Page 27 of Charming Sir Charles
Her expression closed, and she cast him a wary glance. Blast. Sally might have gone back to speaking to him, but he needed to step carefully.
When he strode up to the door, the key turned with ease. The Browns were scrupulous caretakers. There were no creaky doors on this estate. The minute he stepped into the hall, behind the ladies, he smelled beeswax and lavender.
In the dimness, Sally and Meg were mere shadows, until he flung open the shutters to reveal a graceful hall with paneled walls and black and white floor tiles. Light flooded in to illuminate Sally in her dark green traveling dress. His heart turned a somersault and his breath caught. She was such a lovely woman. Surely fate couldn’t be so cruel as to bring this glorious creature into his orbit, then keep him from possessing her.
He sucked in his first full breath in what felt like days. Things headed in the direction he wanted. Right now, she looked much more like the vivacious lady he remembered from London. Her vivid face was alight with interest and pleasure as she looked around her.
“Does the house have a name?” Sally stood next to him and looked through the window at the pretty view.
Would wonders never cease? The last few days, she’d run a mile every time he’d ventured near her.
When Charles caught the drift of her evocative scent, desire stirred hard and urgent. But it was too soon to make his move. And he needed to get rid of Meg.
He shifted back to take off his hat and set it on a chair. “My father called itSans Souci.”
“‘Without care?’ How apt. It’s as if the world and its troubles are a thousand miles away.”
He felt like cheering. The distance she’d established between them narrowed by the minute. The instant he’d met her, he’d felt an immediate affinity, as though he could tell her anything and she’d understand. He wanted her as a man wanted a woman he desired. But he also valued their friendship. The recent chill between them had oppressed his soul.
“I’m so glad you like it,” he said, smiling and wishing he could kiss her this very moment. As she straightened and surveyed the room with wide green eyes, she looked like she needed kissing. “Meg, I’m grateful you suggested this detour.”
No answer.
He turned. When he and Sally had entered the house, Meg had lingered beside the door. There was no sign of her now.
“Where is Meg?” Sally asked.
“She’s probably checking the horses.” Charles barely avoided rubbing his hands together in satisfaction. “You know she can’t stay away from them.”
Sally frowned, and he had a second to regret that everyday matters pierced her sweet wonder. “I’ll just make sure.”
“She won’t go far. She said she wanted to see something of the estate.” As far as he was concerned, the girl could walk the entire boundary, as long as she left him alone with Sally.
“Let me check.”
After she went outside, he heard a sharp exclamation of displeasure. “What on earth are you doing?”
The outrage in Sally’s voice had Charles rushing outside. Meg was perched in his carriage’s driving seat with a daredevil expression on her face.
“I can’t come so close to Perdita without going to see her,” she called, setting the carriage in motion. “I’ll only be a couple of hours.”
“Wait,” Sally cried, running down the steps after her, but Meg had already urged the horses to a canter. “Meg, stop!”
Despite his self-interest, Sally’s frantic tone spurred him into pursuit. He sprinted across the gravel to catch the girl, but she had too much of a start on him.
“Meg, damn well come back here,” Charles shouted. By the time he stopped, gasping, well down the drive, she was out of sight.
“Damned brat,” he muttered, even though nobody was there to hear him.
He and Sally were marooned. The chit had been deuced clever, and circumstances had favored her plans. The Browns were the only people who lived within easy reach, and they were both absent from home. Brown wouldn’t be back until late tomorrow, and Mrs. Brown would be away until her sister was well again. Charles had even tied his horse to the back of the carriage to make it easy for Meg to leave her aunt stranded with him.
He’d wanted to be alone with Sally, but this smacked too much of a conspiracy. God knows what Sally thought was going on.
Damn it, if she suspected he was a party to the scheme, the small steps he’d made back into her favor today would mean nothing.
He sucked in a breath and jogged back toward the house. He hoped to hell Meg did mean to return some time this afternoon. Much as he longed to make Sally his wife, he wanted her to choose him freely. He didn’t want her niece’s recklessness to spark a scandal that forced her into an uncongenial marriage.
Another uncongenial marriage.
