Chapter 33

Chapter 33

"So what do we do next?" Alexander asked as he did up the buttons on his tailcoat.

Charlotte had already righted herself, looking as she had just stepped out from the dressing room rather than up from a tussle on the ground. She approached the horses and began to untie their reins.

"We go back to the house, of course, and tell everyone our happy news."

Alexander joined her, slipping an arm around her waist and planting a soft kiss on the side of her head. She tilted her head up and smiled at him.

"Aren't you angry at your aunt? Surely you want to see her punished somehow."

"I'm angry at her actions, yes," Charlotte said. She placed her foot in the stirrup and hitched herself up. Alexander followed suit, once again marveling at this woman's unconventionality. "But I haven't yet decided what to do about it. Come along. If we hurry, we should get back at around the same time as Arthur."

Alexander watched as she took off between the trees, confident in her movement. Even after he had taken his pleasure, seeing the curve in her back and the way her body rose and fell in the saddle set his manhood twitching with desire.

How different everything felt to just a few hours earlier. The world had color again. The world was alive, and Alexander no longer felt like he was being crushed beneath the weight of sadness. With a satisfied sigh, he clicked his heels and took off after his fiancée.

"Is this what life is going to be like once we're married?" Alexander asked as he caught up to her. "You charging forward and me chasing?"

Charlotte turned and pouted. "We can take it in turns to charge forward if you like, but I won't stand for stagnation. There are so many exciting and wonderful things in the world—and I want to try each and every one of them at least once!"

Alexander chuckled. "And that is exactly why I fell in love with you in the first place. Your bravery. And that's not to mention your refusal to behave as you should."

Charlotte tutted. "There is no should other than how one truly is. I will never be a normal lady of the ton ."

"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 are you doing 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 for her, had he not known how close he had come to losing everything he ever wanted at her hands.

"I suppose I will now be subject to some punishment or other," Lady Fairchild said, her voice that of a sulky child than a manipulative older woman caught out in her games.

Charlotte tilted her head, and Alexander could see the pity in her eyes, too. "I do not wish to make Uncle Elliot sad," she replied. "And despite all you have done, you are still my aunt. But we would genuinely like Uncle Elliot's blessing for our wedding, and I should like you to find a way to fix the bad feeling."

Lady Fairchild let out a humorless scoff. "Your uncle believes everything I tell him. I love him, but he is a gullible fool."

"It's only because he sees the good in people," Charlotte replied, "whereas you only ever see the bad. If he believed you before, then he will believe you again, no?"

Without raising her head, Lady Fairchild nodded. "I will speak to him when we return to London."

"No," Alexander said, unable to stop himself from stepping in. He couldn't wait that long. He needed to resolve this sooner than that. "Write to him. Now." He nodded over to the writing desk in the corner, a quill upright next to a small pot of black ink.

"But—"

"Such a good idea, my love," Charlotte said, glancing at him, and he had that shiver of happiness yet again.

My love.

With the huff of a beaten woman, Lady Fairchild raised herself from the couch and toddled over to the writing desk. She sat down with a heavy thump, pulled out a sheet of parchment, dipped her quill into the ink, and began to write.