Page 80 of Tempted By an Unconventional Lady
Charlotte sighed. Having her aunt harangue her while she felt so wretched did nothing to help, even if Lydia thought it did. “I don’t suppose Arthur cares much for the state of my gown,”she said, mirroring their earlier conversation about the duke. “It’s not as if this one is damaged or ripped or even stained.”
“I suppose it’ll have to do,” Lydia said with a sigh just as the butler entered the breakfast room. He stopped at the doorway, his back straight and his hands clasped in front of him.
“Mr. Arthur Mulligan has arrived, my lady.”
Aunt Lydia beamed. “He’s early! You see how keen he is, Charlotte? He’s arrived early!”
“I am indeed early,” Arthur said as he stepped into the room. “And for good reason too.”
“Arthur!” Aunt Lydia cooed over him as if he were a bird, rising from her seat and flapping around him. “It’s been too long. Come in, come in. Charlotte and I were just talking about how eager she has been to see you. Isn’t that right, Charlotte?”
Charlotte looked up from her breakfast and smiled weakly. At least when she met Arthur’s gaze, she could tell that he, too, felt the rather unwanted pressure of Aunt Lydia’s meddling. He was too kind and too soft to do anything about it, though. Charlotte suspected the man would blindly follow his aunt anywhere, thinking her the superior intelligence.
“I have been looking forward to the distraction your visit will provide,” Charlotte replied diplomatically, not wanting to get anyone’s hopes up.
“And a wonderful distraction you are too,” Aunt Lydia said, ushering him further into the breakfast room. “Come, you must be hungry. I’ll have the maid fetch—”
“Actually, no,” Arthur said.
He stood perfectly still and smiled sweetly to his aunt. For her part, she looked shocked, and Charlotte suppressed a giggle. She doubted that he had ever stood up to her before, and the fact that he had done so now sparked interest in her. Perhaps he was more than the sweet but dull man she had considered him before.
“No?”
“I’ve already eaten,” he said. “We stopped at an inn not too far from here and took a little sustenance. Now, I rather think I’m ready for a ride.”
“But you’ve only just got here,” Aunt Lydia cried.
Charlotte dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin, listening with interest but not daring to get herself involved.
“And we all know how good a little exercise can be for the constitution, Aunt Lydia.” His gaze shifted to Charlotte. She widened her eyes, panicked that he had noticed her. “Surely you agree, Miss Charlotte?”
Charlotte cleared her throat, glancing between him and Aunt Lydia. She had no desire to offend either of them. “Er… yes, I suppose it is.”
“Then you’ll join me then?”
Charlotte had no desire to go for a ride and even less of a desire to socialize, but the hope in his eyes was so bright that she found herself unable to say no. She’d always been different, but she’d never been cruel. And besides, she was most curious now. She was certain he felt the same as her—that their marriage would be the most ridiculous thing—yet she sensed he wanted something out of her, and that set her mind wondering. Why would he be so keen to take her for a ride?
“A ride sounds quite delightful, actually. Shall I ask Annie to come along as chaperone?”
“Oh no, I’m afraid I need her here,” Aunt Lydia said. “But that’s quite all right. You are almost family. I trust you both to go out alone.”
Charlotte raised her eyebrows at her aunt. It wasn’t that she particularly wanted a chaperone. She knew she could overpower Arthur if it came to it, but she didn’t think it would. He was a gentle soul. But she was most surprised at her aunt’s relaxed attitude about it. She really must have been keen for them to marry—and certain they would marry—in order for her to so easily risk Charlotte’s honor.
Not that I have any honor any longer.
A memory of the duke’s hand upon her breast flashed through her mind, and her cheeks warmed. Rake though he may have been, she would miss the touch of his hand on her flesh or the taste of his lips on her own. She didn’t imagine Arthur would be much of a match to a man like the duke.
“It’s settled then,” Arthur said, beaming across the room. “I shall see you outside in thirty minutes.”
Half an hour later, Charlotte stepped out of the house to find two horses already saddled on the gravel driveway. Arthur stood next to them, holding their reins. His boots were polished to a high shine, and it seemed their brightness bounced off his face, for he looked at her with such light that Charlotte wondered whether she had made a mistake. Perhaps he did want more from her than she was willing to give, after all.
“Good morning again,” she said as she took the reins of the smaller horse.
“Do you need help mounting?” he asked, causing her to snort with amusement.
She looked him directly in the eye and didn’t avert her gaze at all as she secured her foot in the stirrup and heaved herself onto the saddle. Once seated, she grinned at him. Arthur raised his eyebrows.
“I see not. Very impressive, Miss Charlotte. You have a strength that many men would long for.”
