Page 57 of Awakening a Lord's Desires
“I see.” Oliver sighed. “There is so much consider. You are going now? To her home?”
“She was meant to meet me in the woods, but she was not there. I fear that something bad has happened, and our plan has been discovered. I want to see for myself.”
“Very well. Then I shall go with you.”
They were silent for a few seconds before Oliver asked, “Do you think she might have installed a minister at the house to force the marriage in this way?”
Charles went cold and felt a shiver run down his spine. “Dear God, I hope not. But we will find out. The house is in view.”
When the carriage stopped, Charles yanked open the door and strode out towards the house. He would use all the power given to him as a peer of the realm and save the woman he loved so desperately.
Please, Caroline, do not be married yet.
He knocked on the door and looked to Oliver, who gave him a nod of encouragement.
“Ah, Lord Spencer,” Max asked as he opened the door and looked out with an amused smile.
Charles felt his hands curl into fists. He wanted to pummel the man until the smile was no longer on his face.
“We thought you might come to see us. What is it?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“I want to see Caroline,” he said in a low voice.
“You know, she will soon be my wife, and I will certainly not approve of large, angry noblemen, pounding on my door to see her.”
Charles nearly sank with relief. She was not his wife, not yet, but Max seemed very confident about it.
“Then it is fine that I see her now, until that terrible day.”
Max chuckled, and then the baroness appeared at his side, looking piqued.
“Lord Spencer, why have you come, so rudely and so early?”
“He is here to see Caroline, Aunt,” Max said smugly. “And it does seem to be rather urgent.” He chuckled again, and Charles nearly took a step forward to punch him before he felt Oliver’s hand on his arm.
“I’m afraid that Caroline is indisposed. She is in her room at the moment, and she is not seeing anyone; she needs her rest, of course.”
“No, that’s a lie. I only just saw her,” he said before he realised what he had done.
“Is that so?” Max asked with interest, and the baroness tapped him on the shoulder.
“Go inside and wait for me, Max. We have much to discuss. I will deal with Lord Spencer.”
Max left, and Charles could hear the man’s annoying whistle as he sauntered away. He stepped closer, putting both hands on the doorframe in front of the baroness.
“This is wrong, what you are doing. Trapping your own stepdaughter and forcing her to wed against her will.”
“Women are forced to do many things, Lord Spencer. I was not immune to it myself. She will live as any other woman. Now go. You are not wanted, and Caroline is not seeing anyone. Force your way in if you like, but the whole countryside will hear of it, and you may upset the baron who lies near to death on his bed. I should hate for anything to happen to him and for you be the cause of it.”
Charles stepped forward again, prepared to slam in the door and rush inside and up the steps, but Oliver held onto his arm.
“The next time you see her, she will likely be married to Max,” the baroness said with a smile. “Good day to you.”
She started to shut the door, and Charles nearly rushed to push it open again, but Oliver stopped him.
“Let her go,” he said, and Charles stayed where he was, breathing hard.
“I must get to her, Oliver.”
