Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Charlotte felt assured that it was all going to work out. It just had to. She had thought her world had stopped turning the moment her stepmother and stepsister had arrived.

The very fact that they have the nerve to come there and to add insult to injury, they brought that wretch LeBlanc!

She watched Henry, as he searched for Bethany. Charlotte tried to control the jealousy that had taken hold her of the moment Bethany had arrived.

He loves me, I know he does! Charlotte thought as she watched him looking about for her sister. Charlotte was so inside her thoughts that she never saw Lord LeBlanc walking up beside her.

"My Lady, we finally have a moment to ourselves," he said.

"A brief moment, I am hoping," Charlotte said, without sparing his feelings. The man was a male version of her sister. He would stop at nothing to marry into money. "It goes against my understanding why you have not just married my sister," Charlotte said, feeling tired of the games being played.

"How could I when I have always loved you, My Lady," Lord LeBlanc said in a way he must imagine made a woman swoon. The only thing that did feel moved was her throbbing head and churning stomach.

"And what is it you love so dearly, LeBlanc? The money that will alleviate your gambling debts or the title that might finally win you a little respect from your peers?" Charlotte asked directly. She was not given to playing with people and their emotions. She would not entertain it in others.

"My Lady, I believe you have the wrong impression of me. I care deeply about you," Lord LeBlanc said as he moved to take her hand. Charlotte did not even allow him that.

"If that is the truth, then surely you must care about my happiness?" Charlotte asked.

"Naturally, My Lady," LeBlanc said with what barely passed as a smile.

"Then it should please you greatly that you can indeed make me happy," Charlotte said. Lord LeBlanc's eyes widened at her words. "You can leave me be and never return." Charlotte finished and let herself enjoy his confusion while she made her escape from him.

I would not put it past him to have planned this to get me alone with him! Charlotte thought as she went searching for Bethany as well.

"You forget so easily what you owe me," he called after her. Charlotte turned back toward him.

"What do I owe you? Do enlighten me. Do I owe you for your mother's land, your mother's food, perhaps? Not one thing given to us was yours," Charlotte said, taking a step closer to him with every word she spoke.

"I have no idea what you mean. Everything belonged to my father," he retorted.

"Ah yes, so it would seem to those who benefit from a women's money as you do. No wonder you have no scruples when it comes to finding money to marry, just like your father did," Charlotte said, and watched as his eyes seemed to bulge in his head.

"How dare you, you ungrateful…" Lord LeBlanc began, as he lifted his hand above his head. Charlotte stood firm and would not show him fear.

"Raising your hand to a lady LeBlanc? And a lady you claim you love, no less?" Henry said, as he grabbed LeBlanc's wrist.

"You have no idea how rude she has been to me, Your Grace," he pleaded.

"There is no excuse for your behavior, and I will not stand for it. You will leave at once and not return here for any reason," Henry said as he came to stand between Charlotte and a red-faced LeBlanc.

"You should be careful, Henry. If you had not regained the use of your legs, then you would be the one at the receiving end of the rejection," Lord LeBlanc stated smugly.

"Henry is twice the man you will ever be, and that was when he was still confined to his chair," Charlotte stated resolutely, an icy resolve in her tone.

"You can have her. She is too plain and untamed. She will only serve to embarrass me," Lord LeBlanc said to Henry, before stalking off.

"Did he hurt you, My Lady?" Henry turned to her immediately to ask.

"I am unharmed, Your Grace. Thanks to you," Charlotte replied. "Have you found Bethany?"

"Yes, she had gone inside to show her harp-playing skills," Henry replied with a grin on his face.

"She did not have lessons with me," Charlotte said with a frown.

"It shows," Henry replied before he burst out laughing. Charlotte joined him and felt the tension lift from her shoulders. "My brother thinks otherwise, of course, and he is now convinced of her talent."

"That is kind of him," Charlotte replied.

"Yes, I suppose it is, My Lady. May I walk with you?" Henry asked, offering her his hand.

"I think that would be wise," Charlotte said as she motioned in the direction of LeBlanc's retreating. They walked back to the estate at a slow pace. The house was not far from the water yet they both wanted their short time together, to last as long as possible.

"My sister will be arriving from Naples tomorrow," Henry said.

"It will be lovely to meet her at last," Charlotte replied.

"I am excited for her visit. The problem lies in our current situation. When I had invited her, I had thought I would introduce you as my intended," Henry said, seeming to wait for her reply.

"We will be honest with her, Your Grace," Charlotte replied.

"It will not do to be any less. She knows me too well, my lady," Henry said as they entered the estate.

"I think we should still take that voyage we wanted to, My Lady. I know the circumstances have changed, yet I feel it would still be a good idea," Henry said.

"We shall have to wait for my father and your sister to arrive. My sister dislikes the sea. It will, at the very least, be entertaining." Charlotte replied. When they found the others, he let go of her hand. She felt the loss immediately. She looked at Bethany, who had mercifully stopped trying to play the harp and had come over to them.

"Your Grace, you have missed most of my performance," she cooed.

"That is a shame, Lady Bethany. I shall have to be certain not to miss it the next time."

"I could, of course, have a private performance just for you, Your Grace," Bethany continued to flirt.

"That is very kind of you," Henry said with obvious discomfort. Bethany smiled her sweetest smile in response and stalked off, looking satisfied with herself. She returned with a glass for her and Henry. He took the glass and handed it to Charlotte, who took the glass.

"You two have not had the opportunity to spend time together as yet," he said before going over to sit with Edward. Charlotte smiled at the way he had averted Bethany's attempt to exclude her. She did not look as impressed as she glared at Charlotte.

