Page 38 of One Scandal Too Many
“Protest all you want.” Melisande shrugged again. “I’m no fool. The only question is, which one has caught your eye?” She winked. “I’ll tell you which one I find attractive. He might not be my future, but he’ll do for now.”
“I don’t think I want to know.” She definitely wanted to know... what gentleman did Melisande have her sights on?
“I’ll tell you anyway.” Oh, good. She would not have to admit she was curious. She almost laughed but held it in and waited for Melisande to respond. “It’s Lord Kendal.” Melisande licked her lips. “He’s a bit crude, but I like it. Before this house party ends, I will entice a kiss from him.”
“That’s not . . .”
“Do not tell me it isn’t a good idea.” Melisande glared at her. “I can make my own decisions.”
What had happened to her to make her this way? All the girls at Havenwood had been sent there for a reason. She had never asked anyone why they had been admitted to the school. Mostly because she didn’t want to share her own story. But she couldn’t help wondering about Melisande. Perhaps she should befriend her. She seemed to need a friend. One that would help her see there were better choices to make than the ones she was determined to follow through on. The girl seemed determined tofollow after Lord Kendal. Though Charlotte couldn’t be certain if the viscount had encouraged her to do so. She was far too brazen in her actions though. She should at least attempt to be more circumspect. What if she kept pursuing Lord Kendal only to have him snub her? Where would that leave her? With a scandal she couldn’t erase so easily. Either way, Charlotte couldn’t do anything at the moment. Whatever she decided to do, it would have to wait until they were not on this hunt.
“I would never attempt to tell you what you should do,” she told Melisande. “But you should at least use discretion. If all you want is a kiss—be careful. It might end up being more than you thought it would be.”
Charlotte knew that better than most. Her heart was all tangled up in Declan now. She didn’t even notice other gentlemen. She wanted him, and him alone. Her father would arrange a marriage for her one day, and she would always think about Declan. It might be the only thing that kept her sane in a loveless union. Did she love Declan? She thought perhaps she might, but what did she know of love?
“What would you know about that?” Melisande lifted a mocking brow. “Have you ever been kissed?” She snorted. “Unlikely.”
Melisande thought she knew Charlotte. Wouldn’t she be surprised to discover how little she understood and that Charlotte had been kissed several times by the Marquess of Easton? She wouldn’t tell her that, though. She didn’t want anyone to know. It was her secret, and she would hold it in her heart forever. “How is that any concern of yours?”
“That is a no, then,” Melisande said almost triumphantly. As if Charlotte had confirmed something she had already known to be true. It was enough to make her hate Melisande. “I don’t know about you,” she began. “But I have a man to claim, and I intend to do so on this hunt.” With those words, she pushedher horse into a gallop and raced toward the gentlemen ahead of them.
Her actions kicked up some debris from the path, and it uncovered something slithering below. Kallippos reared up as the snake raised its head, prepared to strike after it had been startled. Charlotte slipped off her horse and hit the ground, and her head bounced over the hard surface. The snake didn’t bite Kallippos, but not for lack of trying. Instead, it caught Charlotte’s boot between its fangs. She didn’t have much time to think about it before darkness overtook her.
*
Declan slowed hishorse to a walk. Melisande had flown by on her horse, and it gave him pause. She had been in the back riding alongside Charlotte. If Melisande had raced to join them, where was Charlotte? Was she alone? Should he hold back and ensure she was all right?
He had far more questions than answers. There was only one thing that he could do. Declan would have to go search for Charlotte himself. The sky had turned dark, and they were due for a storm soon. The hunt was almost over anyway, and he wanted to ensure Charlotte made it back to the house safely. The Havenwood party would have to remain at Easton Abbey until after the storm passed.
The sky grew dark in a matter of moments, a disheartening occurrence that filled him with anxiety. He had to find Charlotte soon before they were caught in the upcoming downpour. He urged his horse down the path, backtracking the way they had already traveled. Trees surrounded him on both sides, making it even darker. In the distance, he noticed Kallippos chewing on some grass, but Charlotte was not on her back. Fear flowed over him in waves. Where had she gone, and why was shenot with the mare? He urged his own horse forward until he reached Kallippos. Declan slid out of the saddle and reached for Kallippos’s reins. He secured both horses on a nearby tree branch and walked until he found Charlotte.
She was sprawled on the ground and not moving. Her honey blonde hair had come loose from its simple chignon and fell over her face in unruly waves. He rushed to her side and turned her over to examine her face. There was dirt smudged on her cheek, and she was unconscious. Tension overtook him as he surveyed everything. She was still breathing, so that was a good sign. He would have to set aside the alarm that wanted to take over and do what was best for her. He had to get her back to Easton Abbey, but with the storm coming in, he didn’t think they would make it in time.
He considered his options and what he could do to protect her. What he decided to do would ruin her reputation, but it was the only choice he had. There was a small hunting cabin not far from where they were. When a gamekeeper was hired for Easton Abbey, he usually resided there, but Declan hadn’t had one in a while. The cabin would probably be dusty, but serviceable for their needs. It would keep her out of the inclement weather until he could take her back to Easton Abbey where she’d have better care. He couldn’t risk her catching an illness to make her ailment worse.
Now, how to get her to the cabin as safely as possible? Declan picked her up into his arms and carried her over to the horses. He wanted to put her on the horse, but she might fall off, and he couldn’t mount first. There was nothing else he could do. He would have to carry her to the cabin and then come back for the horses. He would get soaked. The rain was already starting to fall, and he had to move Charlotte as quickly as possible.
He rushed down the path toward the cabin. When he reached it, he opened the door as he juggled Charlotte in his arms.Luckily, the cabin wasn’t locked, making it easy to get inside. He set her down on a settee and ensured she would be comfortable while he retrieved the horses.
Charlotte’s eyelids fluttered open. “Declan?”
“Yes, darling,” he said. “Don’t move. I haven’t had time to examine you for injuries. I’ll be back soon.”
She reached out and clasped her hand to his wrist. “Don’t leave me.” The anxiety in her tone nearly broke his heart. He didn’t want to leave her. Declan would gladly stay with her always, but he had to go back for the horses and some provisions in his saddlebag. He didn’t know how long they would be secluded in the cabin. “I won’t be long,” he told her. “I promise.”
“Please,” she said. “I don’t want to be alone.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. What had happened to her? He would have to ask her some questions when he returned. Declan had to make sure she wasn’t seriously injured. Had she fallen off of Kallippos? “I don’t want to leave you, darling.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You will be all right for a little while. I won’t be gone long enough for you to miss me.”
“Promise me,” she demanded.
“I promise,” he said again. She must not have heard him earlier.
“I think I love you,” she said. “I can’t love you.”
His heart skipped a beat. Why couldn’t she love him? He liked the idea of her being in love with him. Especially with his own feelings so tangled up with her. His desire for her was more than he’d ever felt in his entire life. He had a great need to take care of her, and he wanted her to be with him always. Declan wasn’t sure if that was love or not; however, he did know he felt something for her. He hadn’t allowed himself to think too much about what she meant to him.
“We will talk more when I return,” he told her. “Don’t move while I am gone.”
