Page 49 of The Truth about the Rogue
It was as though the air had been pulled from him as Andrew’s delight began to shrink, shaking his head fervently. “No, I cannot do such a thing as that.”
“You must. You know very well that she has been most impressed by the most recent of your work. Why do you not write to her that way? Confess all that you need to and this time, put your name to it. Let her see thatyouhave been the writer all along and that it is because of her that the poems have altered so significantly.”
Andrew’s heart turned over on itself.
“You recognized that?”
His friend chuckled.
“Of course I did take note of the changes – and I recognized that it is because of her! You have begun to feel things that you have never experienced before, finding a depth in yourconnection, an intimacy there that, mayhap, you were always looking for but never realized.” His smile softened. “The reason I can speak so is because that is what I feel with respect to Miss Lillian.”
“I was not aware of it until now, the depths of my feelings.” Hearing himself, Andrew scowled. “What I mean to say is that I did not permit myself to acknowledge it. I saw it, I felt it all, growing slowly, but with intention, and I withdrew from it… until I could withdraw no more.”
“Then tell her that,” came his friend’s reply. “Tell her in your words as best you can and I am certain, all will turn out well.”
Epilogue
“Have you seen this?”
Charlotte, her eyes sore from the weeping she had endured throughout the night, turned her attention away from the paper that Lillian held out to her.
“I am in no mood to read about society gossip, Lillian.”
“It is not society gossip!” her sister exclaimed, her voice holding an excitement that made Charlotte frown. “It is more of those poems.”
This did not lift Charlotte’s spirits in the least.
“I have no interest in them, Lillian. Please, as I told you last evening, I had a severe headache and still find myself rather fatigued.”
She had not yet informed her father and mother that she had ended the courtship between herself and Lord Kentmore, though it was still early enough in the day for that to take place. There was not enough strength within her to speak of it to them, not as yet, but that was her intention, at least. Her heart still tore with pain whenever she thought of it, her sorrow overwhelming, but the decision had been made, nonetheless. It was the right thing for her to do, she had told herself over and over again,hating that her heart still yearned for him, still wanted to cling to him, despite all that he had done, and all that he could never be to her.
“I think that you should read these.” Lillian, refusing to accept Charlotte’s disinterest, thrust the paper into her lap. “You must.”
Charlotte wanted to throw the paper away, to demand that her sister leave her be. She wanted to scream that just because Lillian was happy and contented did not mean that she could simply force Charlotte to do whatever she pleased. Biting her tongue, she closed her eyes and shook her head.
“Please, Charlotte.” Lillian’s voice was softer now. “I am not suggesting it because of any other reason than that I know it will bring you joy.”
“Joy?” Charlotte repeated, her chest tightening. “There can be no joy for me at this moment. Lillian, I beg of you, listen to me when I say that I cannot bear to read such a thing.”
Her sister came to sit next to her rather than moving away, her eyes searching Charlotte’s face.
“My dear Charlotte, I am well aware that there has been some difficulty between yourself and Lord Kentmore. Mayhap I was wrong to insist that you court and then become betrothed, given that my reasons were somewhat selfish, but all the same, I am glad to know that there has been happiness come out of it.”
Confused as to what her sister meant, Charlotte looked away.
“I do not feel any happiness.”
“You shall soon enough! Lord Kentmore spoke to our father last night.”
Whipping her head around, Charlotte snatched in a breath, gazing at her sister with wide eyes.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I was there! For the moment Lord Kentmore stepped away, Lord Glenfield spoke with him thereafter! Our father had to give his consent twice within the space of a few minutes!”
Charlotte blinked, struggling to understand what her sister was saying. She had ended her connection to the Marquess of Kentmore last evening, so why had he then gone on to speak to her father, to seek his permission for them to wed? After all that had been said last evening by Lady Faustine, she had thought that he would feel nothing but relief at the ending of their courtship.
“Here.” Charlotte felt the paper being pressed into her hands and, reluctantly, took it from her sister. “Now read it, my dear sister. It will lift your heart, I promise you.”
