Page 51 of One Scandal Too Many
The next morning,they packed up and prepared to leave at dawn. They had several hours to ride back to Easton Abbey and wanted an early start. Charlotte planned to send for her things from Havenwood after she settled in at Declan’s home. She would need something else to wear, so some things would need to be sent sooner rather than later. Though perhaps they should stop at the school first. She was ready to change out of her riding gown. It was serviceable but needed laundering. A bath would be lovely too.
She sat on Kallippos and rode next to Declan. They had been traveling for a while, and she wasn’t certain how much longer it would be until they reached home. What a novel concept. She would be going to her new home, and it felt more real than the place she’d grown up in.
“How much longer do you think until we reach Easton Abbey?” she asked.
“Tired of riding already?” he asked. “I suspect another hour. Maybe less.”
“Good.” She smiled at him. “I’m just a little anxious. Do you think we should go to Havenwood first? It might be faster if I packed a couple of my personal items now and had the rest sent over later.”
He tilted his head to the side as if in thought. “You’re probably correct. We can order you some more gowns too, but you’ll need what you have until those are finished.”
“I do not need new gowns. The ones I already have will suffice.”
“Darling,” he drawled. “You are a marchioness now. Trust me. You need more gowns.”
She wrinkled her nose. Charlotte had never been one to follow the dictates of fashion. She sighed. But he was correct. Society would have expectations, and she did not wish to embarrass him. “All right,” she conceded. “I’ll have more gowns made. But I’m not happy about it.”
He laughed, and it filled her with joy to hear it. “I would expect nothing less.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “You know, I much prefer you in nothing at all.”
“As I do you,” she retorted. “But that isn’t exactly practical. We wouldn’t want to scandalize our neighbors or anyone in the ton.” She grinned. “Can you imagine the scandal sheets if we decided to parade around nude?”
“The world couldn’t handle it.” He frowned. “Besides, I do not wish anyone but me to see you without your clothing. That’s my pleasure alone.”
“You win,” she told him. “I don’t much like scandals anyway. They are always unsavory.”
“You never said what scandal sent you to Havenwood,” he said casually. “What horrendous thing did you do that made your father believe you belonged out here?”
Charlotte nibbled on her bottom lip. She never talked about the scandal. Even though it wasn’t truly her scandal. Not that her father saw it that way. It was enough that she had been involved at all. Her brother could do nothing wrong though. He had been the one to participate in it all. Charlotte had only played a small part. She sighed. “It’s ridiculous, really.”
“I will be the judge of that.” He smiled. “We have a little time until we reach Havenwood. You’re correct. We should go there first. Tell me this secret scandal of yours. I promise I’ll never let it slip to anyone else.”
“There was a duel,” she began.
“Over you?” he asked. Shock filled his tone. “How have I never heard of this?”
“Because it wasn’t over me. I was never noticed that much by anyone. I wasn’t even launched into society yet. Afterward, my father sent me to Havenwood and delayed my official debut. He said I needed more polish first and to learn not to become embroiled in such scandalous things as duels.”
“If the duel wasn’t over you, then who did it involve?”
She shrugged. “I do not know what lady it was that they dueled over. All I know is that my brother acted as the second. I think it was between an earl and a duke, but even that I do not know for certain.” She was quiet for several moments as she thought what to say. “My brother was supplying the pistols for the duel. He asked me to sneak into father’s study and steal them for him.”
“That’s all?” He frowned. “You didn’t even go to the duel?”
She shook her head. “I don’t even know where it took place. Warren went to his room for something else he needed. I could not even tell you what it was that he went to retrieve. He was in an awful hurry. It’s the only reason he asked me to sneak into the study and steal father’s pistols. I don’t think he would have involved me at all if he had had a choice.”
Declan clenched his teeth together. The muscles in his cheek twitched. It took him several moments before he could speak. “He had a choice. But he decided it wouldn’t hurt to involve you. Clearly, he miscalculated, or you wouldn’t have been sent to Havenwood.” He sighed. “I want to be angry about that, but how can I? If you hadn’t been sent to the school, we may have nevermet. It’s a conundrum. Though you will never do anything so reckless again.”
“Declan, love,” she began. “I promise nothing. You know who you married.”
“I do,” he said. “That doesn’t mean I have to blindly accept anything foolish that you decide to partake in.” He leaned down and pressed his lips lightly to hers. “I would like to have a fair warning if you and your friend Jaclyn concoct some harebrained scheme. I will need to be prepared to extricate you from any situation.”
“I can try to do that. But I make no promises,” Charlotte smiled. “It is good you realize that is an eventuality. We do enjoy finding trouble.”
She had so much love for this man. How could she not have fallen in love with him? He was her everything. It was good to tell him about her scandalous behavior. Not that there had been much to be considered scandalous about it. Her father had believed sending her away to school would ensure she would never consider doing anything like that ever again. Her father clearly didn’t know her well. Declan saw her and accepted her. No, he did more than that. He loved her.
They reached the gates of Havenwood, and she frowned. There was a carriage there, and she recognized it. She pulled on Kallippos’s reins. “My father is here.”
“Already?” Declan said. “That cannot be good. How could he possibly have known that you were missing already?”
