CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“What on earth am I to do?” Charlotte whispered as Sarah’s hand squeezed hers tightly.

“Do not despair. Nothing is agreed yet.”

“But it will be. I know it must be. Papa is determined that I shall have him. Did you hear the way he spoke to his so-called friends? I do not wish to be married to a man who speaks so ill of those he is known to care for.”

“Perhaps it was the occasion. He may simply have close relationships with them, and we are not privy to how they interact.”

Charlotte scoffed. “I cannot believe it. Lady Jenson looked rather unhappy about what he said of her son. Calling him a dullard, no less! I could not believe he would have the temerity to say such a thing.”

“You must not think the worst of him, Charlotte. There could be elements to his character that your father has seen.”

“My father has seen his fortune .”

“Charlotte,” at her friend’s warning, she looked up and closed her mouth abruptly at the sight of the duke standing on the path before them. She was uncertain how he had managed to get ahead of them, considering she had left him speaking with Lavinia, and they had gone some distance from the group.

The duke’s expression was calm, but his eyes betrayed some concern for her. Sarah, in her infinite wisdom, stepped back a little, giving them some semblance of privacy as she went to stand a few paces away.

Charlotte approached the duke and curtsied to him, unsure what she would say, just knowing that she had never been so pleased to see anyone.

“Your Grace.”

As she looked up at him, the duke frowned. His hands were held carefully behind his back, but he took a small step toward her, keeping the distance between them quite proper but ensuring that Charlotte’s breath caught in her lungs all the same.

“I was uncertain as to your well-being. Are you quite well?” he inquired.

The worry in his eyes touched something deep within her. It had been so long since anyone except for Sarah had thought of her well-being or cared what she might feel or think. Her father ignored almost everything she said in favor of his own opinions, and to find such compassion in a man like the duke was humbling to say the least.

As she stood there in the dappled sunshine looking up at him, she was reminded of their first meeting by moonlight in the gardens. She recalled their conversation and the candid nature of everything she had said. Before the eyes of society were fully upon her, she had spoken to him in an unguarded and genuine way, and above all else, she wanted to return to that time and capture that honesty once more.

“I am a little overwrought,” she said softly. “Every day, I am faced with choices not of my making. I am sure you have seen how closely Lord Kilby has clung to me all day. My father’s wishes have overridden everything I might have wanted for myself. The pressures of my responsibilities so soon after returning to society is something I had not anticipated.”

As soon as she had spoken the words, she felt a measure of relief. The simple act of voicing her concerns lifted some of the weight from her shoulders, but she was not certain how the duke would receive her admission.

Colin’s hands twisted at his back as he forced himself not to reach for her. For the first time in her company, in the company of any woman, he had to stop himself from drawing her into his arms and holding her to take some of the pain away. Her eyes had been heavy and tired all day. When he had first observed her, he had been shocked by her appearance, she seemed so pale and drawn—unlike herself.

He wished to see her smile again and was immeasurably pleased that she had confided in him. It was a brave thing to do and only showed her resilience and strength of character in more detail.

“I understand the burdens you face, Lady Wentworth,” he said earnestly, desperate for her to hear the sincerity in his voice. “My own burdens, though different, are just as heavy. My father’s legacy and the expectations of my title—none of it is easy to bear.”

“I can only imagine the pressures that exist in your life, too, your Grace,” she replied, her expression earnest. “I have found so much unexpected happiness in my return to society, and yet there are many things I do not relish. Everything that has happened seems to have been moving at a pace that is…”

“Too hasty?”

She sighed in relief. “Exactly. Everything in London seems to be done at pace. One does not have a moment to think.”

Colin smiled. “I heartily agree.”

Charlotte began to speak further on the subject, wishing she could tell him of her discoveries and the bond that had existed between her mother and his father, but as she moved to speak, she heard voices approaching from behind them.

Just like two bad coins, the Norwells showed themselves again, having contrived to walk in precisely the same direction as Charlotte. There was no question in Charlotte’s mind that they would have followed the duke here in order to curtail their conversation.

Lady Norwell and Lavinia emerged from an adjoining path, their eyes sharp and watchful. Lavinia’s gaze lingered on the duke before moving to Charlotte.

Usually, Charlotte would have expected to be able to discard or brush off the feelings of jealousy that swirled within her in the presence of Lavinia, but this time, there was something more too. That fragile thread she treasured with the duke had been strengthened in their moment together. Charlotte had felt in their honesty that their connection had deepened yet further, but as soon as Lavinia came in sight, it snapped like twine in the wind.

