Page 61 of Vanquished By A Viscount
Barbara relented with a soft exhale and leaned back against the copious number of pillows behind her. “Why are you really upset with Grayson?”
“I am not going to share with my sister why I am upset by my lover’s?—”
Charlie stopped himself, pressing his lips shut. He’d already said far too much by admitting he and Gray were lovers in the first place.
“Fine,” Barbara said. “Then I will tell you why. You are afraid of Grayson because what you want more than anything in the entire world is to come live here with him, and with me and Robert and the children I am determined we will have someday, for the rest of your life.”
Charlie laughed unexpectedly. “That sounds more like what you want than what I do,” he said.
“It is what I want,” Barbara admitted with a happy smile. “And I want Robert’s brothers and sisters to return from their travels or from university so that you might find yourself surrounded by a large and loving family.”
Charlie’s heart lurched at the beautiful possibility.
Just as quickly, it shivered at the idea of attaching himself to all those people, only to have them leave again, leave him bereft.
“I cannot spend all my time in Kent,” he said, avoiding the heart of the issue. “I am responsible for Downham Manor and those whose fortunes depend on the estate.”
Barbara hummed as if she were considering that. Then she sighed, her shoulders rising and falling quickly. “I suppose we shall all be forced to split our time between Kent and Norfolk. And London, of course. I do not wish to miss the delights of the Season entirely.”
Charlie laughed and shook his head. Barbara was so dear to him. He did not know what he would do if she wished to push him aside entirely in favor of Robert.
Which felt like an all-too similar emotion to worrying that Grayson would push him aside for Bradford, or any other man, or even for Australia.
But if one of the loves of his life had every intention of adapting in order to include him, perhaps, just perhaps, the other would be willing to do the same.
“You have a look in your eyes,” Barbara said, drawing Charlie’s attention to the fact that he’d been silent for too long. When he met her gaze, she smiled, reached for his hand, and said, “Go find him. Do as Robert and I have done and talk through this rut in your road.” She squeezed his hand, then leaned back against her pillows with a luxurious sigh, then said, “And then you might also do what Robert and I did and?—”
“No!” Charlie said, standing abruptly and backing away from the bed. “I am very much in favor of sibling closeness, but there are lines, Barbara. There are most definite lines.”
Barbara burst into laughter, nearly upsetting the teacup that sat on the tray beside her. Charlie gave her one last warning, cheeky smirk before striding toward the door.
As soon as he was on the other side, his courage faltered. He needed to share his concerns with more than just Barbara. He’d begun the process with Gray by sharing his true reasons for the break between them, but discussing the past was one thing. Exposing his present weaknesses was another. It needed to be done if the two of them ever hoped to find happiness together, particularly if Australia stood between them.
He marched back down the corridor and descended to the front hall, the last place he had seen Gray. His sweetheart was not where he’d been before, however. Charlie was uncertain whether he was relieved by the momentary respite searching for Gray would provide him or whether he wanted to get the whole, terrifying confession of his heart over with.
Of course, as he crossed through the front hall, intending to seek Grayson out in the conservatory, worries that Gray had gone off with Bradford for a morning interlude gripped him. Bradford seemed like exactly the sort who would be up for anything at any time of the day. Pettigrew’s disheveled state the night before seemed to be proof of that.
No sooner had Charlie called Pettigrew to mind when the man himself came dashing out of one of the morning parlors with a look of terror in his eyes.
“Hide me!” Pettigrew gasped, grabbing hold of Charlie’s sleeve. “You must hide me at once. You must tell everyone that the two of us have been in conversation these few hours, that I was never here to begin?—”
Lady Sandridge’s shout from the parlor threw Charlie even more off-balance. “Scandal! Infamy! My daughter has been irreparably compromised!”
“Oh, Lord,” Charlie said, rolling his eyes.
Lady Sandridge and Lady Eudora rushed out of the parlor a moment later. The front of Lady Eudora’s gown was askew and her face was pinched in what even Charlie could see at a glance were false tears. As soon as they made their appearance, Pettigrew leapt behind Charlie as if he could conceal himself there.
“Whatever seems to be the matter?” Charlie asked, uncertain whether he should be angry or burst into laughter.
“That man!” Lady Sandridge said, pointing behind Charlie with an imperious air. “He has compromised my poor daughter, and he must marry her at once.”
Charlie turned slightly, giving Pettigrew a scolding look. Not for compromising anyone, since he knew full well Pettigrew would never so much as look at a woman inappropriately, but for allowing himself to be caught in the trap anyone with eyes could see had been set for him.
“She claimed to be experiencing shortness of breath and pains in her chest,” Pettigrew said, reluctantly standing straighter and tugging at the bottom of his jacket. “I took an oath as a physician not to ignore anyone with a medical complaint.”
“He took liberties with my person,” Lady Eudora said with breathless excitement, her eyes shining with triumph. “I must go and tell my friends at once. I am to be Mrs. Dr. Pettigrew!”
Before Charlie could say or do anything to stop the foolish young woman, she raced away at pace toward the conservatory, squealing with glee.
