Page 38 of The Virgin Duchess

Rose smiled sorrowfully, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “You did not know. I don’t blame you for your apprehension, especially with the rumors that Frederick has allowed to persist all these years.”

Thinking back to all the things she’d heard about Frederick being a rake, Charlotte’s heart was panged all the further. She’d believed them outright, even as she knew that the ton had a way of fabricating or exaggerating the truth.

“He’s done nothing to refute the claims of his rakish nature?” Charlotte shook her head. “Why?”

“That I do not know. You will have to ask my brother for clarification. But please, Charlotte, with everything you do know now, I ask that you give him grace. Frederick is a good man, a fantastic, fiercely devoted brother. I owe him everything.”

Charlotte’s heart beat hard against her ribs, and she nodded. Being confronted with an inconvenient truth was a test foranyone, and she felt especially tested. Charlotte knew that she’d fallen into the trap of believing everything she heard about Frederick without allowing him much space to correct any misinformation. She was still irritated that he’d chosen to remain so distant from her, at least verbally.

If they were going to make their relationship work—whatever it might be—they needed to communicate with each other.

“Thank you, Rose. I will speak to him.” Charlotte nodded in small waves, her stare tracking down to the floor. “I…I will hold this knowledge in my mind during our conversation. I assure you. There is…strain there, but perhaps this will give your brother and me a bridge to travel over the muck holding us down.”

Rose smiled, gently and even a bit exhausted. It made sense. Revealing truths and being the receptacle for intense emotions was a particularly tiring experience.

“Thank you, Charlotte.”

Standing from the table, the Duchess pulled Rose up along with her and took her in a soft embrace.

“Thankyou, Rose. As much as your brother might not appreciate your honesty right away, this was the right thing to do. It will allow us to at least discuss events moving forward.”

The two of them enjoyed a moment of silence before Charlotte dismissed herself to look for Frederick. She was finished waiting for the right time to speak with him, and with her new knowledge in hand, Charlotte hurried up the stairs toward his room.

“Who is it?” Frederick called out from within his room.

Charlotte sighed. She had a feeling he knew quite well who was outside his door. He was only taking a few moments to stall her. Clearing her throat, the Duchess licked her lips before responding, being careful to choose her words correctly.

“It is your wife. I have spoken with Rose, and I believe that it is time I now speak with you.”

The sounds of hurried steps grew louder from behind the door, and then Frederick flung it open, his expression one of shock and concern.

“You…Youspokewith Rose? Am I to assume that?—”

“She had told me everything of her involved with the Baron of Halfacre. Rose had heard some of our conversation yesterday, and she believed it was time to be honest with me.” Charlotte gestured with her head inside the room. “May I come in?”

Eyes wide, Frederick nodded, stumbling a bit as he stepped backward and held the door open for her. Charlotte slipped past, taking up a spot inside his room near the wash basin set against the wall.

The state of Frederick’s personal space was a bit of a surprise. It was clear that he had not allowed the maids into the room yet, and there were pieces of clothing flung about on the floor. He’d yet to get appropriately dressed as well. The trousers on his legs looked to be those from the previous evening, and he was not wearing a shirt.

It wasn’t the first time that Charlotte had seen him as such, and still, it made her pulse flutter in her neck, nearly robbing Charlotte of her focus on speaking with the man.

“Charlotte, I do not know what my sister has told you, but it does not change what I believe must be done about Halfacre.”

Her husband’s brow was furrowed so low over his eyes that it looked like Frederick was about to close them. She could see the rigid tension coiled in his muscles, a not altogether unpleasant sight, but it was the cause behind it that made her chest pinch with a flicker of remorse.

I have thought so poorly of him.

“I understand. Truly.” She nodded. “Rose detailed how the Baron sought to take her to Scotland for a clandestine marriage. I understand that you had to put a stop to it only after you weremade aware of his true motives. I also know that he injured your sister in his attempt to flee.”

If it was possible for Frederick’s stare to widen even more than it did. He was indeed shocked at what Rose had given up about the entanglement with Halfacre, and it was plainly written all over his face.

“I…It was not for me to discuss, you understand? This was a private matter of Rose’s, and I…I feared that if it were revealed about her, the ton, in all theirplentifulwisdom, would still find a way to blameherfor what happened.”

Charlotte could understand that implicitly. With a nod, she took a step forward. Holding her hands together at her waist, she fiddled with her fingers, trying in vain to disperse some of the nervous energy. Frederick raised his brows at her, meeting her gaze with a deep well of unknown emotion, making the dark depths shine.

“I can see why you would be concerned. Indeed, the ton has had a way of interfering with its members’ lives in all manner of situations. You are aware of what occurred between Richard and Amelia, and that was between a married couple.”

Frederick remained silent, his eyes scanning up and down Charlotte’s face and form as she moved closer to him.

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