Page 82 of How to Seduce a Duke this Autumn
He would never forgive his brother.
Never.
“Why? Why would I want to resemble a man who tried to force his attentions on an innocent woman? Why should I want to be the brother of a man who steals from the farmers who have supported the lavish lifestyles of this do-no-good for almost three decades?”
More importantly, how could the world be so blind to who David truly was?
Adam, for one, would never want to be near the man who disrespected a wonderful woman like Charlene Fielding. Never. Ever.
He didn’t say the last part.
Not with Miss Martin in the room. She was a way to send David away without causing Mother too much heartache.
Not with his mother taking David’s side. He didn’t want any unwelcome and dangerous attention on her. She had suffered enough.
“David Cross is no brother of mine.” His eyes narrowed on David. “You are not welcome in my house. Get out.”
He turned on his heel and slammed the door in his wake.
*
Charlene settled onher bed, pressing a cool cloth to her forehead and shutting her eyes, willing the ache behind her temples to retreat. It had been a wretched afternoon with David’s return, Adam’s deceit, and Mr. Grafton’s being placed in the middle of it all. The events all clawed at her nerves until she fled to her chambers.
Sanctuary, at last.
Or it had been—until her door crashed open. Her eyes snapped open as Maddie and Ashley hurtled in like twin cannonballs.
Charlene mumbled to herself, the ache in her temples flaring.
“Char!” Maddie cried, nearly tripping over the hem of her gown in her haste. “We are so glad you are here!”
“Yes, and unharmed,” Ashley said, flinging herself onto the foot of Charlene’s bed.
Unharmed?
Why wouldn’t she be unharmed?
“What are you talking about?” She lowered the cloth and glared at them. “And can you please mind your voices. My brain is trying to split my head in half.”
“Apologies,” they both chirped, softer this time.
“But this is important,” Maddie said, rather urgently. “There are whispers going about.”
“Whispers?” Was this about David’s return? Was that what they meant? But Charlene had never told them about her shameful past. Not because she didn’t trust them, but she truly did feel ashamed forever believing David had a good bone in his body. She was also supremely ashamed she’d allowed that deception to happen to her. That she trusted the wrong man. If she hadn’t been so trusting, none of it would have happened… and yet, the fact that it did shed light on who the better man was.
Somewhere in her heart, Charlene had always known.
But she’d needed confirmation of Adam’s attention to her.
Which seemed to be the theme of her life.
Trusting the wrong men.
“Were you near a hotel today?” Ashley asked.
Charlene stilled, dread forming in the pit of her stomach. “Why?”
“So that’s a yes,” Maddie said, nodding.
