Page 11 of A Marriage Most Convenient

“Hopefully it won’t come to that, but it might be the only way we’ll know for certain,” Charlotte said with a wince.

“I hope not, for your sake,” Willow said. “Else you may find your reputation in tatters.”

CHAPTER 4

Edmond picked up the mask one more time and stuffed it into his pocket. With determined strides, he crossed his bedroom and made his way outside to the waiting carriage. It had been more than two weeks since he’d last gone out as Jack. The same night he’d kissed Charlotte. A week since he’d danced with her as himself.

After the moonlight kiss he’d decided to end his tenure as the Jack of Hearts. He’d had enough. His adventures as Jack had ended with him kissing that infuriating woman.

As far as he’d been concerned, the matter had been settled.

But then the unthinkable had happened. The Jack of Hearts made another appearance. On an evening Edmond had spent sharing a quiet dinner with his parents. Someone else had stepped out, masquerading as the Jack of Hearts.

When Edmond had first read the news of Jack’s latest robbery, he’d been amused. Confused, yes, but mostly amused. No one knew he was the original Jack of Hearts. No one could possibly connect him to Jack’s previous actions, so what did he care if some new rogue took over the identity? After all, he was done with it.

Except…there was Charlotte.

Beautiful, reckless Charlotte Reed, wandering off into darkened gardens and kissing masked men.

He shouldn’t care who she kissed— no, he didn’t care who she kissed— but the idea of her kissing some other masked man, believing she was kissing him, that was untenable.

This other man may not be as gentlemanly as he was. This new Jack couldn’t be trusted with Charlotte’s virtue.

She was still his sister’s best friend and he would be damned if she found herself hurt because he’d impetuously kissed her.

So tonight, he had one more thing to accomplish as Jack...warn Charlotte that she shouldn’t allow masked strangers to take liberties with her. The very last thing he’d want is for her to be assaulted because she trusted the wrong man. She might be a spoiled girl used to getting precisely what she wanted, whenever she wanted it, but he didn’t want any harm to befall her.

There had been a time when he’d fancied himself in love with her. They’d been younger then. She and Willow had come out the same year, and though it had taken more than one Season for them to become friends, he had noticed Charlotte immediately. Of course he’d noticed her. Every man had noticed Charlotte.

But unlike other men, Edmond had always found it difficult to talk to strangers and that year had been no different. Still he’d done his level best to try to court her before another man snagged her. But his efforts had been awkward at best, painful at their worst. She’d walked in the gardens with him once, but his conversation skills had been sorely lacking. So when he’d proposed marriage after knowing her for only a handful of weeks, she’d politely declined.

They’d never spoken of that day again. He wasn’t even certain she remembered. There had been so many proposals since his. Every one of them declined. Which begged the question—what the devil was she waiting on?

He had to assume that she simply enjoyed being pursued too much to settle for one man.

He’d taken that rejection of hers and had forced himself to change. He’d realized that even if he had to pretend, he needed to appear comfortable enough in social settings. He needed to be able to, at the very least, carry on simple conversations. He’d originally intended to use those changes to woo her again, properly this time. But as he’d watched her, he’d realized she wasn’t worth it. Wasn’t worth his time and effort. That didn’t mean she didn’t deserve a warning to be more careful with her person. He shuddered to think what would happen if that other thief got her alone.

He knew she’d be at the opera tonight with her sister and a few friends. It didn’t take him long to arrive at the opera house. His plan was a simple one. He’d maneuver through the crowds—without his mask—find her, then wait for right opportunity for Jack to appear. However, when he arrived and scanned the sea of faces, he cursed himself for not arriving sooner so he could have waited against the wall as the crowd arrived.

God, he hated crowds. The noise, the smells, it was a barrage to his senses that made him want to pluck at his collar, loosen his cravat. The lobby area was packed with noise and bodies. Perfume and tobacco clung to the air in an odd and rather cloying mixture. He desperately wanted to flee and take refuge outside in the cool night air. But he swallowed the sensations scratching at his skin and continued looking around. Deep, steady breathing was what he needed to focus on. It was what worked for him in these moments when he wanted nothing more than to disappear.

Then he spotted her. Tall and graceful, dressed in a cream-colored gown that molded to every inch of her curvaceous flesh. The square neckline delved low enough to reveal sumptuous décolletage, and the tiny lace fringe seemed to tickle her creamy flesh. Her breasts weren’t overly large, but perfectly rounded and pert; her waist narrow, and though he’d never seen them, he knew her legs would be long and shapely. Ultimately, she had a body that made men want her and women want to be her.

Her silky black locks were piled atop her head in an ornate confection, leaving her long, graceful neck completely bare. He knew that her hair was too heavy and too thick to take the fashionable curls. And it took very little of his imagination to see that raven curtain barely covering her pale breasts. Her hardened nipples peeking through the ebony strands.

He wanted nothing more than to nuzzle that sweet spot right below her ear. To breathe in her sweet scent, nibble a path down to her collarbone.

Christ, what was wrong with him? He could not have Charlotte. He did not even want Charlotte.

Yes, she was beautiful. But outward beauty didn’t always translate to anything substantial for someone’s character. And outward beauty was all Charlotte possessed. Underneath that beauty, Charlotte was a spoiled brat.

The electrical lights crackled, then flickered, alerting everyone to find their seats. The crowd shuffled towards the doors that would gain them entrance into the prime viewing boxes with their velvet-covered seats. The more pedestrian seats down below were wooden and woefully uncomfortable for long performances.

Various shoes clamoring against the marble floors belied the supposed genteel nature of the crowd. Edmond clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. Would that he could simply disappear to the wide-open English countryside. After this, perhaps he could simply retire from social life all together. He wasn’t needed any longer to protect his sister since she was now a happily married woman. A feat he’d never expected to happen. Willow had never been particularly interested in men, focusing all of her energy on caring for their ailing mother since their father was well into his years now. But leaving London would heap all of the family worries into his sister’s lap and he wouldn’t do that to her.

Edmond kept his eyes on the statuesque brunette and noticed she was currently walking with his sister. He hadn’t known Willow would be in attendance tonight. That might complicate things, but more than likely it wouldn’t. For the most part, he, as Jack, had been able to avoid being in the same room as his sister. Mask or not, she’d know him instantly. Willow was observant and annoyingly clever.

Charlotte and Willow were clearly having a friendly debate about something as they made their way through the red-and-gilded doors. That was their way. He needed to know where Charlotte was sitting, but he kept enough distance so that neither woman would see him. He crept into the noisy theatre, nodding at acquaintances as he went.

---