Page 72 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
“It appears we have been caught,” Graham said as he straightened.
Charlotte whispered, “Perhaps we should say here. It is at least a little dry.”
“Maybe,” he said. “Then again, you might be a bit too tempting. I would not want to ruin your virtue.”
Charlotte shrugged and tugged at his jacket. “Technically, most of London and beyond thinks we have already been to bed together.”
Graham laughed and his mirth caught Charlotte as well as she joined him in his laughter. “That may be, but we both know differently.”
Charlotte agreed with a nod of her head. “So, instead you will run me through the rain?”
“It might do well at cooling my tempers,” Graham said, more to himself than to her.
She slipped her arm through his and looked up at him through her lashes. “It feels odd to call you Graham. I know it is your name. I have heard Amanda call you that often, yet it feels thick on my tongue.”
“Old habits are hard to break.”
“You always talk as if you have quite the temper, but I have never really seen that.” Charlotte leaned her head against his shoulder. She longed to be nearer to him, for him to kiss her again, yet she dared not initiate another kiss lest he begin to think of her some brazen woman.
Graham frowned and Charlotte regretted her words. She had been hoping to pull him closer with an intimate question, but it seemed to backfire. “You should ask Lord Stanhope about my anger.”
Charlotte forgot about her passion for the man for a moment. She reached out with her free hand and turned his face toward her. She stared at his stormy eyes and could find nothing of anger in them. “What would he tell me?”
“That I shoved him bodily against a tree for hurting you,” Graham told her. He gave her an apologetic look. “I know I had no right to do so, but I realised how forward he had been with you and I could not stop myself.”
Charlotte stared at Graham for a long moment. She could not imagine the gentle man doing such a thing. “If you did that then I am sure Lord Stanhope pushed you to it. You cannot hold yourself accountable for every little thing. Some things, no matter how large your ego, are not your fault.”
The chuckle from the man brought a smile to Charlotte’s face. She had hoped he would not take offense at her words. “You really have no qualms with calling me out, do you?”
“I do not think there should be any boundaries between those who love each other. Besides, my father taught me to tell the truth. That is actually why I came out here. I realised that I was not following my father’s very first rule, which is to simply be honest in all things.” Charlotte hugged Graham’s arm and gave the man a smile.
Graham nodded and put his hand hers on his arm. “I think that is a good rule.”
“And what of the duchess? I know that this is not really proper, and I would never see you burdened with more scandal on my account.” Charlotte eyed him curiously.
Graham shook his head. “I thought I already explained that the duchess and I are nothing more than friends. She wants more, but I do not. She knows that, Charlotte.”
“Then why does she still pursue you?” Charlotte wanted to believe Graham, but surely the woman had some kind of provocation for thinking Graham might change his mind.
Graham turned toward her, and she felt the loss of closeness with the man as he came to stand in front of her. The hum of the rain falling around them made the world seem very small, indeed. “Sometimes people just get an idea in their heads, Charlotte. Are you actually going to hold me responsible for her false beliefs about me?”
Charlotte reached out and took his hands in hers. “Of course not. It is not you or her that made me ask that. It is my own insecurity.” She looked down at her feet then back up at him. “Does Amanda know about Lord Stanhope being penniless?”
Graham shook his head. “I had only been certain of it since he came here from London. His brother is covering for him, but plenty of people talk about his overindulgence in gambling.”
“I am glad she did not marry him, but to think you would let me. You are a scoundrel, Graham,” Charlotte scolded him.
Graham chuckled. “So, I should not try to make you happy?”
“Perhaps you should ask me if it is truly what I want before you try and make me happy.” Charlotte swung their arms together.
He seemed to be contemplating what she was saying. “That is a very wise suggestion. I shall attempt to comply with it in all future endeavours.”
“You would think as seasoned as you are in this world you would have come to that realisation before now.” Her voice was light and teasing and she saw the moment that Graham caught on to her meaning.
He leaned forward. “Are you calling me old?”
“Lord Easterly, why ever would you think that?” Charlotte panicked a little as he let go of her hands and swiftly pulled her to him.
