Chapter 12

"You know I was wrong about you, I think," Lady Felicity said, that same sly smile on her face that she had held the last thirty minutes or so. The same that matched the look in her eyes.

"Is that so?" Charles chuckled. "And what is it that you were wrong about?"

"You're not the terrible, no-good scoundrel that I thought."

"Is that right?" he laughed.

"Do not misunderstand me," she assured him, unable to stop herself from grinning. "That is not to say you are without flaw. Certainly still someone who I should be wary of." She widened her eyes at him as if to warn him that she was not joking. "But not a completely terrible person."

"I will take that as a compliment."

"As you should," she said rightly. "I would imagine it is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about you."

"And the same goes for you," he shot back to her.

"Meaning?" She raised an eyebrow at him, sensing where he was going with this, but not at all putout or wary.

"When we first met, I thought you a cold fish. Rude. Dispassionate. The kind to make babes weep in their mother's arms."

She snorted. "Oh, I wasn't that bad."

"You were worse," he said, unable to hide his smile. "But alas, I was wrong. You are still some of those things, to be fair."

"It has been a while since I've made any babes weep."

"Just not as bad as I originally assumed. Why, I would even go so far as to say that you have it in you to be kind. Sometimes, on occasion, even funny and a pleasure to be around."

"How dare you."

"Do not worry, I will not tell anyone."

"See that you do not. I do, after all, have a reputation to uphold."

"As do I," he said seriously. "One which I have all but destroyed today. Who would have thought a walk in the park could do such a thing."

"All part of my plan," Lady Felicity smirked. "To unmask you."

This promenade was going better than Charles would have ever thought possible. Not that he'd had very high hopes for it, but even still. He and Lady Felicity walked side by side, hand in hand, the very picture of a perfect courtship. To anyone who was taking note, they would not have seen deception at play, and they would not dream that this right here was all part of a greater plan. It looked friendly, companionable, even romantic, dare he say it.

Not that this was a part of Charles' plan, mind you.

He had wanted a quick, easy marriage. One without any of the fuss that courtship brought. That was half the reason he had chosen Lady Felicity in the first place, for he was certain that she would want the same. Up until today, the way she had treated him, how could he have thought any different?

But she was different from what he had expected. Oh sure, she was still the same sharp, cunning, quick-witted Lady he had met that day at Harry's luncheon. She was still ruthless when she wanted to be. She still knew how to poke at his softer side. But something had changed between the two of them, something Charles hadn't wanted but was now starting to enjoy more than he should have.

"Do you think we upset them?" Charles chuckled, nodding to their right, where Lord Moore and his future wife no longer walked beside them. They had wandered off at least thirty minutes ago, slipping away shortly after Charles' true story of how he and Harry had met ended.

"I hope so," Lady Felicity laughed. "But personally, I just think they wanted some alone time."

"Good riddance," Charles agreed. "Far too happy for my liking, do you not think."

"Oh, most certainly. I am happy for them, do not misunderstand me. But happy does not mean I need it shoved in my face every second."

"Agreed," he laughed. "Besides, they were no fun to be around. This here..." He winked at her. "Is much more enjoyable. Do you not think?"

"I am beyond surprised to say that I do," she laughed.

They still held hands as they walked, and it didn't feel as if that would end any time soon. Rather, Charles felt that it would be strange if they let go. There was a natural feel to the way her hand was entwined through his own, a sense that it belonged. And where he had walked hand in hand with a dozen other ladies in his life, never before had he wished for it to continue.

When Lady Felicity had suggested that they court one another for two weeks, Charles had convinced himself that Lady Felicity was simply being smart. She knew the ton well enough to know that games needed to be played if they wished to fool everybody. Surely, it wasn't an attempt to lure him into some sort of romance? Surely, she didn't wish for this to become something real?

And he might have still thought the same, were it not for the way she was acting. She walked close to him, leaning in as she spoke. She was kind and funny and flirtatious. She wasn't nearly as mean. He had seduced and been seduced by many a woman in his life, and Charles recognized all the signs.

Was it possible that Lady Felicity wanted him? And if she did, why did that not terrify Charles as it should have?

"Your Grace!" a voice cried out suddenly from behind where Charles and Lady Felicity walked.

The hackles on the back of Charles' neck stood up as soon as he heard his name cried, for he recognized that voice. And although he could not say why he did it, he snatched his hand away from Lady Felicity"s before turning around.

An instant mistake, he knew right away, for he saw the look of shock, disappointment, and disgust crossed her face. Both at the sudden removal of his hand from hers and at who it was that approached them.

"Lady Beatrice," Charles smiled because he thought he must; it was polite to do so, after all. "What a... a pleasant surprise."

"I would hope so," Lady Beatrice giggled as she hurried along the path toward him. And when she reached him, she shot her hand out so he could take and kiss the back of it.

