Page 32 of Why Do Earls Fall in Love?
“We know the circumstances are . . . unusual,” Julia confided. “We just want to be sure you are . . .”
“Willing?” Charlotte asked.
“Well, yes.” Julia reached for her hand. “You are, are you not?”
Charlotte clutched her for a moment. “You are both very sweet. But yes, I am very happy to be marrying Lord Whiddon.” She glanced between the two women and decided to be upfront. “Perhaps happier than it is wise for me to be.”
The ladies exchanged glances. Penelope leaned in. “Whiddon is going to be a tough nut to crack, Charlotte dear, but we are exceedingly happy to hear you would like to make the attempt. And to that end . . .” She pulled Charlotte to her feet and drew her over to the box, which had been placed upon a settee.
“I had this made up for an event at Court. The queen was to present Sterne’s uncle with a commendation for his contributions to the natural sciences. However, we were at Greystone beforehand and the newest little Tensford decided to make his appearance right at the time we were set to leave. Of course, we stayed. Sterne would never leave Tensford at such a time and I wished to do all I could for Hope. We missed the event, therefore, and this gown has never been worn. I would be honored if you would wear it at your wedding.”
She removed the lid from the box and Charlotte gasped. “Oh, my. Oh, I could not.”
It was a gown fit for a princess. The ivory underdress was trimmed in tightly woven gold lace. The bodice and open skirts were of a rich, dusky blue, with gold dangles at the short, puffed sleeves and elaborate gold embroidery adorning all the edges.
“You can,” Penelope insisted. “I believe we are a similar size and there should be only the smallest adjustments to make.” She smiled warmly at Charlotte. “Truly. We want to help.”
“It is perfect for your coloring,” Julia added. “Goodness, what it will do for your eyes.”
“Whiddon will not be able to take his eyes off of you,” Penelope predicted.
That made her hesitate a moment—and that was all the opening the two ladies needed. In minutes, a seamstress was called in from where she waited in the carriage.
“Not fair,” Charlotte objected, but the women laughed and dragged her upstairs and she was soon being fitted in the gorgeous gown.
Her aunt sent up tea and crumpets and tiny, apricot tarts and Charlotte had quite a wonderful afternoon, full of laughter and camaraderie, quite unlike any she’d ever experienced before. By the time the sun began to sink behind London’s sooty skyline, she was possessed of a stunning wedding dress and two new, fast friends.
As she’d drifted off to sleep last night, she’d thought Whiddon hadn’t even married her yet and still, he’d given her so much.
She’d awakened this morning and sat down to write Anne and George of the news of her engagement. Once that was done, she’d set herself to packing. Whiddon had said they should marry ‘quickly’ and she had a suspicion that his notion of such a thing meant very soon indeed. Yet still, when she was tucking away the lone sketch pad she’d brought with her, she could not help but sit at the desk with it.
Soon she had a page full of doodles. A fine set of eyes that made her long for her watercolors and myriad shades of green. A broad back and a thick head of hair surrounded by a cloud of smoke. A strong pair of hands upon a set of oars. When the page was full, she shook herself out of the fog she’d drifted into and flushed a little. Quickly, she tore the page out, crumpled it up and tossed it into the fire.
“A message for you, miss.” The maid bobbed a curtsy and left as Charlotte took the missive. Thick vellum unfolded to reveal strong, bold handwriting.
She sighed. Lord Rostham had sent her a note of congratulations. It ended very sweetly.
I confess,I’ve been thinking incessantly about how things might have gone differently, had I brought back that ice, that day on Lady Tremaine’s lawn, or if I had taken you out on the river myself. I am very glad, indeed, though, to hear of your impending marriage and I am thankful that the situation came out well for you. If ever you need a friend or any sort of help, Miss Mayne, I hope you will call on me.
It was very kind ofhim. But now was the time for looking forward. She went back to packing. There had been mention of a special license yesterday afternoon. She supposed it made sense. Whiddon would want to get the ceremony over with, with as little fuss as possible, so he could move on with his life.
His separate life. Alone.
Well, they would see about that.
She heard the knock on the door downstairs and hurriedly closed her trunk. Ducking to look into her mirror, she smoothed her hair, then ran lightly down the stairs.
The footman was closing the parlor door. “Lord Whiddon has—”
“Yes. Thank you.” She breezed past him, entering with a wide smile on her face.
Whiddon turned away from the window.
“Good morning my lor—” she stopped herself. “Gabriel.” Her heart beat out a happy, thrumming rhythm.
The ease in his manner faded. He tightened, visibly gathering himself in. “Charlotte,” he said stiffly.
Goodness. It was but a moment’s transformation, but it was profound. Was that all it took to spook him? A light, happy greeting? A smile set him to shoring up his defenses?
