Page 68 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Charlotte dipped her head in acceptance. “It is true you did fool us for a while. That is the thing about lying, Lord Stanhope. It is very hard to keep up that impression.” She drew herself up. “You will never be a true gentleman because you only see money instead of people. Being a gentleman has nothing to do with how much money a man has acquired. It is about how he treats others. I have met beggars who were more of a gentleman than you, Sir.”
Lord Stanhope’s face contorted with anger. “How dare you speak to me like that? You think I would marry you now after you speak to me with such a vile tongue?”
“Are you so dense to not see that I have been saying this whole time why I will never marry you?” Charlotte shook her head and put her chin up in the air. “You seem to have forgotten what Lord Easterly actually said. He said if Ichoseto marry you.IF, Lord Stanhope.”
Lord Stanhope looked over at Mrs. Sullivan and back at Charlotte. His nostrils flared and Charlotte could see him grinding his teeth together as if he was holding back his rage. “You will regret this,” he assured her in a low, threatening tone.
The next moment the man had spun on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Charlotte shaking from the effort to keep her visage placid in the face of the man’s anger. As soon as he was gone, Charlotte collapsed down into a chair and sobbed into her hands. A handkerchief appeared in front of her and Charlotte looked up into Mrs. Sullivan’s face.
The woman gave her a smile. “Do not mess up your face over such a man.”
Charlotte took the handkerchief with a small, “Thank you.”
“Not at all,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “Keep the handkerchief. I have several on me at all times. Now, if you are well, I should return to my duties.”
Charlotte nodded. “Of course. I am fine.”
“Hold your head high, Charlotte.” Mrs. Sullivan put her hand on Charlotte’s shoulder for the briefest moment before she left the room.
Charlotte smiled. Perhaps Mrs. Sullivan was not so nerve-wracking after all. She stood up to go to her room but found Amanda in the doorway. “Oh, Amanda,” Charlotte said. “I did not see you earlier and was uncertain if you would be down at all today.”
Amanda ran her hand along the doorframe. “I started to not come out, but I could not give my brother the pleasure of seeing me so miserable.”
“Lord Stanhope just left,” Charlotte said as she fidgeted with the handkerchief in her hands.
Amanda nodded. “I saw him when he arrived.”
“Ah,” Charlotte said. “I am so sorry that he came here. I had no idea that he would.”
Amanda laughed. “Well, of course he did. My brother practically rolled out an invitation for him.”
Charlotte had to agree. “That is somewhat true, yes.”
“I also might have listened outside the door,” Amanda said with a grin. Charlotte saw that familiar mischief flit through the girl’s eyes. “I doubt he will have the courage to return for another round of that.”
“I certainly hope he does not attempt it,” Charlotte said with feeling. “I do not think I could remain calm if I had to talk to him again.”
Amanda came over to her, letting the door shut behind her. “I am glad you did not agree to marry him.”
“I did not think it quite right after everything he had done. And besides, he is not the man he pretends to be,” Charlotte said with a sigh.
Amanda gave her a smile and Charlotte eyed her friend with suspicion. Charlotte asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, it is just that I have an inkling over exactly who would be the perfect example of what a gentleman is. You know the one you spoke of?” Amanda draped her arm across Charlotte’s shoulders.
Charlotte gave a nervous little laugh. “What are you on about?” Surely Amanda could not know what had been in her mind while she was speaking to Lord Stanhope.
Amanda gave her shoulders a squeeze. “There is only one man that we both know who fits that description and I think you know who it is.”
Charlotte laughed and said, “My father?”
“You are particularly bad at evasion, Lotte,” Amanda informed her with a grin. “And it just dawns on me why you do not want my brother finding a match for you.” Amanda gave Charlotte a wink. “I would not want the man I was in love with finding me someone to marry either.”
Charlotte gasped and pulled herself out of Amanda’s grasp. “I never said that I was in love with your brother. I simply admire him.”
Amanda gave her another infuriating grin. “Perhaps that rumour was more justified than I gave it credit for.”
“How can you say that?” Charlotte sighed at the look on Amanda’s face. “Have your fun, I am not here for your amusement.”
