Page 34 of Scottish Seducer
“Excellent,” I said, and imagined myself transported to thePride and Prejudiceminiseries where Colin Firth jumped into the lake for a swim on a hot day.
I had always enjoyed that interpretation of the books, and that scene in particular, because it was so clear from that moment that Darcy loved Elizabeth.
While I waited, I got a bit glazy, dreaming of Charlie’s kisses. My body instantly returned to the moments when I was truly his. For a second, I was Elizabeth and Charlie was Darcy when she saw him come out of the lake, but then I shook off my imagination as silly. Charlie wasn’t any character in a book that I could pin down, but him being here, with me, was enough.
I hummed for a moment but when a dark cloud covered the sun, I glanced up—and my blood went cold. I straightened my spine and said, “Richard. Ann. What the hell are you both doing here?”
Richard stayed back and seemed stiff. “You’re still with Mr. Grannd?”
I squared my shoulders and wished I could call on a genie to make these two disappear from my life permanently. I gestured toward the house and said, “He’ll be out in a moment. I decided to stay here and enjoy the lake. What are you both doing here?”
Ann lifted her finger and I could see she wore the ring Richard had bought for me while she said, “We came to inquire about prices if we decide to have our wedding here.”
Chill bumps swept down my arms. I couldn’t breathe, and I didn’t understand why she hadn’t demanded a different ring. I’d worn it in front of her for months. My stomach did a flip at the thought. “Your wedding?”
Ann preened a bit and, with a smile that almost seemed full of pride as she took Richard’s hand, said, “Yes. We’re getting married, but we should warn you. Don’t fall in love with Charlie Grannd.”
Adrenaline shot through me, but I played with my necklace and asked, “Why not?”
Richard straightened and announced in a way that implied he also spoke for Ann, “Because we all know he’ll never fit into your life. He’s probably using you.”
My stomach did flips. This was crazy. But I pretended we were friendly and waved as I took off toward where Charlie had disappeared earlier. “Have a wonderful life, you two.”
Once they were out of sight, I halted, my stomach in knots. If I hadn’t moved in with Charlie, I’d be crying my eyes out right now. I couldn’t wait a second longer and ran into the house.
Charlie was just coming out when I met him. I hugged him, and for a second, I found myself at peace, and said, “Charlie.”
He offered his arm and said, “Ready for you to walk me through this place.”
Right. We walked into 365-bedroom home with 24-carat gold embedded in the windows. The main room with the grand staircase rivaled a palace, but today my breath wasn’t taken away. I said, “I just ran into Richard and Ann.”
He gave my arms a brisk rub and made the chill inside disappear as he said, “Today? That’s strange.”
I was never this weak, but just this once I rested my head on his strong shoulder and took comfort in being his, when I said, “They’re getting married and want to rent this house.”
He hugged me and kissed my forehead. “Are you upset?”
I let out a little sigh and straightened, though he still held my hand like he was my anchor. “A little,” I said. “He didn’t want to commit to me, but how could I have been that blind for that long?”
He curled his fingers through my hair while his thumb brushed my cheek. “What do you mean?”
My heart had a different beat to it today, but as we walked up the stairs, we went to a private room that I’d never seen before since it wasn’t part of the normal tour. We stepped inside what was obviously the private library. I’d only seen it in movies, but I couldn’t manage to set aside my upset to appreciate it.
I massaged my temples and over my nose and said, “Their affair must have lasted longer than my own failed engagement, and I even mentioned renting space at Chatsworth House, but he brushed it off, saying it was too expensive.”
Charlie didn’t even glance around the fine room as he said, “So you were jealous.”
I quivered. I’d never done that before, but I looked down and said, “Yes and no. I don’t want Richard back or anything, but I do wish…”you loved me. I swallowed the thought back, grateful I hadn’t said it out loud.
I shook myself, took a deep breath, and said, “Never mind. Let’s start the tour.”
He squeezed my hand as we turned toward the main dining hall and he asked, “You wish what?”
Fuck.I needed to be smarter about this. Falling in love with Charlie was stupid. I knew we were temporary, but I smiled as I said, “That I could believe in love...not that we’re anywhere near talking about that kind of thing...”
He brushed his hand down my back, and for one second, I thought he’d say “I love you”. But there I was, stuck in my daydreams again. He hesitated, swallowed, and said, “It’s okay. I’m happy the fool let you go, but there’s something I do need to discuss with you.”
Right.I was the fool.
Time to tell my guest about how, during the Regency period, this was one of the most impressive and famous homes for the nobility, and it’s believed to be the model for Darcy’s Pemberley.
I nodded and said, “After the tour. It really is a beautiful spot, and besides being featured in variousPride and Prejudicefilms andDeath comes to Pemberley, this house was used forThe Duchess, as well as scenes inThe CrownandDownton Abbeyand many more. So the staff understand the video people’s needs.”
He stared at my profile like he cared, when he said, “I’ll rent it for the app, but if I ever do marry, my brother and clan would expect it to be in the Highlands—not in some fancy English estate—and I’d wear my tartans.”
I glanced up and down his side and reminded myself that it was easier to live in the present when I was near him. “You do have nice legs. It was the first thing I noticed about you when you stepped out of the car.”
He chuckled and I ignored how that warmth of his filled my soul. If he was mine forever, and he loved me the way I love him, then I’d have everything I ever wanted that money could never, ever buy.
