Page 36 of Why Do Earls Fall in Love?
Charlotte began to worry. The first course arrived—white soup served with baskets of soft, fluffy rolls—but she was too preoccupied to taste it. Had she exaggerated Whiddon’s interest in her? If she couldn’t keep his attention while she was dressed so finely—and on their wedding day—then how could she hope to entice him into a deeper relationship?
Her husband—how odd that sounded—was listening to Lord Chester tell a humorous tale about a cricket match. Good natured debate broke out about it, until a dispute arose over the final point. Exasperated, Chester tossed a roll at Whiddon.
Without conscious thought, Charlotte reached out and caught it. Whiddon’s reaction was a split second behind hers and his hand closed over hers and bore it down to the table.
He couldn’t hide it, then. Not from her. His fingers spasmed. His breath hitched, and next to her, his whole body tightened. His heated gaze flew from their clasped hands to her face.
A tidal wave of relief swept over her. She hadn’t been wrong. He was just as affected as she was.
He just didn’t wish to be.
He snatched his hand away and she flashed him a brilliant smile. “I’m counting that as a score. I’ve managed to flummox you on our wedding day,” she said in a low tone. Raising her voice, she tossed the roll back to Chester. “Perhaps you should add me to your team, my lord.”
He looked skeptical. “Women don’t play cricket.”
She shrugged. “Today is a new beginning. Perhaps we’ll break new ground.”
Strategy. That’s what she needed. She would map a plan to happiness the way a cricket team captain planned a win.
“Hear, hear!” Chester said, lifting his glass.
“To the bride,” Sterne chimed in. “And to new ground.”
“To the bride!” Everyone echoed the toast.
Feeling immensely better, Charlotte drank and smiled back at them all.
