exchange of glances took place, though this time it was between Lord Hesterway and Lord Crestwood, but Charlotte could not understand what it was that such a look meant. She wanted to cry out in frustration, wanted to exclaim that she ought to be told what it was they were speaking of, only for Lord Crestwood to turn himself towards her a little more, reaching to catch her hand for just a moment as he spoke.
“Might I ask if you have ever considered the possibility that there could be something untoward in all of this?”
“Untoward?” Charlotte looked to her brother in law, seeing him frown as her heart began to clamor furiously. “I do not understand. My only consideration has been to do what my father has asked of me and I have done so.”
“What Lord Crestwood means is that there could have been some undue influence there,” Lord Hesterway explained, asLord Crestwood withdrew his hand. “The fact that it was written separately and not as part of the will itself does bring up some questions.”
Charlotte’s heart began to pound furiously, a terrible ache beginning to settle there.
“You mean to suggest that Lady Barscay encouraged our father to do this? That she wanted me to be her companion rather than it be our father’s true desire?”
“That is what I think is being suggested, yes.” Amelia’s voice, much to Charlotte’s surprise, was light as though she were happy – nay, delighted – about this. Her eyes held a shine to them that Charlotte could not understand and, as she herself frowned, Amelia sent her a smile. “Charlotte, this means that you might be free of such demands!”
It was too much for Charlotte to take in. Her breath hitched, her face burned hot as she recalled that she was sitting very close to Lord Crestwood and, without warning, she found herself on her feet.
“I… I need to step away for a time,” she said, her voice a little hoarse. “This is too much to consider. I –”
Amelia rose and caught her hand. “I do not mean to upset you but surely, if there is some chance of this, then it is worth pursuing!”
“I do not mean that I do not want to pursue it,” Charlotte answered, quickly, tugging her hand away, “but rather that this changes so much – if it is true, of course. It may not be.” Her voice grew thin, emotions beginning to press up through her. “I simply need a little time alone to think on it all.”
“And I shall take my leave, of course.” Lord Crestwood got to his feet, cleared his throat and then offered them all a slightly stiff bow. “Forgive me for the intrusion and I do hope I did not speak out of turn. I –”
“No, you did not. Not in the least.” Turning to face him, Charlotte swallowed the tightness in her throat, eager to reassure him. “You have done so much for me, Lord Crestwood. I am not in the least bit upset as regards what you have said or what you have done. I am nothing other than grateful for them, I assure you.” Seeing him begin to walk to the door, she came to join him, her heart still beating a little too quickly for her own liking. “I am truly grateful for the support and for the kindness you have shown me.”
The footman opened the door and both she and then Lord Crestwood stepped through it, as though they were both continuing their walk together. Lord Crestwood shook his head and let out a breath, making Charlotte’s eyebrows lift in question.
“Would that it were not so, Charlotte,” he murmured, the gentleness in his voice making her spirits lift just a little, her anxious thoughts beginning to dissipate. “From what I understand, you have followed the suggestion in your father’s will that you give up your freedom and your future in order to be companion to your stepmother, and I cannot now imagine what you must be both thinking and feeling with the awareness that it might now be a little… altered from what you first thought.”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes beginning to sting with tears which she forced back, refusing to let them fall. “My mind is filled with all manner of disquieting thoughts,” she said, hoarsely. “If there is a question over it, then how am I to discern the truth? How am I able to tell what it is that my father really wanted?”
Lord Crestwood turned to her, taking her hands in his and looking straight into her eyes. “You will discern it,” he said, with enough firmness to convince her and enough gentleness to steal some of her upset away. “I am certain that you have the strength and the skill to do so. You are determined, I think, and I say thatin the hope that you will consider it a compliment.” His smile was sweet and in no time at all, Charlotte’s tears had faded, her own lips curving just a little.
“You appear to know me rather well, even though we have been acquainted for only a short while, Lord Crestwood.”
He grinned at her. “You have been very honest with me, I think.”
“That is because I have found you trustworthy,” she answered, aware now of the gentle heat which was beginning to stir in her core. “I have seen that your own character is one of kindness, given that you came to rescue me from Lady Foster and in your words and actions thereafter.” Her heart squeezed gently and she smiled, though her gaze dropped away, finding it a little difficult to look into his eyes. “Even now, I find myself comforted and reassured.”
“I am pleased to have been of assistance to you,” he said gently, and as Charlotte lifted her gaze to meet his, some deep-seated feeling within her began to stir. She could not explain it, could not understand what it was and yet, there was something there. Something that pushed her, almost bodily forcing her forward so that she did, in fact, take a step closer. The way his eyes flared, however, told her that he was a little taken aback by what she had just done and thus, she immediately took a step back again, dropping her gaze and, after a moment, taking her hands out of his.
“Thank you again,” she said, softly. “Do excuse me.”
“Of course. You will be attending Lord and Lady Howden’s Christmas soiree tomorrow evening, I hope?”
