Charlotte laughed aloud as Lord Withington finished his story, finding his antics of youth more than a little humorous. In the last two days since their first meeting in the gardens, Charlotte had spent more time in the marquess’ company and had found him to be both amiable and warm. Thankfully, Lady Emma had remained quiet and slightly subdued. Her stepsister barely looked at Charlotte during that time, which relieved Charlotte to a great extent.

“I can hardly believe it, Lord Withington,” she chuckled, once her laughter had abated. “You would not have been so foolish!”

“Ah, but I was a very different man in my youth,” he replied, shaking his head. “A very different man indeed. I do not think you would have liked me as I was.”

“And you think I like you now?” Charlotte asked, lifting one eyebrow but finding it impossible to hide her smile.

Lord Withington stared at her for a moment, before chuckling. “Now you are teasing me, Miss Richardson,” he said softly. “Who would have thought it?”

They continued to walk together as the rest of the guests continued to stroll quietly a little ahead of them, apparently awestruck by the beauty of the rolling hills that surrounded them.

“May I ask what made such a swift change of character?” Charlotte asked softly, hoping she was not prying too much. “Was it this lady that you once spoke of?”

“Miss Thackery,” he replied, his laughter suddenly gone. “Yes, Miss Thackery made me realize a great deal about myself and the world in which we live. You see, Miss Richardson, I realized that I was, in fact, surrounded by those who cared nothing for me but only for my title and my wealth. I came into my title at a rather young age, you see. My father was never a well man and neither were we particularly close. Unfortunately, due to that lack of guidance, I knew very little about what was expected of me. In fact, I truly did not care about the responsibilities I inherited. Not until the incident with Miss Thackery.”

“So, in a way, you ought to be thankful that you had such an experience,” Charlotte murmured, thinking aloud. “Although I understand just how dreadful that must have been.”

“I was never more grateful for my friendship with Lord Kinsley,” came the fervent reply. “And yes, I suppose that I should consider that part of my life as having a good outcome, despite the experience. In her way, Miss Thackery taught me a great deal.”

Charlotte laughed softly, looking up at him. “Except for the fact that you believed all women to be the same as she was,” she stated wryly. “That is your only failing in this, Lord Withington.”

He paused for a moment, allowing the guests to walk a little further ahead. “But now I have you to teach me otherwise,” he said softly. “I cannot believe that you care only for title and wealth, Miss Richardson.”

A little taken aback, Charlotte frowned. “I would hope that you know me well enough to be aware of that,” she replied carefully. “I know our acquaintance has not been of long standing, but I have never once considered your title nor your fortune as part of my reason for continuing our association, Lord Withington. I have never—”

His lips touched hers, stopping her dead. It was nothing more than a feather touch, so swift yet so light to the point that she had to wonder whether it had actually occurred.

“I do apologize,” he murmured, stepping back and casting an anxious glance towards the guests who, thankfully, had not noticed their absence at all. “I have made such a muddle of my words that I thought that might be the only way to assure you of my high opinion.”

“Indeed,” Charlotte breathed, fighting the urge to touch her lips. “I am quite astonished, Lord Withington.”

“I did not do wrong, did I?” he asked, looking more than a little apprehensive. “I simply could not help myself, Miss Richardson. I confess to you now that my feelings for you are growing with almost every moment that passes.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat, her entire body warming. “I…I do not know what to say,” she whispered, keenly aware that he was waiting for her response with a great deal of expectation. “Of course, I have a certain attachment to you, my lord, but I did not expect you to…”

There was a short silence.

“I was too hasty,” he said eventually, his shoulders slumping. “I see.”

Charlotte shook her head, grasping his arm as he turned away from her. “I would not have you turn from me, Lord Withington. Whilst I will confess that it was a trifle hasty, I was simply taken quite by surprise, that is all,” she promised, desperate for him not to walk away. “Do not think that I have no feelings to share with you in return, Lord Withington. For that is certainly not the case.”

He nodded, his smile slowly returning. “I am glad to hear it,” he said, hoarsely. “I suppose we should continue on and catch up with the others. I would not want to be the cause of any gossip.” He held out his arm to her, and with a smile of relief, Charlotte took it, aware of just how quickly her heart was pounding.

“Thank you, Lord Withington,” she murmured, as they began to walk. “I am sure we will have a great many more conversations before the week is up, and I am truly grateful for our continued friendship.”

“As am I,” he replied warmly. “You mean a great deal to me, Miss Richardson. I hope I have proved that, even though I was a little hurried in my affections.”

“You are proving it with every moment we share together,” she replied, looking up at him. “You need not worry, Lord Withington.”

He looked incredibly relieved. As they neared the rest of the guests, he pressed her hand with his for a moment before moving away to talk to another one of his acquaintances.

Charlotte walked quietly for a time, a smile spreading across her face as she considered Lord Withington. He had made a rather foolish assumption about her character, but he had been able to both admit and apologize for it.

Nothing was insincere about him, as far as she was concerned. Her smile broadened as she recalled how he had kissed her, even if it had only been the briefest of touches. There had been a warmth shooting through her limbs as he had stepped back from doing so, and despite the astonishment racing through her, Charlotte could not help but admit that she had delighted in the moment.

