Page 45 of Awakening a Lord's Desires
Chapter 43
The next morning, Charles came to see Caroline, but the butler told him she was not seeing guests. Confused and a little hurt, Charles left the house and went for a long ride on their usual path. At one point, he jumped down from the horse and took the reins, walking alone to search the edge of the forest and the meadow. He even went as far as the pond, hoping to run into her.
What was going on? Yesterday they had shared such a lovely time together, and he thought that it would be a good thing and appropriate to call upon her again. And now she was turning away guests?
Perhaps it is simply too much of a stressful time with her father being so ill.
He ended at the pond, but he didn’t find her. Tying the horse’s reins to a tree, he went to sit back on the rock where they’d shared a few precious moments. The breeze was soft that day, and he stared across the smooth surface of the pond. He was ready to begin the courtship in truth and out in the open, but now that her father was ill, he did not want to impose upon them.
Yesterday, in his letter to his parents, he had merely hinted at a possible young lady, but he had not named names. If he had, he knew his mother would drop everything and rush out to the countryside merely to hear more about it and see what she could do to assist. He was already awaiting the thrilled letter he was certain to receive in return.
A few minutes later, he rode home, and he found Oliver in the breakfast room, already filling his plate.
“Ah, how was the ride?” he asked, just as he sat down.
“A little stilted,” Charles replied, getting a plate and collecting food as well, but he wasn’t sure if he was hungry enough. “I went to see Caroline because I was encouraged by your words yesterday. I think it time that we put our courtship out in the open, but I want to be considerate of her father’s situation. When I went to see her, though, the butler told me she was not receiving visitors.”
Oliver frowned. “How strange. Is she ill?”
“The butler did not say. He seemed rather rushed, in fact.” Charles put his elbows on the table and folded his hands in front of him. “I wonder if something has gone wrong. Perhaps her father has taken a turn for the worse?”
“Or she is feeling too down in spirits to have any guests. That could very well be, Charles. I would not worry about it. You may see her tonight at the latest ball.”
“Perhaps. You are escorting Lady Keenan, no doubt.”
“So I am.” Oliver grinned. “I’m certain you will find everything out tonight at the ball.” His eyes sparkled with the excitement of a man in love, and Charles wished that he too could look like that.
But something felt wrong, and Charles wanted, needed to know what it was. He would simply have to wait until that evening to find out… if she came.
Chapter 45
Caroline had cried herself to sleep all night, and at breakfast that morning, she’d tried her best to go early, but Max and Penelope arrived together, both of them now looking smug.
“Have you thought about it?” Penelope asked without preamble.
“What is there to think about? It seems that you have already decided in your mind, but I can tell you, Penelope, that I will not be marrying Max. I will never marry him, under any circumstance. And there is certainly no way that my father ever agreed to this.”
Caroline felt satisfied at the spike of redness in Penelope’s cheeks. It was anger, pure and simple, but Caroline would no longer allow herself to be bullied by her stepmother.
“He has, and you will abide by both our wishes,” Penelope said sternly. “Do you wish to disappoint him on his deathbed?”
Caroline went white. “Don’t you dare say such a thing. It is not yet known whether he will die. He is only making preparations.”
“Exactly, and he wants you taken care of. This is the perfect way for you to have a husband, and one in the family. You will be kept safe after he is gone.”
Caroline looked to Max, who appeared a little indifferent but looked as if he’d won. She made a face at him.
“He is not family.”
Why did he want to marry her anyway? Hadn’t Max come there solely to find himself a wife? A wealthy wife? Caroline couldn’t imagine why on earth Penelope and her father had decided upon this strange match, until it hit her.
The inheritance. She has been wanting to supply Max with a healthy dowry for him to live out his days in comfort. This is the way she is trying to go about it.
And it was likely true that if Max had money, he wouldn’t hesitate to assist his favourite aunt if she too was in need of funds.
“He is! And he will be,” Penelope added. “I speak for this family now that your father is not to be disturbed, and this is what shall occur.”
Caroline rose, unable to stomach the situation any longer. “Penelope, this time, I will not allow you to force me into whatever you believe I should be, whether it is a woman who never does anything different, or a woman who will marry Max. I will do neither of those things. I know my father, and he would never agree to this nonsense.”
