Page 41 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
“You are in my home and have attempted to not only injure but abscond with my betrothed,” Samuel interrupted, seeing shock wipe away the arrogance from the lady’s expression. “Now, either you will make your way to the parlor alone or I will lead you to it myself… or carry you, if I must.” He took a step closer, making it quite clear that he meant every word but there was no need for him to do anything. Lady Foster let out a yelp of evident fear and thereafter, hurried into the parlor. The other lady, however, simply glared at him for a few moments and itwas only when Samuel began to make his way towards her that she finally relented.
“Close the door and do not let either of them step out,” he directed the footmen, who both nodded and then took their place by the door. “If there is any difficulty, then you have my permission to lock the room. Do I make myself clear?” With both the footmen nodding, Samuel then quickly turned to Miss Millerton who, though visibly trembling, appeared to be quite all right aside from the redness to her cheek.
“Charlotte.” Rasping, he took her hands in his, gazing down into her eyes. “Are you all right?”
She closed hers. “I think I am.”
Samuel swallowed tightly, energy still pushing through his veins. “I did not mean – that is to say, what you saw of Lady Grifford and I, that was not my intention. Please, do not think otherwise.” The words came out in a rush, his arms going around her waist. “I know this is not the time for such things but I do not want you to think that there is any connection between Lady Grifford and me. There cannot be again. She was trying to… well, that does not matter.” When Miss Millerton opened her eyes to look up at him again, Samuel’s heart squeezed at the sheer amount of sadness in her eyes. “What happened here? What was Lady Foster and the other lady trying to do?”
Miss Millerton let out a long sigh. “My stepmother.”
Samuel blinked furiously, recalling quickly what it was she had told him earlier in the evening. “They were both attempting to steal you away from the ball?”
“From London,” she said, her voice becoming thin as she blinked away fresh tears. “They intended to return me to the Dower house and, from what I understand, keep me prisoner there.”
“But why?” Samuel pulled her a little closer, feeling her tremble still. “What was it that they wanted from that?”
She shook her head. “I – I do not rightly know.” Taking in a deep breath, she looked up at him again, her gaze becoming steady. “We should find my sister and brother in law.”
Samuel nodded. “Of course.” He did not release her, however, did not let his hands drop from her waist. “Are you sure you are well?”
Much to his relief, Miss Millerton smiled for just a moment before leaning forward and resting her head on his shoulder. “Yes, I am,” she murmured, as Samuel wrapped his arms around her all the more, pulling her as tight to him as he could. “Thank goodness you found me.”
Samuel said nothing though his heart echoed the very same sentiment. If she had gone from him, then might he not have thought that what she had witnessed had been the impetus to drive her away? He might then have chosen not to pursue her, might have left things as they were and refused to do anything that might then bring them back together – and what might they both then have missed out on? With a small sigh, Samuel brushed his lips across her temple and then lifted his head. Now was not the time to begin talking, not when there was much more severe things at hand.
“Let us go and find Lord and Lady Hesterway,” he said, as she lifted her head, no tears in her eyes now. “There is much we must understand.”
“I am sorry this has taken place during your Christmas ball,” she murmured but Samuel quickly shook his head no.
“I would do anything for you, Charlotte,” he promised her, turning her so that they might walk together, arm in arm. “You are worth far more to me than any number of Christmas events. Come, let us get this resolved as quickly as possible before any further damage can be done.”
Chapter Nineteen
“What - ?”
The words stuck in Charlotte’s throat as she looked out at the terrace and saw Lady Grifford throwing herself into Lord Crestwood’s arms. Lord Crestwood’s gaze turned to catch hers, however, and she quickly saw the horror edging into his expression – though she did not know whether or not it was horror at being caught or for some other matter.
Turning about quickly and with her heart and mind racing, Charlotte scurried back into the ballroom, hearing Lord Crestwood’s voice for only a few moments chasing after her – though what it was he said, she did not know.
Whatever was that? Was Lord Crestwood eager for Lady Grifford’s attentions?The thought smote her heart and she could not help but cry out, even in full view of the other guests. Hurrying to the shadows of the ballroom, Charlotte let out slow breaths as she fought to take control, her stomach twisting sharply as she recalled what she had seen. Over and over, it flung itself back at her mind, telling her that she had made all manner of mistakes when it came to Lord Crestwood… and they were all about to come tumbling down around her ears.
But… but I care for him. I do not want him to have another in his arms.Letting out a slow breath, she covered her hands with her face, her heart pained.I think I love him. I think I must be in love with the Marquess of Crestwood.
Tears jumped into her eyes and Charlotte turned, making her way to the hallway rather than stand in amongst the crowd for fear of what someone might notice. This was all so very confusing that she did not know what to do or where to go or even what to think! She was not even certain that shewasfree to pursue any kind of connection with anyone and, even if she was, what would happen if she professed her love to Lord Crestwood, only to discover that he was, in fact, pursuing Lady Grifford after all? Yes, there had been a connection between them and yes, some wordshadbeen spoken but if Lady Grifford had returned to him, had told him of her evident emotions, then might something now have changed?
“There you are.”
Charlotte turned, just as two ladies stepped out of the shadows, one grasping each arm. Letting out a cry of fright, she pulled back, managing to free herself from one of them, lurching around the hallway as she tried to make her escape.
“Will you get a hold of her, sister?!”
“Lady… Lady Barcsay?” Such was Charlotte’s shock that she froze in place, leaving adequate time for the other to capture her arm again. In all of her thoughts and confusion, she had forgotten entirely about her stepmother’s presence here in London. “Whatever are you doing?”
“Returning you to our home,” her stepmother hissed, angrily. “Hurry up, now. To the carriage.”
“No!” Charlotte tried to pull away but Lady Barcsay and Lady Foster continued to pull at her, making her arms sore, her skin burning where their fingers grasped. “I will not!”
“You told me you would not marry!” Her stepmother’s voice rang around the hallway and Charlotte looked over her shoulder, desperately hoping that someone else would be there, able to help her. “Now my sister tells me that you are to wed! I will not have it, Charlotte! Not now! Not when I am so close.”
