Page 28 of The Truth about the Rogue
“Miss Hawick, Miss Hawick.” Charlotte was forced to stop as Lord Glenfield came to them, a broad smile on his face as he inclined his head. “A good evening to you both. I wonder, Miss Hawick, if I might draw you into conversation for a moment?”
Lillian, ever ready with her enthusiasm, let out a small exclamation and then stepped away from Charlotte and their mother almost at once, though they did not go far.
“But of course, Lord Glenfield. Now, tell me. Has Lord Kentmore told you about the present circumstances?”
Charlotte closed her eyes in mortification, wishing that she could find a shadowy corner in which to hide herself. Her sister was much too enthusiastic – and much too forward – for Charlotte’s liking, and it brought her nothing but embarrassment. Opening her eyes, Charlotte’s breath hitched as she saw that Lord Kentmore had come to speak with her father and was doing so already, glancing over his shoulder to her once or twice. Her stomach dipped, her fears burning hot trails down her arms and legs, only for Lord Kentmore to turn to face her, a small smile on his lips which did not ignite any sort of spark in his eyes.
“Miss Hawick.” He inclined his head. “Might you wish to take a turn about the room?”
Charlotte closed her eyes, sensing the slight tremble about her lips as she fought to keep her whirling emotions under tight control. No, she wanted to say, she had no interest in walking with him, had no desire to spend even the smallest amount of time in his company. Her entire world had been shrouded in darkness ever since he had kissed her, and he was the one responsible for it. Scouring her mind to find an answer, to give him an excuse as to why she could not possibly be in his company, she lifted her chin a notch.
“No, I do not think that it would be proper to do so.”
Instantly, Lord Kentmore took a small step backward, astonishment filling his expression – astonishment which then quickly turned into a grimace. Evidently, he had not been expecting her to refuse him.
A laugh came from her mother, however, as her hand went to Charlotte’s arm.
“My dear, you must not think that there is any sort of concern here about propriety or the like! So long as you do not leave the room, you are permitted to walk with Lord Kentmore for a time without a chaperone.”
Please understand how uncomfortable this makes me, Mama,Charlotte thought to herself, looking long at her mother only for Lady Morton to lift an eyebrow at her instead. Charlotte’s heart twisted, a sigh breaking from her lips as she realized that she was not to have any sort of escape.
“Very well, Lord Kentmore,” she said, hearing the sorrow in her voice, but doing nothing to hide it. “A walk around the room it shall be.”
Her mother smiled her acceptance of this and, having no choice but to place a hand on his arm, Charlotte let herself be taken away from the safety of her mother’s company, being led around the side of the room by Lord Kentmore.
They said nothing. The silence between them grew thick and Charlotte’s mind clouded, her shoulders dropping as they continued about the room. Lord Kentmore cleared his throat once, twice and then took a long breath, turning to look at her.
“Miss Hawick, I suppose that I should, first of all, apologize for what I did.”
“Apologize?” Charlotte glanced at him, aware of the sharpness of her tone. “Tell me, do you seek to apologize for what you did because of the consequences it has brought, or because of the action itself?”
Lord Kentmore swallowed but held her gaze.
“I thought you were someone else so yes, I apologize for the action I took, given that it was not you who was meant to be in my arms.”
A sudden shiver ran through Charlotte’s frame as her eyes drifted to his mouth, the memory of what it had been like to be held so tightly and kissed so passionately reverberating through her. And then, she shuddered, recalling the sort of gentleman he was and what she could expect from him as her husband.
“No doubt you will tell me that it is not something you intend to turn from?”
“Turn from?”
Charlotte looked at him again, her breath quickening a little as she fought to find the words.
“I – I mean to say that you will continue to be a rogue even though we are soon to be betrothed and married?”
She felt a tightness in her chest, her heart squeezing painfully as she saw a flicker of light coming into his eyes, only to fade away.
“I will not promise that I shall never return to such a way of life,” he said, candidly. “But for the time being, during our courtship, betrothal, and marriage – and wedding trip – I shall do nothing other than devote myself to you.” A wry laugh broke from his lips. “Lord Glenfield tells me that he believes things might change between us, that I might find myself suddenly very contented indeed, but I am not entirely convinced.”
Charlotte said nothing for some moments, a faint flicker of hope igniting itself in her heart. Lord Kentmore might be the most dreadful rogue at present, but he had committed himself to her for the time being, which was something, was it not? And what if, as Lord Kentmore had suggested, things changed within his heart so that hewantednone but her?
“You must tell me some things about yourself, Miss Hawick,” Lord Kentmore continued, changing the subject entirely. “If weare to court and soon become betrothed, then it is right that I, as your intended, know as much about you as I can.”
A little surprised, Charlotte looked away.
“You already know that I do not tolerate foolishness and flirtation, Lord Kentmore,” she said, tightly. “And that I enjoy reading. Is that not enough?”
A small sound came from Lord Kentmore’s throat.
