Chapter 10

Chapter

Ten

C harlotte's steps throughout the remainder of the day in her home were filled with expectation and joy. This morning she had made progress in her seduction of Mr. Richards.

Alexander.

How lovely his name was, and she often thought of him as she moved about the house during the day. She sat in the music room, playing on the pianoforte and flipping through sheet music, when she caught the sound of a conversation between her father and Alexander, carrying from her papa's library.

"This is one of the Season's biggest games, and I'm certain to put my name in the hat. The buy-in alone is five thousand pounds, and should I win, the windfall will be quite satisfying."

"Your Grace, do you think you ought to gamble such a large sum? While I know you can afford such bets, it isn't like you to be interested in such games."

"Well, I wouldn't normally be, but there is talk that Lord Tatton may gamble his small country estate in Leicestershire, and you know he has one of the best hunting lodges in England. I would be well pleased to win that."

"Why would Lord Tatton gamble his estate? He could lose it."

"Well," her father continued. "He hasn't the funds to enter but can wager one of his smaller estates. He does have several. His lordship has the unfortunate situation of being asset-rich but very cash-poor."

"Who is his steward?" Mr. Richards asked her papa.

"He fired him years ago, probably because the poor fellow suggested Tatton stop spending his money like water. Which, of course, his lordship promptly ignored, and he is suffering for it today."

"Ah, I see. And when is this card game, and where?"

Her father said the game would be at Lady Dames in Soho sometime in the following weeks, but the date was yet to be settled.

Charlotte picked up her small, portable writing desk and wrote two missives for Genevieve and Matilda, ringing for a maid and sending the messages posthaste.

She needed to speak to her friends about this card game. Perhaps Mr. Richards would attend with her papa, ensuring all was above board and her father did not get carried away, as he was wont to do at times.

Could she and her friends attend as well? If they wore disguises—which was not uncommon for women entering gambling hells to keep their reputations intact, or simply to be mysterious for the opposite sex—they could slip in unnoticed.

Within the hour, her friends had arrived, and they were seated in the drawing room, far from her papa's office, to ensure privacy.

Charlotte explained what she had overheard—the details of the gambling night that all of London would soon hear about and want to attend.

"So, what do you think? Should we attend? I still have my mask from Lady Fraser's that I could wear. No one would ever recognize us if we dressed as we did that evening."

"I'll attend with you, most certainly. Society balls do get a little monotonous when we attend what feels like hundreds of them a Season. A night at a gambling den sounds just the thing."

"I cannot. I'm so very sorry," Genevieve said. "We're leaving for our country estate next week. Beckett has been worried I'm doing too much in town and is forcing me to travel with him to recuperate and relax before the birth of the child. I told him he was being silly, that I was perfectly fine. Women were created to carry babies and survive the Season at the same time, but there is no changing his mind. And believe me, I've tried."

Charlotte chuckled, well imagining how her friend had attempted to persuade him. Still, she could see Lord Tyndall's side of things. "So long as you're safe and well, that is all that matters. We shall miss you, but we'll be sure to come and stay when the baby arrives. I hope Lord Tyndall is aware of that."

"I do not think he would even attempt to stop you all from coming. I cannot wait for the baby and to have you both with me."

Matilda swiped a tear away and waved everyone's words aside. "Enough with such talk, or we'll all be blubbering messes. Now, more about this gambling night. It appears it'll be you and me, Charlotte. I still have my gown from Lady Fraser's, too. We'll go as we did before—no one knew it was us, and that's what we'll need."

"Do you think your father could recognize you?" Genevieve asked, running her hand over her rounded stomach—not that it was too obvious yet, as their skirts had yards of material and hid any such bumps.

"I don't think so, and I shall keep my distance while watching. But I do believe Mr. Richards will be there. That's the only reason I wish to go. Merely to see him outside of this house, in a more relaxed environment. I'm curious to see if he may appear a little more disheveled than normal."

"You do like him," Matilda stated, staring at her. "Has anything else happened since you mentioned him last?"

"Well, as for that little tidbit of news…" Charlotte recounted what had happened while looking at the moon and in the library the following day. She finished her retelling, only to look up and see both her friends staring at her with astonishment.

"You think I was a little too bold, do you not?"

"Perhaps a little," Genevieve cautioned. "Do not forget he's your father's steward. It's unlikely the duke will allow him to marry you."

"I know." Charlotte sighed, hating that this was the case and constantly being reminded of it. "I don't see why we can't marry who we want."

"You do not know that he'll make you happy. For all his handsomeness and intelligence, you may kiss him and feel like you're kissing a wet fish from the Serpentine Lake."

"I don't think I would feel that at all, Matilda, but thank you for suggesting Mr. Richards may kiss like a wet fish."

Matilda chuckled and reached for her hand. "Oh no, I do not mean it that way. But what if there's nothing behind those perfect looks? What if he's boring?"

Charlotte thought about her friend's words, unable to believe that would be the case. "I don't think so. I feel it whenever I'm around him—my stomach flips with twists and turns. He makes me nervous, and it takes all my effort not to stumble over my words or make a fool of myself." She paused, clasping her stomach. "Even now, just thinking of him, I want him. I need him to kiss me so I know what I feel is valid. I can't go to Papa and beg Mr. Richards to be my husband without genuine feelings. But I know, in my soul, that if I kiss him, I will know."

"Well then, there's only one thing to do," Genevieve stated.

Matilda nodded in agreement. "I agree. You must kiss him. Take that beautiful man by the lapels of his coat and kiss him long and satisfyingly, and then you'll know if he's worth fighting for."

The idea made her giddy with excitement and nervous at the same time. How did one go about seducing a man into kissing her? For all their shenanigans about town, she had never crossed a romantic line—had never placed herself into a situation that could ruin her reputation or give any man reason to demand marriage.

"I shall do exactly that, but when and where? I'm unsettled just thinking about it."

"It must be here, where it's safe, when you're alone and sure no staff are about."

"So never then," Charlotte teased, grinning.

"You'll find the right time, and then you must act," Matilda said.

"I will act," Charlotte agreed, more determined than ever. "Maybe even tonight."