"You will not win, Charlotte. You will not take what is mine." Bethany hissed at her.

"Strange, it looks to me as though you have come to my new home and have been trying to take what is mine," Charlotte countered.

"It is not relevant. I am the eldest, and therefore, I get first." Bethany said.

"You can have him." Charlotte lied. "I have my sights set on a better price," Charlotte added and looked in Edward's direction. She had never, not once, given thought to a person's status. If she were to stand a chance against Bethany, she would have to compete like she did. The very thought of reducing human beings to their financial standing and place in society was alien to her. It had now, however, become a necessity.

Charlotte had no idea how to speak to men, let alone royalty. Her heart beat so quickly. In her chest, she felt unbalanced. She smiled and approached Edward. "Your Highness," Charlotte said with a curtsy.

"My Lady, do join me," Edward said as he motioned to the chair beside him. Charlotte smiled up at him and allowed herself to look back at her sister. She had predictably gone to cling onto Henry.

"Thank you, sir," Charlotte replied and took the offered seat. "I do apologize, sir. I am not accustomed to speaking to royalty. I do hope I do not speak out of turn."

"Not at all, My Lady. There is no need to stand on ceremony. I am simply Edward when I visit here. It would please me greatly if you would address me as such," Edward said, and Charlotte was unclear if he was being friendly… or flirtatious.

"That is very kind of you, Edward," Charlotte replied, careful not to give him the wrong impression. She wanted to see just how loyal Bethany was, and that required invoking her jealousy. She looked at Bethany to see if it was working when she saw the murderous look in Henry's eyes. Furthermore, she had hardly been overly fond of Edward in the short amount of time she had been sitting with him.

"Edward, would you have any idea why someone would want to hurt Henry?" Charlotte asked.

"What do you mean, my lady?" Edward inquired.

"The stables burned down not that long ago, and I am not sure his accident all those years ago was accidental." Charlotte went on and watched his reactions carefully.

If he does not show signs of guilt, then perhaps he could offer a better insight into who may be responsible. She waited for his answer.

"It would not be the first time, My Lady. I do not wish to frighten you. Henry is not only a duke. That is the title his father chose instead of being king. He became a duke to marry Henry's mother, and Henry took his title when he passed. The problem lies in that though I am now king, Henry still has a say over the other countries we rule. Greece, in particular, does not want any of our bloodline in power. But I have already said too much, My Lady. The details are for Henry to tell," Edward said in a conspiring tone as he looked around.

"So there is a great chance my suspicions are correct. Thank you, Edward. I do apologize if I overstepped."

"It is quite alright, My Lady. I can see you have an affection for my brother. It is a breath of clean air to behold," Edward said, as he took her hand in his and placed a light kiss on her knuckles.

"Edward, I thought you had taken a liking to my sister," Charlotte asked.

"She is lovely. Not as lovely as I find you, my Lady." He replied. The intention in his eyes made Charlotte feel uneasy.

No, no, no! This was supposed to be a way I could be with Henry, not a competition with him. He was supposed to like Bethany! Charlotte thought as she felt the blood drain. From her face.

"Why did nobody wake me?!" Charlotte heard her stepmother's shrill voice erupt as she walked into the dining room.

Bethany went over to her mother to quickly soften her temper.

They have already forgotten their farce. Charlotte thought and grinned as she realized they would not be able to keep up with their lies. Her stepmother had retired to her room soon after arriving and had asked not to be disturbed. Now she had awoken in a foul mood and expected that she would be fussed over by all. Instead, all eyes were on her and the interruption she had caused.

"I am so sorry, so sorry." Her stepmother said as she slowly walked in. When everyone turned back to their discussions, she moved to be more out of sight. The embarrassment she had caused herself was starting to make up for the damage she was here to cause. Charlotte covered her mouth as a chuckle escaped her lips.

"You look so beautiful when you laugh, my lady," Edward said. Charlotte not only felt disloyal. She did not have the faintest inclination about how to respond to such a statement. She smiled at him, hoping it would not give him too much encouragement, yet not seem rude of her either.

Edward seemed to sense her discomfort. "Perhaps you and I should go rescue my brother," he said as he looked behind her. Charlotte turned to see her stepmother speaking to Henry, though she stood so closely that it appeared she was speaking more at him.

"I believe that would be an excellent idea," Charlotte replied and got to her feet. Edward stood up and offered her his hand.

It would seem that though he wants to put me at ease, he has not given up and tries the occasional advance in my direction. The man is a complete flirt! Charlotte thought with humor.

"Lady Wentworth, you look well rested," Edward said as they approached them. Her stepmother greeted Edward with a curtsy and turned on her charm.

If my father could see you now! Charlotte thought as she watched her stepmother. Charlotte was so lost in thought that she did not realize that her stepmother had stolen Edward away. Bethany and her stepmother were walking at each side of him, deeply engaged in conversation. Charlotte looked at Henry, who looked hurt. She went to him.

"Why do you look so angry with me, Your Grace?" She asked and tried to keep the anger from her voice.

"Do I not have the right, my lady? When you so easily give your affection to my brother?" He replied quietly.

"Have you lost all sense, Your Grace?" Charlotte asked wide-eyed.

"No, my lady, I think I now have more sense than before," Henry said.

"I have shown you loyalty and support from the very beginning, Your Grace. I cannot understand how you so easily think so little of me," Charlotte replied. Every part of her wanted to run away. She stood firm and refused to move.

I have done nothing wrong! Charlotte reminded herself as Henry moved closer.