Page 15 of Charming Sir Charles
Charles approached dinner, determined to stake his claim with Sally. Once formalities were done, he intended to take his beloved on a candlelit tour of the long gallery. A tour that he planned to end with kisses and joy and her promise to become his wife.
But from the moment everyone gathered in the drawing room, he noticed that Sally was different. Hard and glittering – and arch in a way he’d never seen her before.
He usually despised archness, but in Sally, the flirtatious gaiety just made him want her more than ever. He itched to give her a good shake and kiss her, until that coquettish expression melted into surrender. And rip that spectacular silvery dress from her long slender body and plunge deep inside her until at last she saw him and nobody else.
Because however her behavior vexed him, he couldn’t deny she looked magnificent, with a hard sparkle that made him think of diamonds. While the silvery dress inevitably reminded him of armor.
Just what did she need armor against? An unwelcome suitor called Charles Kinglake?
He couldn’t help thinking that was the answer. And that made him itch to smash something. Never once did she look in his direction. Even when he wished her good evening, she responded to a spot over his right shoulder.
He wasn’t alone in noticing something amiss.
“Sally, that’s a gorgeous dress, but it’s making the rest of us feel distinctly underdone,” Helena said from near the unlit fire, where she stood with her brother Stone. It was warm for May, and the French doors stood open to the fragrant evening. “Are we expecting a royal visit I don’t know about?”
Sally laughed. Was Charles the only one to hear the edge of hysteria in the sound? “Mymodistefinished it last week, and I decided I couldn’t wait to wear it.”
Helena’s lips adopted a wry twist. “If I’d known we were going formal, I’d have worn my diamonds.”
“You don’t need diamonds to shine, my love,” West said. He and Caroline were chatting on a chaise longue against the wall.
“Oh, you should never say that to a lady,” Sally said with a flirtatious glance at her host. Meg, who as usual was talking about horses with Brandon and Carey, cast her aunt a glance weighted with concern.
Charles frowned. Something was horribly wrong, but he had no idea what the devil it could be. Sally was trying too hard to shine. Her natural vivacity turned to brittleness. She was noticeably a different creature from the woman he knew.
He wished everyone else in the room to Hades. Damn manners and propriety. He wanted to confront her and find out what had changed. But social rules made that impossible.
Yet again, his lack of status in Sally’s life stung. The unwelcome truth was that she could walk away from him tomorrow, and he’d have no right to call her back.
In the world’s eyes, they were mere acquaintances. Whereas in his eyes, she was the center of his world.
“None of you gorgeous creatures needs diamonds to shine.” West, who had had a career in diplomatic circles before he married his childhood sweetheart, sent his wife a fond smile. “You all sparkle like the stars anyway.”
Helena’s expression turned sardonic. “Nicely saved, my dear. But don’t imagine that means you’re getting back the necklace you gave me for Christmas.”
Caroline smiled. “And while we mightn’t need diamonds, never imagine we don’t want them.”
Stone groaned theatrically. “See what you’ve done, Sally? Now I’m stuck with another trip to Rundell and Bridge. After the last one, I had to mortgage the estate.”
The lovely brunette in spring green fluttered her eyelashes at her husband. “I’m sure it was worth every penny, my love.”
Stone placed a tragic hand to his brow. “What does it matter if I feed our children on stale bread and water, as long as their mother’s taste for baubles is satisfied?”
“See?” Helena turned to West. “That’s the right attitude. You could learn a lot from my brother.”
Stone, rich enough to bedeck a hundred wives in diamonds, directed a woebegone look at his best friend. “You never think before you speak, do you, old man?”
West’s expression held a hint of smugness. “No need to thank me, chum.”
“Then I won’t.”
“Sir Charles, see what you’ve got to look forward to when you take a wife?” Helena said.
Sally was still avoiding looking at him. He struggled to hide his disquiet and raised his glass to his lovely hostess who, while not as elaborately dressed as Sally, was stylish in teal silk. “Apparently a lifetime of buying diamonds.”
“Oh, you’re going to make some lucky woman a wonderful husband,” Caro said, sending Stone a sly look.
“I do hope so,” Charles said, but his hard-won smile faded when out of the corner of his eye, he caught Sally’s unguarded expression. The glitter had disappeared as if it had never been. Instead she looked stricken and pale, and her eyes were dark with misery.