“Charlotte?”

Glancing behind her, Charlotte saw Lady Emma hurrying after her, with Lady Perrin staying a little further behind. She tensed at once, nerves shooting through her as her stepsister approached.

“Yes, Emma?” she asked a little coldly.

“Oh, you need not speak to me with such disdain,” Lady Emma replied, her eyes looking a little sorrowful. “Although I can quite understand it after how I have behaved.”

This did not sound like Lady Emma, which immediately made Charlotte’s suspicions rise. “What do you want, Emma?” she asked, glad to be a little out of earshot of the rest of the guests.

Lady Emma fell into step beside her. “What I want, is to apologize,” she said quietly. “Oh, Charlotte, I realize now just how terribly I have treated you. I have behaved like a spoilt child losing her temper, and I am quite ashamed of myself.”

Charlotte did not know how to respond, looking into her stepsister’s face and seeing her look back at her with tears in her eyes.

“I should never have done those awful things,” Lady Emma whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. “Lady Perrin has spoken to me at length, and I have come to realize just how stupid I have been.”

Looking ahead, Charlotte saw Lady Perrin glance over her shoulder at them both, a slight smile on her face. Emma was at least telling the truth on that point. Lady Perrin clearly had spoken to Lady Emma about her behavior, although Charlotte knew that her stepsister could easily pull the wool over even Lady Perrin’s eyes, so long as it would be in her own best interests.

“You are free to talk to whomever you wish and to form attachments with whomever you wish,” Lady Emma continued softly. “I should never have tried to prevent such a thing, for you have just as much right to be happy as I do.”

Charlotte bit her lip, just as Lady Emma caught her hand in her cold one, pressing it tightly. She did not know quite how to respond to her stepsister’s words, for Lady Emma had never spoken so candidly to her before and had certainly never thought to apologize.

“I am afraid that you do not believe me,” Lady Emma said, squeezing Charlotte’s hand tightly. “I am afraid that this has all come too late.”

“You did lock me in a room,” Charlotte replied wryly, wishing she could pull her hand from Emma’s.

“You do not believe me then,” Lady Emma cried, tears beginning to run down her cheeks like the rain. “Oh, I can see how foolish I have been in hoping for such a thing when clearly it is already too late.”

Seeing Lady Perrin glance over her shoulder at them both again, and aware that guests were behind them also, albeit it far away, Charlotte tried her best to quiet her stepsister.

“Hush, please,” she hissed, tugging her hand out of Emma’s. “You cannot expect me to simply believe everything you say, Emma. Too much has been done for that to occur. I am afraid that this is simply something you must prove to me.”

Lady Emma sniffed delicately and pulled her lace handkerchief from her sleeve, dabbing at her eyes. “I suppose I have no choice but to do so,” she replied, looking quite miserable. “Have no fear, Charlotte, I shall do nothing but try to support you in whatever choices you make. I shall no longer try to get in your way or cause others to think badly of you.” Her expression lightened, as though she had just hit on an idea. “In fact, I shall speak to Lord Withington and confess that I spoke ill of you without cause. He shall know for a fact that what I said was quite untrue.”

“I do not think that necessary, although I appreciate the offer,” Charlotte replied slowly. “He is already aware that what you stated was not true.”

“All the more reason for me to apologize to him,” Lady Emma declared, wiping her eyes again before replacing her kerchief back in her sleeve. “In this way, I hope I shall begin to show you that I fully intend to be a wonderful sister to you. As Lady Perrin states, I have been given a wonderful gift and I must choose to treat that gift well instead of tossing it aside.”

So saying, she smiled brightly at Charlotte and stepped away, evidently in search of Lord Withington in order to apologize to him seemingly at once. Charlotte was left to walk alone for a time, her mind clouded with thoughts. Lady Emma seemed to be quite sincere, but still Charlotte could not allow herself to simply take her at her word. There would have to be a great deal of practical evidence before Charlotte finally let herself start to trust Lady Emma.

“She spoke to you then?”

Seeing Lady Perrin waiting for her, Charlotte nodded and fell into step beside her. “She did, Aunt Agatha.”

“And do you believe her?”

It was an odd question for Lady Perrin to ask, given that she had been the one talking to Lady Emma for some time before she had approached Charlotte. Frowning, Charlotte glanced up at Lady Perrin, seeing the slight smile on her face.

“To be truthful, Lady Perrin, I am not quite sure I do,” she replied slowly. “It is not that I do not want to believe her, but I know I must be careful around Emma.”

“Very well put,” Lady Perrin agreed, with a smile. “It would be wise to show caution around your stepsister, Charlotte. Emma is a wonderful actress, and even I found myself growing more and more convinced of her sincerity. It was with an effort that I had to remind myself that she might easily be playing us all for fools.” She looked down to the ground and frowned. “Then again, she might prove us both wrong, and I cannot help but hope that there might be a change in her character that will benefit us all.”

“I do hope so,” Charlotte sighed, relieved to find Lady Perrin so shrewd. “It would be wonderful to have a kind, caring sister. I suppose we shall have to just wait and see.”