Page 12 of The Vixen in Red
Startled, Charlotte jolted forward, causing her journal and pencil to fly forward and hit the ground in front of her. She lifted her hand to her chest in an effort to calm her heavily beating heart.
“My apologies,” Lord Frossly said. He leaned down and retrieved her items and then presented them to her. “I didn’t mean to shock you.”
“Thank you,” she said as she took her belongings from him. Charlotte placed them in her satchel. She was too shaky to finish her drawing, and he would prove too much of a distraction. Later, she could finish it from memory. She had most of the outline done. She had to finish some of the fine details though. “How is the progress of your estate?”
“It’s going well.” He lifted his lips into a warm inviting smile. She was momentarily mesmerized by it. “I should be the one thanking you. The Duchess of Whitewood had the wallpaper delivered. It arrived this morning, and tomorrow the workers will begin to apply it to the walls. Everything else is done. Even the new chandelier has been hung in the center of the re-plastered ceiling. The contractor went with full embellishments. The ballroom has detailed borders, excessive corner treatments, and a center rosette. The whole back wall has a freehand painting and along the edge, stenciled decorations. It took a long time for the artist to complete it. All right it took a week, but it seemed to take forever.” He stopped a moment and took a breath. “The paper will be applied in the rest of the areas.”
“You are welcome,” she said. That had been quite a lot of detail. She held back a smile because she didn’t want to laugh at him. He’d rambled so much. Perhaps she made him a bit nervous. “I cannot wait to see it when its finished.”
“It will be ready for the ball,” he told her. “I’ve had the staff working as much as they can to finalize it all. I hope it meets all of your expectations.”
“A long as we can dance, everyone will be happy.” She shivered. While she’d sketched, she hadn’t noticed the cold. Now that her mind was no longer preoccupied, it made its presence known. Her teeth chattered a little.Drat.She’d have to return to the cottage now.
* * *
Collin slipped offhis jacket and wrapped it around her. “I should have noticed you were freezing.” He didn’t chastise her for staying out without proper attire. He had a feeling she’d lambaste him for daring to dictate anything to her. “I hope my jacket helps a little.”
She snuggled into the warmth it provided and sighed. His heart nearly burst with pleasure. He had helped her achieve that comfort. There was a sense of pride in that. What was it about this woman that made him want to protect her and make sure nothing ever harmed her? Lady Charlotte glanced up at him. “I feel as if we keep thanking each other. I appreciate the gesture.” She patted the coat with her hand. “I foolishly left without my spencer. It’s such a nice day that I didn’t anticipate becoming cold.”
“Think nothing of it,” he told her. “I’m glad I was able to assist you.”
He felt like a bloody idiot. Had he forgotten how to carry a conversation? Everything he said to her was so mundane. What had happened to the charming rogue who flirted with the ladies of theton?Collin didn’t resemble his former self, and it bothered him a little. Had rusticating in the country changed him so much? He gestured to the ground beside her. “May I join you?”
“You don’t mind possibly ruining your fine attire?” she asked.
He flashed her a warm smile. “It’s not so fine that a little dirt could possibly ruin it.” Collin would gladly toss his trousers in the rag pile if it gave him some precious time close to Lady Charlotte. “May I?” he asked again.
“Of course,” she said affably and patted the ground next to her. “We can discuss the swans.”
He sat next to her and glanced toward the pond. “Were you sketching them?”
She nodded and snuggled closer to him. “They’re so lovely and elegant.” She laid her head on his shoulder, and he had to resist the urge to pull her into his arms. Collin didn’t want to presume he had the right to do so. “What do you know about swans?” she asked.
“I cannot say I’ve ever studied them in length.” He glanced at the pair swimming on the pond. Collin couldn’t do anything else. They transfixed him. “I have heard they mate for life. There are not many species that are as faithful as swans.”
“What a pleasant thought.” She pulled his jacket a little closer. “Marriage in thetonisn’t always so nice.”
“You’re right,” he agreed. Most marriages were business arrangements. His parents had loved each other. He believed that to the depth of his soul. Uncle Charles had adored his aunt. He’d witnessed some good marriages. Even his sister had found a man who worshipped her. Collin wanted that kind of love. “That doesn’t mean all marriages are like that.”
“I know,” she said softly. “My parents…” Her voice trailed off. “I didn’t agree with their decision to send me here. I hated them a little for it.” She sat up and he missed her warmth. “But I never doubted they loved me. They have always tried to do their best by word and deed. They showed me every day of my life what love was, and yet, I decided my lofty goals were far more important than something as mundane as love.” She turned to face him. “Have I made a mistake?”
“I’m no expert,” he began. “But I think we all make mistakes. The question you should ask yourself is if you learned anything from them and what you should do next.” He moved closer to her and placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. All children become angry at their parents and vice versa. Regrets don’t help anyone move forward.”
Her smile wobbled a little bit. “Wise words.”
“Don’t give that much credence to me. I’m repeating something someone once said to me.” After his parent’s died, he’d been so angry. At the world, at them for leaving him, and his uncle for being alive—it had taken Collin quite a while to accept his new life. “Perhaps you should write to them. Your parents that is… Have you heard anything from them since you were sent here?”
She shook her head. “I have not. The silence is worse than anything. They didn’t even yell at me after the incident. The disappointment in their gazes hurt far worse than anything I’ve ever experienced.” She took a deep breath. “I did write to them a few days ago. After I wrote to Elizabeth…I wanted to invite them to Aunt Seraphina’s birthday celebration.”
“So there is a chance they will be here soon.” Collin wasn’t certain how he felt about that. He hadn’t officially courted Lady Charlotte though he did want to. Meeting her parents might change everything. Would she be different with them around? Intimate moments between him and Charlotte might not happen as often. He enjoyed their solitary encounters. He would miss the quiet moments with her. “Will you return with them when they leave?”
“I couldn’t say,” she told him. “They may want me to stay here longer. It hasn’t been that long since my scandalous behavior.” Lady Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “In retrospect, that hadn’t been wise.”
He chuckled. “I have to concur; however, I did enjoy watching you ride through the park.”
“I don’t recall anyone from that day.” She picked at a blade of grass and pulled it from the ground. “My friend was with me. Then my parents, and aunt and uncle… After that, it was all a blur.”
Collin remembered that day with perfect clarity. It was when he realized how dire the estate manager had left his estate. “Lady Pearyn,” he said absentmindedly.
