Page 75 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Amanda rolled her eyes at the pair them. “You have to be the most boring people in England. I am going to get a snack.” She spun on her heel and stalked off towards the kitchen, still muttering about history being boring.
Charlotte whispered, “She always despised our history lessons. And you are going to prove me wrong, are you?”
“Well, my sister knows me, and I do not like losing.” Graham gave her a smile and led them on to the library. Fortunately, the rest of the way was clear of any other obstacles.
Graham held the door open so Charlotte could go through. He followed her in and made shut the door. It was not exactly proper, but he needed to talk to her without interruption. Graham watched her wander into the room a few feet before she turned around to face him.
“So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?” Charlotte slipped her hands behind her back as if she was unsure of what she should be doing.
Graham could understand her nervousness given their earlier encounter. He came further into the room and stopped a couple of feet from her. “I wanted to ask you something and it was important that it was just between us no matter the answer.”
“And what was it you wanted to ask?”
Graham drew in a slow breath and raked a finger through his hair. He had left his hat in his rooms, but it was not a cardinal sin. “I was wondering if you would do me the honour of marrying me?”
Charlotte stared at him dumbfounded. He could tell he had caught her completely by surprise. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish for a moment.
“Surely the notion that a proposal was due was somewhere in your mind,” Graham ventured.
Charlotte shook her head. “We … you … it is just that you said it was not proper.”
“I also pinned you to a tree and did unseemly things to you, Charlotte,” Graham said in a slow measured voice.
Charlotte’s mouth made an O shape, as if she had just grasped what he was saying. “This is not necessary, Graham. I know that you are trying to protect me, but I do not need that protection. No one saw us, and my virtue is intact.”
“That is not what I meant,” Graham tried, but Charlotte was already walking past him towards the door. “Charlotte,” he said as he grabbed her arm. “Wait.”
She faced him hesitantly. Her lips trembled and Graham wished he was not so dull-brained. “What I meant was that I know what I said, but it also did not stop me from kissing you. It does not stop me from wanting to pull you to me right now.” He drew in a breath. “No matter our stations or places in this world, it does not change how I feel.”
“Is that really enough, Graham? Think of your position in society.” Charlotte put her hand on top of the hand that had held her arm. “Do not risk your reputation for me any more than you already have.”
Graham growled, “I do not give a damn about my reputation.”
“That is not true.” Charlotte’s eyes searched his face. “I love you. I will always love you. I think I always have in some fashion. You are up for a new title, Graham. You are a war hero.”
“And you are the woman I love,” Graham reminded her. “You are the one who said I should speak up for myself when I want something. Well, this is me doing that. I want you, Charlotte.”
Charlotte watched him for a moment before she said, “Perhaps you should try proposing to me again, this time properly.”
He could not stop the chuckle at her words. He released her and gave her a bow to show that he accepted her terms. Graham went down on one knee before her.
Taking one of her hands in his, he cupped her delicate fingers in his hands. “Miss Charlotte Browne, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
Charlotte smiled down at him and nodded. “Yes. Lord Graham Easterly, I will.”
Graham rose up and pulled her into his arms. He could not find the words, so he simply kissed her and trusted it to convey his emotions. He felt her press against him and she kissed him with equal passion.
The voice in his head told him he should stop, but Graham was thinking only of the woman in his arms. Charlotte was all too eager, it seemed, to allow him to have his way, and Graham’s brain was beyond trying to restrain his body.
“What on earth are you two doing!?” It was Amanda’s shriek from the library door that made Graham and Charlotte break apart as if scalding water had been tossed on them. Amanda looked between them and Graham had the good grace to look at least look guilty. Charlotte looked miserable at being caught in such an act.
Graham interceded, “It was my doing.”
“I was equally at fault,” Charlotte scolded. “You are doing that thing where you take more than your own worth of responsibility, Graham.”
“Graham,” Amanda repeated. She put her hand on her forehead. “I actually believed that you two were having an argument over history!”
Charlotte sighed and folded her arms across her chest. “People do argue over history, but that is not the point. We merely wanted to have a private discussion.”
