Page 84 of Tempted By an Unconventional Lady
“And thank God for that.”
They arrived at the house at the very same moment that Arthur was jumping down from his horse and handing the reins to the groom.
“You both look happy with yourselves.”
“It’s easy to be happy when you are in love,” Alexander replied, glancing over at the beautiful woman who had become his everything. Her cheeks blushed, making him want her all the more.
Arthur rolled his eyes. “Good grief, man! Is it really necessary to rub your happiness in everyone’s face? I wouldn’t have helped, had I known.”
“I’m sorry, Mulligan, but I can do nothing to stop myself from telling the entire world, for the entire world needs to know. I love Charlotte Fairchild, and Charlotte Fairchild loves me! I consider myself the luckiest man alive.”
“To have found love and to have solved your financial troubles, all in one week? That is pretty lucky,” Arthur admitted.
“And we have you to think for it, Mr. Mulligan,” Charlotte cooed, placing an affectionate hand on his arm. “You cannot know how grateful I am.”
“It was worth it, Miss Charlotte. And please, call me Arthur. We have been through enough together now to drop formalities, don’t you think? I mean, if we hadn’t been careful, we would have been married off ourselves!”
“Goodness, that would have been awful,” Charlotte said.
Alexander threw her a shocked expression, but with her eyes wide and her cheeks red, it was obvious she knew what a faux pas she had made.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, Arthur, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s all right,” he said with a soft chuckle. “I quite agree. We make perfect friends but would make terrible spouses. Whereas you and the duke? Why, you’re a match made in heaven.”
Charlotte took in a deep breath and looked at the door to the house. “I suppose we ought to go and face the music, then,” she said.
“Perhaps I should stay outside,” Alexander said. He wanted to be by Charlotte’s side, of course he did. But he likewise wanted to allow her to take the lead. This was her family. She deserved the chance to repay them in any way she saw fit, and she likewise was strong enough to deal with anything.
“No, I’d rather you were with me,” Charlotte replied, and relief flooded through him.
Together, they walked up to the steps and into the house.
Charlotte walked through the door to the drawing room first.
“Oh, you’re back,” Lady Fairchild said. From the brightness in her voice, Alexander knew she was smiling. “Did you have a lovely ride with Arthur? He’s such a good rider, isn’t he? There is no end to that man’s talents.”
“Actually, I wasn’t with Arthur.”
Charlotte stepped inside, allowing Alexander step in after her, and Lady Fairchild’s face darkened in an instant.
“What areyoudoing here?” she demanded before swinging back to Charlotte. “Have you not learned enough about this brute of a man to know better than spend any time with him?”
“I only know what you have told me,” Charlotte replied.
She threw herself into an armchair, a look of glee written across her face. Alexander followed her and lowered himself into the seat next to hers.
“What on earth is going on here?” she demanded.
“The duke and I are to marry,” Charlotte said brightly. “I am to become Duchess of Ashbourne.”
She had already agreed to marry him. She had already professed her love to him. And yet, hearing those words come out of her mouth sent tingles down his spine. He still couldn’t quite believe it. The woman he had come to think of as part of his very being would soon be his in life and the law, and they would live out a beautiful life together in a fully restored and updated manor house. Goodness, what great things the future held.
“I think you will find you are not,” Lady Fairchild cried. She pushed out her ample bosom as she boomed the words across the room. “I think—”
“I think you ought not say too much, Aunt Lydia,” Arthur said as finally stepped into the drawing room. “We know all about your schemes—and Miss Charlotte and I have no desire to marry one another regardless!”
The older woman slumped back onto the couch, her expression one of defeat. Alexander would have felt sorry forher, had he not known how close he had come to losing everything he ever wanted at her hands.
