Page 43 of A Brooding Christmas Promise
Lord Crestwood quickly shook his head. “I would do anything for you, Charlotte. 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.”
Hearing her name on his lips brought Charlotte a good deal of joy despite the circumstances. Might it be that she could find some happiness still? Could it be possible that, though she had come to London unattached, she might find herself departing from it in an entirely altered state?
“Oh, Charlotte, there you are!” Amelia, much to Charlotte’s relief, was standing by the door to the ballroom, though she offered Charlotte a slightly knowing smile. “I know that you are engaged but you must not disappear in that way!”
Charlotte released herself from Lord Crestwood’s arm. “Lady Foster and our stepmother attempted to pull me awayfrom this ball and into their carriage, Amelia. They intended to take me back to the Dower house by force.”
All light and laughter left Amelia’s expression at once. “What do you mean?”
“Lord Crestwood came to my rescue but they are both now in the parlor. We must go at once to speak with them. Is Lord Hesterway nearby?”
Her sister nodded wordlessly and then disappeared into the crowd. Charlotte looked up at Lord Crestwood, seeing him frown. She waited until he had looked at her before lifting her eyebrow just a little.
“I do not have to attend with you,” he said, softly. “This is a family situation and –”
“I want you to be there,” she said, her smile faltering. “Please, if you could, then I would be very grateful.”
A smile began to spread across his face and his hand, again, slipped around her waist, albeit for just a moment. “Then of course, I should be glad to attend with you. What happened was entirely unacceptable.” He touched her cheek with his other hand. “Are you feeling well?”
She lifted her hand and pressed it to his. “I am.”
The moment was shattered as Amelia and Lord Hesterway came back to join them, Amelia’s eyes searching Charlotte’s face. “Where are they?”
“This way.” Lord Crestwood gestured to the door. “The ball will continue on perfectly well without me. Come.”
Charlotte followed after him, her heart beginning to beat a little more quickly, nervousness coiling around her. Indeed, she knew that her stepmother had wanted her to be her companion but surely that could not account for such a strong reaction to the news that Charlotte was engaged? It had always been a choice for Charlotte to become her stepmother’s companion given that the will had not stated it, so there had always beenthe chance that she would not be so – though Charlotte had given her word. What had been present for her stepmother to go to such lengths to attempt to force her back to the Dower house? Now, more than ever, Charlotte was certain that there was something more to this will, to this pressure which had been set upon her ever since her father had passed away.
The door to the parlor was opened for them and, before she had time to think anything more, Charlotte was in the presence of Lady Barcsay and Lady Foster, neither of whom rose to their feet to greet them. Instead, Lady Barcsay sat where she was, her eyebrow lifting as she gazed at Amelia who ignored her entirely.
“Now.” Lord Crestwood did not sit but stood tall, just as Lord Hesterway came to stand beside his wife, leaving Charlotte beside Lord Crestwood. “Inform me as to why you were attempting to force my betrothed to depart with you back to the Dower house, if you please?”
Lady Foster shook her head. “I do not know. All I did was atherbehest.”
These words did not seem to unsettle Lady Barcsay, however, for she only snorted and rolled her eyes. “Though not unwillingly, I might add,” she answered, looking to her sister. “And you know very well, though I appreciate your attempt at loyalty… I think it might also be self-preservation.”
“An answer.” Lord Crestwood took a step closer, though he reached to take Charlotte’s hand, holding it tightly. “Now.”
Lady Foster and Lady Barcsay exchanged another look before Lady Barcsay shrugged. “I was taking my stepdaughter back home. She is my companion and I require her.”
“You have no right to take her without her consent,” Lord Hesterway stated, unequivocally as a ball of fire began to roll around in Charlotte’s stomach, igniting her anger over the nonchalant way Lady Barcsay spoke. “She is engaged to LordCrestwood and can do so of her own accord, given that she is of age.”
Seeing Lady Barcsay look away, Charlotte took a risk and spoke up with a boldness and confidence in her voice that she did not truly feel. “But then, of course, if I marry, you will lose a great deal, will you not?”
The hitch of breath that Charlotte heard from her and the way she flinched told her that there was something more here, something more than just a need for a companion.
“I have spoken to our solicitors,” she continued, as Lady Barcsay’s gaze swung to hers, the edge of her lip now caught in her teeth. “As has Amelia and Lord Hesterway. Our brother knows about it all also.”
Lady Barcsay blinked. “How…?”
“The will was not lost, as you told us,” Amelia said, coming to stand beside Charlotte rather than her husband. “Once we learned that, we learned everything.”
At this, Lady Foster let out a low groan and closed her eyes, one hand reaching up to rub across her forehead. Charlotte’s heart pounded but she did not let her expression shift in the least, keeping her chin lifted, her gaze steady and her back straight. Lady Barcsay’s jaw jutted forward, her lips thin and her eyes narrowing.
“He was going to leave me with nothing.”
The venom in her voice made Charlotte tremble and she gripped Lord Crestwood’s hand tightly.
“He said I could have the Dower house and nothing more, that I would never have the freedom I desired, that my finances would be controlled by his son. Can you imagine that? I asked him, Ibeggedhim for funds of my own, money that would let me live freely but he refused. He told me that his fortune, his accounts, his house and his title all belonged to his son and he would not take any coin from that and give it to me.” Every worddripped with anger, her eyes like slits now. “This from my own husband, the gentleman I had consented to marry!”