What luck! Terrible luck, that is. Charles suppressed the groan from escaping his lips and forced that smile to remain as Lady Beatrice put herself right in front of him, all but ignoring Lady Felicity. He had not forgotten the last time the two had spoken, the implication she had made, and how obviously she had made it. Worse, too, that she must have suspected why he was here with Lady Felicity, and still she approached him.

This could only go badly.

"I would not expect to see you here this day," Lady Beatrice said, fluttering her eyelashes suggestively. "I seem to remember you once telling me that you hated promenades."

"Well... it was such a nice day..."

"And His Grace knows better than to say no to me," Lady Felicity interjected, her tone as cold as ice. And that wasn't to mention the look she fixed on Lady Beatrice.

"Oh!" Lady Beatrice turned slightly to acknowledge Lady Felicity. "Felicity. Forgive me, I did not see you there."

"How do you do, Beatrice?"

"Well, this is a surprise," Lady Beatrice giggled. "I did not know the two of you were so...friendly."

"I am sure there is a lot you do not know," Lady Felicity said.

"You may know that Lord Moore is engaged to Lady Felicity"s sister," Charles hurried to explain. "Seeing as myself and Lord Moore are so close, we thought we should get to know one another a little better."

He knew right away it was the wrong thing to say. Lady Felicity shot him a look of such disdain he could feel it stab at his insides. Worse than that, she even took a small step away from him.

"Is that right?" Lady Beatrice said, eyes going wide. "Well, yes, I suppose that makes sense. But knowing you, Your Grace..." She giggled and slapped his arm. "I would not be surprised either way."

Charles winced. "And you? What brings you here?"

"Just going for a walk, seeing who I run in to." She flashed her eyes at him. "And I am glad I did run into you, too. What we spoke about the other night..." She flicked her eyes at Lady Felicity, a sort of warning, Charles thought. "I would love to discuss it further."

"Ah yes. Maybe..."

"Think about it..." She reached out and rested a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. "You need only to send word." Another squeeze, more obvious this time, and she turned to Lady Felicity. "Felicity. Lovely to see you."

"I wish I could say the same."

"Charming." She flashed another smile at Charles, ignored Lady Felicity entirely, and then scurried away as if she had never been.

As was to be expected, the mood shifted the moment that Lady Beatrice was gone. Where before, Charles and Lady Felicity were getting along famously, as comfortable as two old friends, a sort of barrier had been erected between them now, one that Lady Felicity seemed happy to be on the other side of.

She did not wait for Charles to start their walk or suggest they continue. Instead, she turned on her heel and began alone, forcing Charles to fall in beside her.

"I can explain," he hurried.

"Explain what?" she said with apparent disinterest. "Everyone knows about Lady Beatrice. How much of a busybody she is. Really, there is nothing to explain."

"Yes, she is that," he laughed, hoping she would join him, not surprised when she didn't. "Everywhere I look, she seems to be right there."

"I am sure you have that problem a lot."

"Problem?"

"Women who you know," she responded coolly, looking ahead as she walked. "By now there must be so many that they are nearly impossible to avoid."

"Lady Beatrice and I... there is nothing there. We have never... she and I have never..." He choked on his explanation, not entirely sure how to phrase it.

"Oh, I know," she chuckled softly. "I was simply speaking broadly. That's all."

"Is something wrong?"

"Why should it be?" She glanced to the sky. "Only that it is getting a little late and we should probably try and find my sister and Lord Moore. No doubt they wish to head home soon, no?"

Oh, something was wrong. And Charles knew what. Unfortunately, he felt that he was in a bit of a bind. On the one hand, to apologize for what he had said and how he had acted would be to admit that there was more here than a fake courtship, that he needed to apologize because he had done the wrong thing – which would be the case, if this courtship was real. Yet on the other hand, to ignore it would cement the fact that this was only ever meant to be a ruse in the first place, and that he had no reason to apologize, for why should she even care?

He looked down at Lady Felicity"s hand. He considered taking it and telling her that he had simply panicked, asking for forgiveness, maybe even saying he would make up for it. And his hand... it half reached out to do just that.

Charles stopped short. Today was lovely. It was a suggestion of what might be. But he told himself, forcing himself to believe, that he did not want any part of it. Feelings, companionship, even romance... that simply was not him. Best to see this as a good excuse to start again from the beginning and not risk going down a path he never wanted to in the first place.

Even if it hurt him more than it should have.

"Agreed." He walked beside Lady Felicity, making sure to keep his distance. "We should find them, before it gets too late. I would hate for them to worry."

And so it was that they walked side by side but not hand in hand. Their conversation was minimal. Their physicality was nonexistent. It was the right move, Charles knew, and yet... when he glanced at Lady Felicity, he couldn't help but notice the disappointment in her eyes. And when he saw that, he felt it twist his insides in a way he did not expect, nor did he enjoy.

Who would have guessed that a marriage of convenience could be so darn confusing.