Page 68 of The Virgin Duchess

Understanding clicked in Charlotte’s head, and she leaned back in her chair, her fingers going to her mouth as she gasped softly.

“He allows that reputation to cling to him, but he hasn’t been with many at all. Frederick has told me as much himself.”

“Precisely, Your Grace.” Margaret nodded. “I needed it tolooklike I had been ruined without having to give myself over. My body is for God alone; that is how I have wanted it, and thanks to Frederick, I have been able to keep that promise.

“In fact, I had been the one to approach him. I had gotten him interested in me, all things looked as they should from the exterior of the situation, but Frederick never actually touched me.Istarted the rumor myself, but I tried to keep it sequestered to only my family. I had no idea that the sheets spread so far because my parents told me they had covered it all up.”

Charlotte was stunned, utterly flabbergasted, and her mind spun as she put both her hands to her mouth and stared down at the table between them.

“Does Frederick know that you wanted to be here?”

When Charlotte looked up at Margaret, it was a mournful expression that the Sister wore.

“No, I don’t believe he does. Apparently,” she sucked in a hard breath, the sorrow of the truth clear in her face and body language, “apparently, he had got to my parents to ask for my hand, attempting to do the right thing. I had already gone however, delivered to the convent the very evening I told my parents about the event. I only learned of his actions once I was here and settled with no way to thank him.”

“He tried to marry you?” Charlotte’s throat felt tight, the burn in her eyes growing. “He…Frederick tried to marry you to do the right thing, and he doesn’t know that youwishedto be here? Oh God, how he must feel about all this.”

Margaret looked defeated and was clearly enough into that pit of despair that she allowed Charlotte to take the Lord’s name in vain and not bat an eye. It was just such a wild situation. Frederick had been coerced by a woman who only sought to keep herself free of marriage because her “heart” already belonged to the church.

It seemed that, yet again, in what was likely the millionth time such a thing had happened, a family had worked to control a young woman’s life so thoroughly that she was forced to go to desperate lengths to ensure her own happiness.

Happiness. Such a simple thing to want and such a horrible fight to achieve.

Charlotte’s own father had done so much that kept the entire family from finding joy, and Magnus was falling into the same footsteps in an attempt to protect her. Hell, Frederick’s father had tried to force his son into marriage and the lifehewanted with little regard for his son.

Was this to be the way of life? Was everyone set to be miserable, always yielding to the whims of their family or going to horrible lengths to weasel out a nugget of happiness for themselves?

Why is Frederick so sure that he was the villain in that situation if he had never even touched Margaret?

Confusion and regret and pain and sympathy swirled through Charlotte, a storm of emotion that she didn’t feel large enough to contain. She needed to discuss this with her husband, to understand what he was trying to do by saying that he had ruined this woman.

“Thank you, Sister Margaret.” Charlotte stood up from the table, taking the Sister’s hands and holding them tightly for just a moment. “You have provided me with clarity. I am very grateful for your time.”

Margaret stood as well, leaning into wrap Charlotte in a brief embrace before she stepped back.

“You are so welcome, Your Grace. Please, should you see your husband and wish to aid us both,pleaselet him know that I had never intended to cause him harm or suffering. I had made amistake not telling him of my wishes. I am sure that he would have been happy to help me should I have confessed the truth.”

Charlotte nodded, her eyes falling to the rough stones beneath their feet before she could look up at Margaret again.

“I will.”

“He is agoodman,” the Sister insisted. “I am sorry for my part in all this, truly. Still, I want you to know that he could have taken advantage of the situation and never did. He was honorable to the last.”

“I appreciate that, Sister. Endlessly.”

The two of them said their last goodbyes, and then Charlotte was off. If the carriage could fly, she would have asked it to do so. She needed to get back home and speak to Frederick. He had lied to her, and Charlotte had a feeling that it was the result of his belief that he deserved his reputation.

Of all the things she’d learned about her husband, Charlotte now understood vehemently that he did not see the worth he possessed. And, if it were the last thing she did, Charlotte was going to convince him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Frederick had heard Charlotte leave the house. He’d heard her call out for water, heard her hurry down the stairs, and heard the door slam behind her. Frederick did not expect to see her return, likely having gone to her brother’s. She wished to be rid of him, no doubt, and he could understand.

Still, Frederick ached. Worse, his sister’s happiness was not at risk again because the Baron had not appreciated the words spread about him. No, it appeared that the man was indeed out for blood, and with everything the way it was, Frederick had no issue with returning the favor.

If it shall take two rogues to sort out this situation, then so be it. For I am nothing more than the rake I’ve allowed others to believe I am, no different than the Baron. A rogue, a scoundrel, and I will leave this world at the least knowing that I have protected my sister from him—and my wife from me.

His sister had said that Halfacre and allowed word to get back to her that he was speaking poorly of her virtue in a gaming hell where he still had credit. The man was toying with Rose’s livelihood, and Frederick would not stand for that.

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