Chapter 13

If Lord and Lady Dargate asked her to marry Angelo, Carina would do so. Had it not been for them, she would never have finished school and would have lost her closest friend at the age of five and ten. It is only because of them that she had not been forced to live in the country with family embarrassed of the connection because of what her father had done. It was bad enough that her mother had suffered such a fate, but because of Lady Dargate, Carina had been saved from such humiliation.

And now she was strolling with the one man she had been trying to avoid while waiting to be courted by a rake who was more brother than love interest.

Knight offered his arm and with reluctance, Carina rested her hand on his sleeve. Heat radiated from Knight, and it was all she could do not to draw closer to his body but to do so would be improper, especially with so many people also along the gravel drive before the Royal Crescent. Carina had forgotten that this was one of the favorite places to promenade in Bath when the day was pleasant.

"I am certain that Bolton's courtship will be enjoyable," Knight offered.

"At least I like his company."

"And he adores you."

"We are friends," she blew out in a sigh. "Hopefully it will take only a fortnight to convince Lord and Lady Dargate that Bolton and I will not suit."

"Will that then leave him an additional fortnight to court another proper miss or lady?"

"Yes. But he has survived the same four times a year since he was six and twenty. He will survive this year as well."

"I, for one, will be happy when his courtship comes to an end," Knight offered.

Carina looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Why is that?"

"Then I will be free to court you."

"We will not court," she insisted and looked straight ahead.

"Why?" he asked. "You have given me no real reason."

"It is not proper."

"You know as well as I do that our employers would not offer an objection."

That was true and Gaia had even said that they could build a cottage on their land. Except, Knight was a scoundrel, a rogue.

Carina stopped and turned to him. "To what end? Why a courtship?"

"For one, I would like another kiss," he whispered as soon as another couple passed them.

Carina rolled her eyes and turned away from him. It was just as she suspected. This was only a flirtation to him.

He gently grasped her arm, turning her back to him.

"That is not all."

Carina arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her breasts.

"What else could there be?"

"I care for you."

Her heart started pounding and Carina did her best not to read more into his words.

"More than care, Carina. I truly feared that I might die that day and all I could think of was that I had never gained a kiss from you."

"Because you are a rake and a scoundrel," she reminded him.

"Do you truly think of me as such?" he asked quietly.

Oh, she wanted to because it was easier to keep him at a distance that way.

"I have wanted to court you since you stepped out of that carriage while acting as chaperone last December. I was smitten immediately and that has never changed."

Carina sucked in a breath, uncertain what to say.

"Please, allow me to court you and prove that I can be a man worthy of you, and not the scoundrel you think me to be."

Knight's blue eyes were full of sincerity, and this was the most serious that she'd ever seen him.

Oh, she so wanted him to court her.

Just maybe she could have that future, love, and a cottage. "I fear that I am not available for courtship for another fortnight, Mr. Knight."

His smile was slow and his blue eyes warmed. "Then I eagerly await your freedom from Bolton." Knight turned and offered his arm. "However, I must warn you that he truly is a rake. If you find yourself falling in love with the rogue, remember that."

Carina couldn't help but laugh. "I can assure you that Bolton is the last gentleman I could fall in love with." Because her heart already belonged to a coachman named Felix Knight.

Further, he was already aware of her family and her father's scandal and still wanted to court her. And, for the first time, Carina experienced true hope of a future she had feared to dream about.

Finally! Carina was going to allow him to court her. Further, there was no need to wait a fortnight. Bolton could escort her about Bath and to entertainments, but Felix and Carina lived in the same home, where they could share meals and walk in the garden. There was absolutely no need for him to wait.

Well, they lived in the same home while he recovered because Lydell hadn't sent him back to his rooms above the stable.

He needed to be close to Carina and even though Felix had heard her confession in the carriage after he'd been shot, he still was not ready to tell her that he had fallen in love with her. His biggest fear was that Carina would not believe him. Instead, he would need to prove his heart to her before he uttered the words. Also, he needed to learn what she wanted that he could not provide and hoped that he was able to prove her wrong.

