Chapter Fifteen
This was a fine state of affairs. Not only would Charlotte not acknowledge their betrothal to her family, but she was forcing Con to discuss the subject of his mistress in a garden with her family looking on.
He was still having trouble with the concept of having this conversation with a lady, particularly a young, unmarried lady. He had taken himself to task for allowing her to goad him into mentioning demireps previously. Of course, if he had his way, she would not be unmarried much longer. The more he discovered about Charlotte, the more convinced he became that she was exactly the lady he wanted to wed. And bed.
He glanced back at the house. Worthington and his wife were sitting at a table on the terrace. Not the whole family, but Charlotte and Con were to be well chaperoned. As if they were not already betrothed.
Damn.
He may as well get this over with. “I did what I said I would do and spoke to my former mistress.” He hoped she would notice his use of former.
Her hands rested in her lap as she gazed up at him. Her blue eyes were so unguarded Con thought he might be able to see her soul. How unusual for a lady of the ton. A feeling or emotion tugged in his chest, but he didn’t have time to study it now.
“I have never impugned your honesty, my lord. To be frank, you have been extremely truthful in your dealings with me.”
Too truthful, mayhap. A little roundaboutation would have held him in good stead. “I would hope that all of our dealings are honest.”
She inclined her head rather regally.
“Well, as I was about to say. I did what we agreed and asked my—” Drat it. He couldn’t keep using the term mistress. “The woman I have been dealing with if she”—suddenly there was a blockage in his throat that needed to be cleared and he coughed—“had chosen her profession.” This was a damn sight harder than he thought it would be. Wishing he had a glass of brandy, he took a breath. “She had not. As a matter of fact, I—I was wro—wro . . .” He took a breath and tried again. “You were-were ri-correct.”
Charlotte’s lush lips pressed together and seemed to twitch a little for just a moment. The vein at the base of her lovely throat began to throb, and he thought her heart had started beating faster. He’d had no idea she would be so affected. “Do you plan to do anything to help her?”
Finally, he could give her an answer she would like. “Yes, indeed. I am in the process of doing so.” His eyes were drawn to her neck again. The throbbing had slowed. “She told me she is in touch with her family, who do not know what she has been doing. I offered to settle an amount on her that will enable her to regain the life she should have lived.”
Still clasped, Charlotte’s hands moved to her breasts. She blinked rapidly, her lips formed a perfect O, then she said, “That is . . . that is most kind of you. I did not expect . . . I mean for you to—”
For him to do anything to help his mistress was what Charlotte meant. It pleased him that she seemed to realize she had been about to offend him and stopped. “I can understand how you might believe me to be less than sympathetic. I find I owe you an abject apology, my lady. For the most part, I have not exhibited my best side to you. Nor have I always behaved as a gentleman should.”
“Nor I to you, my lord.” Her tone was firm, but, as if suddenly shy, she did not look at him when she spoke.
“In any event, I ask your forgiveness. I was wrong.” It wasn’t nearly as hard to say the second time.
“You are forgiven.” Her lips pressed together once again, but more in consternation. “I too have failed to always be at my best with you. I would like to apologize for my ill temper.”
“There is nothing to forgive.” As the words left his mouth, Con knew it was the truth. Any lady, especially an innocent one, would have been shocked at the idea of prostitution. For him to have baited her and engage in scandalous arguments with her had not been well done of him. “I would wish we could”—he glanced up at the sky, hoping for inspiration and found none—“for lack of a better way of saying it, begin again.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her pearl-like teeth. “I do not wish to offend you, my lord, yet I am afraid that—” Charlotte covered her face for a moment. “Oh, this is so awkward. I vowed to myself never to wed a man who had engaged in purchasing a woman. Yet, my brother tells me that gentlemen are encouraged to-to—”
“There is no need to explain. I comprehend your meaning. He is correct.” Con raked his fingers through his hair. He must convince her to accept him. The thought of being jilted was too much to stomach. Hell, he’d almost made a fool of himself trying to stop what he’d thought was her wedding. “Perhaps if I were to court you, and we came to know each other, you might look upon me more kindly.”
