Page 20 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
“True. He would.” She sighed out loud. “But would you like to be the last resort option?”
“I don’t have that problem. Dukes, I have learned, are wanted by many for their title and money.”
“That’s why I was pleased you won the archery. You are not interested in this game I am playing. I’m selfish. I don’t want to marry a man who could end up resenting me. And Devlin would resent me.”
“He would never resent you. He’d just resent the life he has to live.” Lord Sinclair sat up, leaning on his elbow. “But most of the men here need you for your money. Why would they be different?”
“Not Lord Toobury.”
“Ah, it is Devlin or Toobury. Then why invite the others?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t know if either of my choices would come, or if they were interested in offering for me. Toobury doesn’t need my money. He just wants a mother for his children and I admire that about him. Besides, men love a contest.”
“I don’t understand this rush and need to get married. What are you hiding? If not Toobury or Devlin, why not wait?”
“I’m not exactly a young woman.”
He looked at her closely from his position beside her, and her heart did that little extra flip. Why did he have to unsettle her practical side? He uttered, “I suppose Toobury provides what you can’t have. You obviously want children. But Devlin doesn’t have any children, not even by-blows. So why Devlin?” He looked at her skeptically. “You want children, so I repeat, why Devlin?”
She tried to keep the tears that always welled at the mention of children from appearing. “Yes, I want children.”
This time, it was Lord Sinclair who took her hand in his. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to be unable to have a child of your own.”
She couldn’t bear the pity she saw in his eyes, and a sob escaped.
He pulled her into his arms and she cursed herself for not resisting. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She gulped in air to get her emotions under control. The feel of his hard, lean body made it difficult to breathe. She wanted to stop crying, but how she loathed people seeing her as defective when it wasn’t her fault.
“Please, Charlotte. Don’t cry. You’ll make a wonderful mother for Toobury’s children.”
Tell him.She wanted to scream the truth to the world, but before she could tell him her secret, a barking Bella came bounding into the garden. Charlotte’s body tensed, knowing what was coming. She tried to push free from Lord Sinclair’s hold and stand, but he held her too tightly.
A long woof filled the air and the next minute a furry blur arrived and crockery and tea went flying as Bella launched herself onto the plates of food. Sin’s arms loosened as he jumped to his feet on a curse, hot tea all over his trousers. He quickly helped her stand. “Bella, sit. Bella, stop. Bella, noooo,” she scolded.
Sin made the mistake of trying to grab for Bella’s collar, which only turned everything into a game. An excited dog and a sedate tea party did not mix. Bella pranced around them, taking bites of cake and bites of anything else on the tea tray. Food and liquid went flying, spraying the pair until they both looked as if they’d had a food fight.
Charlotte grabbed a napkin as Sin danced almost in time with Bella’s prancing, pulling his trousers away from his body. The tea was hot and was about to burn the family jewels. Without thinking, Charlotte reached forward and began patting his trousers with the napkin.
On another curse that turned her ears blue, his hand grabbed her wrist and stopped her actions. “Not a good idea,” he said through gritted teeth. “A man can only take so much attentions from an attractive lady.”
They stood looking at each other.He thought she was attractive.Her mouth dropped open as she realized what she had been stroking. A tight smile formed on Lord Sinclair’s lips and he was about to say something when Flora and Devlin arrived. “So sorry, I opened the door and Bella slipped out,” Devlin explained.
An ‘oh’ escaped from Flora’s lips as both of them took in the situation. Charlotte with her hand virtually on Sin’s erection and not trying to step away.
Pulling her hand free, she turned to scold Bella. “Naughty, girl.” Devlin grabbed the excited dog by the collar and dragged her away. “I’ll put her in the stables.”
Flora smirked. “I’ll fetch the servants to help clean up this mess.” With that, she sent Charlotte a wink and floated off across the garden, exiting the way she’d come in.
That left Charlotte and Lord Sinclair standing next to each other like statues amongst the shambles. “I’m so sorry. I’ll pay for your ruined trousers.”
On a grimace he said, “No need. It wasn’t your fault. I have a hound, too. His name is Prince.”
She really couldn’t be blamed for Bella’s behavior. Instead, an old friend, disappointment, snuck in. This lovely outing had ended too soon, with her secret still not shared. “Thank you for a lovely afternoon, even though it has been cut short.”
He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “There are other challenges during the week. I shall strive hard to win another outing.”
“I think that would be pointless, don’t you?” Even if he knew her secret, this man was too damaged to make a new life with. She’d had one husband who had ignored her. She didn’t want another. Toobury would treat her well because he loved his children; he would understand how important Charlotte would be in the role. He was a nice man, not a rake whose heart had turned to stone.