When they returned to Bolton's home, Lady Lydell was standing in the foyer, a satchel by her feet. A moment later, Bolton came down the stairs while a footman followed with a trunk.

"You are leaving?" Felix asked. "I thought you were to court Miss Leonelli."

"Yes, well, we have determined that our parents may not believe us if I am not able to keep an eye on my brother, the rake, at all times. Therefore, he will be taking up residence at the estate and I will be able to report to my parents that Angelo never strayed from his purpose of courting Carina."

Bloody hell! Felix would never get her alone with Bolton around. Thankfully his friend was not serious about this courtship and Felix hoped that it remained that way.

"As I will not need my carriage while visiting my sister, we shall return in my sister's," Bolton announced with a grin. "The quicker this courtship can be started, the quicker it can end."

"Angelo. Have a care for Carina's feelings."

"There is no need, Gaia. I feel exactly the same." Carina laughed.

After the trunk was stowed on the back of the carriage, Felix held the door, as was his habit and assisted the ladies inside. Carina went first and then Bolton stepped in front of his sister and entered to take a seat next to Carina instead of across from her as was proper. Lady Lydell chuckled and found her seat and Felix settled beside her, across from Carina, though he glared at a very jovial Bolton.

Bolton was going to have too much fun during this courtship and it wasn't to win Carina's heart, but to make Felix miserable. He should have never admitted to his friend that he was in love.

Bloody hell! It was going to be a very long fortnight.

"Once we have returned, I will let my husband know about the courtship and reasons for such and then we will prepare a list of places to visit and entertainments that Angelo and Carina can attend."

Bolton picked up Carina's hand and kissed her knuckles. "I am looking forward to our time together."

Carina pulled her hand away. "It is not real."

"But I must practice so that it appears real."

Carina snorted. "I have no doubt that you have had much practice in the art of flirtation, Lord Bolton, and do not need to use such flattery on me unless it is in a situation where it is called for."

"You have called me Angelo for years. Why the formality now?"

"The circumstances. It is not right to show such familiarity while in the presence of others and I do not want to accidentally do so or others will truly expect a betrothal."

If Bolton did not stop his flirtations, it may be Felix calling him out and his shot would not miss.

When the carriage pulled before Lydell's home, Felix was the first out to assist the ladies. Carina thanked him and hurried inside. Lady Lydell quickly followed. Bolton sauntered confidently behind. "A word," Felix said as soon as they stood in the entry and watched both ladies climb the stairs. "In the library."

"I could use a brandy," Bolton answered and strolled in that direction. Once inside, Felix closed the door.

"What are you about?"

"I am courting Carina."

"It is not real."

"Ah, but it must look real."

"Not when it is the four of us and Lydell."

"As I said in the carriage, I must practice so I can fool Society and my parents believe the rumors when they reach them."

"You know that is not true," Felix dismissed his argument. "So, why are you really doing this? Do you want to win her heart?"

Bolton threw back his head and laughed before walking to the sideboard and pouring himself a glass of brandy. "In truth, I was just having a bit of fun. While it is not true that jealousy can cause a green tint to the skin, it does heighten the reddish color associated with rage."

"I am not jealous," Felix ground out, even though it was the truth.

"Yes, you are." Bolton fell into a chair and negligently let his leg hang over the arm. "As soon as it was announced that I was to court Carina, your face hardened as a muscle ticked in your jaw."

"So, the kissing of her knuckles and the flirtation was for my benefit?"

"Yes, but I shall cease, unless we are in public."

"See that you do," Felix ordered before he stomped from the room. It was all he could do not to return and plant Bolton a facer as his laughter followed Felix from the house.

Well, at least he wasn't free to return to his duties and would be close by to chaperone right alongside Lady Lydell.