Her hands were still, but her dark blond brows drew together, causing a fine line to form. The thought came to him that he would always know where he stood with her.
She stared at her tightly clasped hands before gazing up at him. “Very well. You may court me. However, I have one request. If we decide we do not suit, you will release me from our betrothal.”
Never. The more he was around her, the greater his conviction that she would make him a perfect wife, marchioness, and mother to his children. Not to mention the damage to his pride if she rejected him. “Of course.”
For the first time since she had discovered who he was, she gave him a real smile, and it was just as beautiful as the one he remembered. “In that case, I shall save you a dance at Lady Pennington’s ball.”
“Two dances.” He could not stop himself from asking for more. “Both waltzes and one of them the supper dance.”
Her steady blue eyes regarded him for several moments, and his cravat seemed to grow tighter. “As you wish, my lord.”
As pleased as he was with her decision, he resisted the smug smile trying to form on his mouth. And two days was too long to go without seeing her. “Until then?”
Tilting her head to one side, she again drew her well-shaped brows together. “I shall have to think of something.”
No. He’d think of something and damned fast too. He must strike while she was being so amenable. “Would you like to join me for a carriage ride in the Park this afternoon?”
“Lord Harrington to see Lady Charlotte,” a sonorous voice announced.
Con glanced at the terrace and almost swore. What in the name of all that was holy was that pup doing here now? Just as he was making progress with Charlotte. Well, he wasn’t going to lose this game to that young fribble.
Worthington and her sister were conversing with Harrington. “A ride this afternoon.”
Con held his breath waiting for her answer.
Charlotte tore her gaze from the terrace back to Lord Kenilworth. His request had startled Charlotte as much as Lord Harrington’s arrival. For some reason, she had not thought Lord Kenilworth would press his case so soon. If he thought she would simply fall into his arms, he was vastly mistaken. Still, she had made a bargain.
Yet what was she to do about Lord Harrington? Had he heard the talk, or did he expect to propose to her? This certainly made a bad state of affairs worse.
“My lady?” Lord Kenilworth said, his voice much calmer than the throb in his jaw indicated he was.
First things first. She would deal with the gentleman in front of her now and the other one later. “I would like that, thank you.”
She had almost said she’d be delighted, but they were being scrupulously honest with each other and it would not have rung true.
“It is entirely my pleasure.” His lips tilted in a strange, lopsided smile, and she wondered what it meant.
Despite her brother stating that he would leave the final decision of marriage to her, she knew he would be satisfied with her choice. After all Grace had done, and now Matt too, to keep her brothers and sisters together, she did wish her family to be happy with her.
A ride with Kenilworth would also allow her to come to know him better. That was all her brother-in-law had asked of her, to give the man a chance to prove himself.
She thought back to his confession and could not help but smile. It had taken a great deal for him to admit he’d been mistaken. For a few moments Charlotte had wondered if he’d be able to get the words out. Yet, it was what he had told her he’d done for his former mistress that had truly impressed her. How many men would try to make amends by attempting to give the woman back some of that which had been taken? Not many, she would wager.
Wealthy, handsome, and titled. Could she now add compassionate to his list of positive features? The last would mean more to her than the first three qualities together. Much more.
Well, time and a better acquaintance with him would tell.
He held out his arm and Charlotte placed her hand on it before strolling to the terrace with him. Dotty and Merton were gone and the children as well. Only Matt, Grace, and Harrington remained.
He rose as soon as she approached. “Lady Charlotte, I came to tell you I have just arrived back in Town.” Ignoring Lord Kenilworth, Harrington bowed, and for a moment she thought he would try to take her hand. “I have excellent news. I should, though, have written your brother so that you would be expecting me.”
She cut a look at Lord Kenilworth, but a mask had slid over his features. “Well, you are here now. What is it you wished to tell me?”
Harrington scowled slightly at Lord Kenilworth. “That will have to wait. Do you have a waltz free for me at Lady Hereford’s ball?”
She quickly brought the dance card to mind. There were three waltzes that evening. “Yes. The second one is free.”
