Page 75 of Charming Artemis

With a deep breath of determination, Charlie stood. “Then work your miracle,” he said. “Heaven knows I need one.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

The sisters-in-law had been dividedinto two groups to deliver baskets in the area of Collingham. Mater, who had insisted Artemis call her by that familial name, had returned to Lampton Park with Sorrel. Artemis was going about with Catherine and Marjie. Catherine put Artemis firmly in mind of her quietly discerning sister Daphne. Marjie had curly, golden hair similar to Artemis’s but fell somewhere between Catherine and Artemis in the matter of her talkativeness.

The three of them had easily fallen into friendly conversation. Both ladies had a son, and Artemis learned a great deal about the boys as they made their way from house to house. She also discovered, by listening closely to tiny clues left here and there, that they had both endured very difficult childhoods, that they were now quite happy, and that the Jonquil sisters-in-law were as close as sisters could be.

“Are you thoroughly overwhelmed amongst all of us?” Marjie asked her after they’d finished the last of their basket deliveries. “We number twenty-five now, thirty with Mater’s gentlemen friends.”

Artemis grinned. “Hergentlemen friends. We should begin calling them that. I suspect every one of her sons would be up in arms, panicked at the very thought.”

“They are very protective of her,” Catherine said, “and so loving. I wish I had known the gentleman who taught them to be thoughtful of her. He must have been remarkable.”

“Did your husband know the late earl?” Artemis asked. Catherine’s husband, after all, had been unofficially adopted by the Jonquil family, but Artemis wasn’t entirely sure when that had happened.

“He did,” she said. “And my Crispin speaks very highly of him.”

“The late earl raised seven exceptionally good sons and proved a remarkable influence in the lives of both Crispin and Arabella.” Marjie looked to Artemis as she added the second name; the Arabella she referred to had married Artemis’s brother, after all. “Though we did not know him, I feel like we see him all around us. And not a day passes when I am not grateful to him for raising his boys to be good and kind.”

Good and kind. Charlie had shown himself to be both those things. He’d listened to her on the occasions when her grief or exhaustion had rendered her a puddle of frustrated emotions, and he’d done so sincerely and without complaint. He’d been as good as his word and not done anything to embarrass her ever since the disaster that was the game of questions and challenges. And she knew as long as she lived, she would never forget the tenderness with which he’d combed and braided her hair that morning. Or the all-too-brief kiss that had followed.

Her heart still jumped to her throat at the mere thought of his arms around her, his forehead pressed to hers, the warm fall of his breath on her lips, the spicy, woody scent of his shaving lotion. Her fingers had shaken as she’d brushed them along his jaw. And the momentary feel of his lips on hers...Heavens.

If not for the ringing of that infernal clock.

“Oh dear.” Catherine’s worried whisper pulled Artemis back to the present.

On the road up ahead of them was a gentleman Artemis did not know. Catherine looked a little afraid.

“Who is that?” Artemis asked.

“Mr. Finley,” Catherine said. “He is... ” She swallowed down whatever she meant to say, but Artemis felt she understood. This Mr. Finley was a bounder, though of what variety she did not yet know.

There was no real means of avoiding crossing paths with him. Catherine grew more nervous as they drew closer. Marjie hooked her arm through Catherine’s, offering her silent support but appearing nearly as unsure of the coming encounter.

If only her new sisters-in-law understood how long Artemis had been preparing for these moments. Adam had not allowed her or Daphne to grow up without the weapons necessary to put people firmly in their place, and Artemis had learned long ago how to appear utterly unshakeable.

She kept her expression uncaring as they approached the gentleman. He offered a bow, his gaze lingering on Catherine. The required curtsy she answered with was too abbreviated to go unnoticed.

Mr. Finley didn’t seem to care. “A pleasure, as always, Catherine.”

“Oh dear,” Artemis said innocently. “It is pronouncedCavratt. And you’ve neglected to include Lady.” She gave him a look of commiseration. “I know it is a lot to remember.”

For just a moment, he looked confused, but he quickly regained his oily composure. “The newest Mrs. Jonquil, I believe, and the legendary diamond of Society.”

“No, sir, she isLady Cavratt, notMrs. Jonquil.” Artemis looked to her companions, assuming an expression of bewilderment. To the ladies she said, “Do you know him? Ought we to see to it he is safely returned somewhere?”

“He is Mr. Finley,” Marjie said. “He lives on the other side of Collingham.”

“Then he has wandered very far afield.”

Mr. Finley dipped his head. “My home is Finley Grange, a fine and grand estate. Large and spacious and... cozily isolated.” He stepped a bit closer to Artemis. “The perfect place to escape an overly large family and an unwanted husband.” He moved nearer still and lowered his voice, assuming a husky tone. “I assure you,ma chérie, I am a very accommodating host.”

She studied him a moment, making certain she gave the impression of being a bit baffled. Then, brows drawn, she turned to her sisters-in-law. “I think this old man is attempting to flirt with me.”

Marjie bit back what was clearly a laugh. Catherine even looked a little less ill-at-ease.

“Do you suppose he has skipped his powders?” Artemis looked at them both with a feigned expression of concern. She turned back to Mr. Finley. Speaking very slowly, drawing out and overpronouncing each syllable, she said, “Who is meant to be assisting you?”

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