Page 46 of Charming Sir Charles
Morwenna’s eyes sharpened. “I hope so. Because having had love ripped away from me, I can’t abide seeing you blithely tossing your chance to the side.”
“I’m not…I’m not doing anything blithely.”
Morwenna’s expression softened with compassion. “I know, Sally.”
The butler appeared at the door. “Lord Garson has called for Mrs Nash, my lady.”
Morwenna’s lips tightened, and she spoke in a low tone so the butler wouldn’t hear. “Stop letting past miseries rule you, Sally. You’re scared, I know, but fear makes for a cold bedfellow.”
She tugged on her long satin gloves and mustered a smile when Garson came in and bowed to both of them. But as Sally watched her friend flirting with her openly bedazzled admirer, she couldn’t help but play Morwenna’s words over and over in her head.
Real love was worth every risk.
Chapter Fifteen
“Alady to see you, Sir Charles,” his butler said from the library doorway.
Charles glanced up, an exquisite octavo edition of Petrarch’s sonnets in his hand. He was sorting through the books he was sending on to Venice where he planned to rent a palazzo.
It was late, past midnight, but he wasn’t sleeping much these days. The week had been hell. Giving up on his heart’s desire made a man poor company.
“What lady?” he asked impatiently.
“She wouldn’t say, sir. And heavy veils prevented me from assaying her identity.” The butler cleared his throat. “She appears very eager to speak with you.”
Brief curiosity surfaced, then sank back into the mire that his life had become lately. He put the Petrarch in a box and picked up another book.
“I don’t have time for ladies right now,” he said in a flat tone. “Tell the wench, whoever she is, to go away. I’m surprised you didn’t tell her yourself, Willis. You know I’m leaving in the morning.”
“She asked me to give you this note.”
With an irritated sigh, Charles put down the leather-bound book and lifted the scrap of paper from the salver Willis extended toward him.
Swiftly he unfolded the paper. He didn’t know the writing, but what he saw made his heart swell with an emotion he hadn’t felt since he’d left Leicestershire.
Sir, I have no right to your consideration, but I’d appreciate a moment of your time. S.
A cryptic message. Good news or bad?
Hope rushed through him and set his blood pumping. Was Sally here to tell him she carried his child?
As quickly as anticipation rose, it crashed again. No, surely not. It was too soon.
“Sir Charles?” Willis prompted, and he realized he was still staring at the note.
He looked up to meet his butler’s impassive gaze. Willis could convey all the animation of a block of wood, when he wanted to. “You haven’t left her on the step, have you?”
“No, sir. I showed the lady into the drawing room.” He added with purpose, even if his expression didn’t change. “Nobody else observed her entrance. I was in the hall when she arrived.”
“Good man.” Charles suddenly smiled at his butler. “Remind me to raise your salary.”
Willis blinked at this sudden change to cheerfulness in a master who had been like a bear with a sore head all week. “Yes, sir. Thank you. Shall I show the lady in here?”
“No, Willis. I’ll go to her. You and the rest of the staff may retire for the night. I won’t require anything more, and I’ll be happy to show my visitor out, once our business is concluded.”
He hoped to hell he wasn’t lying about being happy. Although given Sally had delivered his marching orders a week ago, he couldn’t imagine what she was doing here unless she’d changed her mind about accepting his proposal.
“Yes, Sir Charles.” Willis bowed. “Good night.”