He gave Lord Kenilworth, whose countenance showed nothing but well bred boredom, another angry look, as if he knew who had requested the other two waltzes. Not knowing what else to do, she gave her other suitor a polite smile.
Kenilworth took her hand and bowed over it. “Until this afternoon, my lady.”
“Until then, my lord.” She curtseyed.
Grace glanced from Charlotte to Harrington as Matt escorted Kenilworth to the front door, leaving them with Lord Harrington.
She took the chair on the other side of the small table, and her sister poured them both cups of tea. “I trust your father is in good health, my lord?”
“Yes . . . yes, indeed.” He took a sip of tea, then placed the cup down. “He has arranged a position for me with the Foreign Office.”
“How wonderful for you,” Charlotte said. “Will you be in London?”
“I shall be with Sir Charles Stuart on the Continent.” He grinned like a little boy. “I will join him as soon as I have matters here settled.”
She hoped for his sake that Napoleon would soon be sent back to an island. “That sounds very exciting.”
“I’m glad you think so,” he said, looking contented with her answer.
He remained for another ten minutes as they discussed what had been going on while he’d been in the country. Their talk did not, however, touch on Charlotte’s betrothal. Was he purposely avoiding the subject or had he not heard? She debated saying something, but decided that as she had not made a decision, it was too soon. Aside from that, she had been interested in him. If he could show her that he was willing to try to win her affections . . . well, who knew what the future might bring.
“Lady Charlotte,” Lord Harrington said. “Will you walk with me in the Park tomorrow afternoon?”
From the corner of her eye, she saw her sister incline her head. “Thank you. I would be delighted.”
Shortly after Grace’s butler, Royston, escorted Harrington out, Grace said, “I take it your conversation with Kenilworth went well.”
“I believe it did.” Charlotte remembered that her sister didn’t know the task she had set for the man. She began to explain what had occurred the previous day.
Her sister’s brows rose. “My dear, that was quite bold of you.”
“Mayhap.” She smoothed down her skirts nervously. “But do you not agree that it was necessary? Especially after everything he had said?”
“I suppose.” The brows dropped and Grace’s forehead wrinkled as it did when she was in thought. “Under the circumstances, you made the right decision.”
Charlotte let out the breath she’d been holding. “Thank you.” Then she giggled. “You should have seen him trying to tell me he was wrong. I thought he would choke on the words. And you will never guess what else he has done.”
“What?” Grace asked, sitting forward on her chair.
“He is giving her the funds to start her life anew.”
“And that,” she said sagely, “is what made you decide to give him a chance to prove himself.”
“Yes.” Charlotte was glad her sister understood and agreed with her. “Now we shall see about the rest. Because nothing is settled with Lord Kenilworth, I have decided to see if Lord Harrington is truly interested in me.”
“An excellent idea.” Matt stepped onto the terrace and stood behind Grace, placing his hands on her shoulders. “It never hurts for a man to have a rival.”
Charlotte stared at him for a moment. “I do not understand.”
“You still have not decided for Kenilworth, is that correct?” She nodded slowly, noting the sly gleam in her brother’s eyes. “Harrington has received permission from his father to marry you, and asked to speak with me.” That his lordship would require permission from his father rankled her slightly. “Allow them both to court you.”
“I had decided to do that, but I have a feeling you have something else in mind.”
“A little competition can do wonders to focus a man’s mind.”
“A competition over me?” Charlotte asked. “I do not know how that will help me decide.”
Her brother grinned. “You will.”
Before she could ask for clarification, Grace looked at her watch. “The rest of this conversation will have to wait. Charlotte and I must change. Lady Kenilworth is coming to fetch us in less than an hour.”
Rising, Charlotte followed her sister into the house. “What do you think about what Matt said?”
“That my husband can be extremely astute about other gentlemen, particularly when one of his sisters or charges is involved. Take his advice, and we shall see what happens.”
It never occurred to her that two gentlemen might be interested in courting her. The thought that they would vie over her was a bit unsettling. On the other hand, it could be interesting as well. “I shall do as he suggests.”