Page 39 of Awakening a Lord's Desires
“Either way, I don’t know why you must try to ruin my own chances of happiness when it has nothing to do with you.”
Her loud voice surprised her. “It has everything to do with me! She is my best friend, and I cannot bear to see her in a loveless marriage with a man who only seeks her fortune.”
He folded his paper with irritation and threw it on the table in front of him.
“You make me the villain, Caroline, when in fact, I am no different from any of the other young women or men out in the Season who do not have the means to make the choice that would make them happiest. I can only think of the future, that is all. We are all here to seek a good match and to keep ourselves in comfort. Matilda is just the same, no matter how you have put her on a pedestal.”
Caroline blinked at him, and he stood, turning to go. She watched him leave, and, with a huff, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
She had always planned never to yell at Max for that did nothing for their harmonious home, but she couldn’t help it. She was angry, and her father’s illness worried her even more than usual.
But was Max in the right, and she was merely blind? She remembered hearing Matilda’s mother discussing her plans for her daughter. She wanted her to marry wealth and to marry well.
But that doesn’t make it right, Max. And I don’t care. You shall not have Matilda.
Chapter 38
After another hour or so of somewhat mindless conversation, Charles found Oliver by the balcony doors with a large, satisfied grin on his face.
“You seem pleased with yourself,” he said, his eyes constantly looking out for Caroline. They had not danced yet that evening, and since it was the only reason he had come, he was eager to find her.
“That I am. Lady Keenan has agreed to allow me to come and call upon her tomorrow.”
Charles paused and, open-mouthed, stared at his friend. “Do you mean to tell me that you, Oliver Blackwell, rake and ne’er-do-well in London, have decided to court a woman of noble birth?”
“That I have.” He grinned even wider. “I find her beautiful and fascinating, and I am surprised that you have not thought of her for yourself, old friend.”
“She is lovely, of course.” He had noticed, but also, he had seen Caroline before that, and she had captured his attention instantly, from the very first moment he’d nearly run her over with his horse. “I haven’t had a chance to dance with her, but I am very happy for you, Oliver.”
“I should like to paint her as well, if she will let me,” he said with excitement.
“You have never painted portraits.”
“Ah, that is only because I have not yet found a subject so worthy of painting.”
“By God, you are smitten.” Charles laughed. “I cannot believe it. Perhaps then you will understand my own feelings for Caroline a little better.”
“I believe I do.”
Charles looked around. “But I have not seen her in some time.”
Oliver looked sad for his sake. “I’m afraid to tell you that she left, a long while ago, with her whole family in tow. Apparently, the father did not feel well, and so they all left at once.”
“Oh, I see.” Charles was disappointed, and he was concerned for her father. He knew just how much she depended upon him and cared for him. “Well, then I suppose I ought to take my leave. I have danced and chatted, drank and eaten. I think I may do well to leave.”
Oliver nodded. “Go. You do not need to wait on my account.”
“I will send the carriage back for you.”
They parted and, feeling more disappointment than he’d expected, Charles left for home.
When he arrived, he sat in his study and poured himself a glass of whisky. If only their courtship was out in the open, it would have been very appropriate for him to call upon her to ask how her father was.
But we have not yet told anyone about us. It is all a secret, and right now, for the life of me, I cannot think why.
He finished his first glass and poured another. If her father were to fall ill, then she would be left on her own with Penelope and Max. He could not say that he knew Caroline as well as he wished to, but he did know that would not be ideal for her. She would be terrified to be left on her own without any real family to speak of.
A little spark of courage lit inside him. He wished to help her, to rescue her, to save her from that possibility. But at the same time, his fear did limit him. He had never given his heart to someone else before, and he did not fully know what it would mean to unite with another person for the rest of his days. All he knew was that he cared for Caroline, and he wanted to continue what they were doing.