"Your Grace,” Lavinia said loudly, “I was just speaking with Mama, who mentioned something intriguing about Richmond Park. It seems there’s been talk of changes proposed for the grounds—a potential expansion, or so I hear."

The duke took a careful step back from Charlotte. "I had not heard of any plans. The grounds are already extensive."

"Yes, exactly so! Yet apparently, there are whispers about transforming certain areas to allow for more public gatherings, or perhaps even formal events, which would be quite a departure from its usual quiet charm."

Lavinia walked between them very deliberately, pulling the duke into her sphere of influence effortlessly. Charlotte wished that he would throw off the lady and come back and speak to her, but the duke was far too well-bred for that and turned his back on Charlotte completely, walking beside Lavinia away up the path.

"That seems… unusual,” the duke added. “I thought Richmond’s tranquility was precisely its appeal."

"Indeed! I thought you might feel as I do. With your appreciation for such places, I imagine you’d wish to ensure its beauty isn’t spoiled." Lavinia said obsequiously.

“Quite right!” came a voice behind Charlotte, and she turned, breaking into a wide smile as Elizabeth joined them. Lavinia and her mother stopped, turning to face them, rather irritated by the sudden interruption.

The duke, however, looked thrilled at his cousin’s arrival, and once again, Charlotte was reminded of the close relationship the two of them had as Elizabeth pointed in the opposite direction to the one Lavinia was leading him in.

“I wondered, cousin if you might like to go to the Pen Ponds to feed the ducks. Lord Kilby had such a monstrous number of sandwiches, and I have bought some bread with me.” She gave Charlotte a meaningful look before raising her eyebrows at the duke. “I know how much you adore nature, your Grace, just as Lady Norwell was so astutely saying.”

There was a look exchanged between the duke and Elizabeth that was difficult to decipher but Charlotte could not help being amused by it.

“An excellent idea,” the duke said enthusiastically, and Charlotte could not fully hide her smile this time--Lady Norwell looked like she had swallowed a wasp.

“The ponds, your Grace?” Lavinia asked incredulously. “I would imagine with the recent rains that they would be rather muddy. I do not believe I am suitably dressed.”

She looked up at the duke somewhat imploringly, and Charlotte was fully prepared for him to accompany her back to the picnic.

“Perhaps walk back some of the way with us, Lady Lavinia, and you can return to the party. Anyone who wishes to feed the ducks can make their way to the ponds.”

Lavinia glanced at her mother helplessly, but she had backed herself into a corner with her suggestion, and Charlotte’s heart leaped at the idea that she would leave their company.

Sarah came forward to take Charlotte’s arm, and as they all turned to head in the other direction, Malcolm materialized from nowhere, telling Lady Elizabeth that he would escort her himself as he had a particular fondness for ducks.

Charlotte snorted under her breath at that. Malcolm famously hated birds and was terrified of pigeons for reasons she had never understood. Still, she kept quiet as her cousin took Elizabeth’s arm, positively glowing in her presence as he always did. He was so in love with the lady that Charlotte wondered he had not yet put forward his suit.

The merry party wandered toward the pond with far more lively conversation now, and as they neared the picnic, Charlotte felt a triumph of her own as the Norwells were given no choice but to leave the duke and return to Kilby’s picnic.

Elizabeth, too, rejoiced silently as she watched the Norwells leave them. She had always disliked Lavinia ever since her debut. Elizabeth tried to have a measured view of everyone she came into contact with, but Lavinia had proved her character more times than she could count. If she wasn’t criticizing everything before her, she was calculating her next victim. The Norwells were notorious for their propensity to attach themselves to the most eligible man in any room—she would not allow Lavinia to get her silken claws into her cousin.

Lady Wentworth was charming and far superior to the Norwells—and Elizabeth had never seen Colin so open with anyone in all the time she had known him. Whatever wiles Lady Wentworth possessed, she allowed him to be himself, and that was enough for Elizabeth.

“I fear I am boring you,” Malcolm said reproachfully, and Elizabeth looked up, having entirely failed to listen to a word the man had said.

“My apologies, Lord Preston.”

“Were you thinking of something particularly interesting?”

Elizabeth eyed him warily but believed that when it came to his character, she had judged rather well. He was not a gossip, and she did not think her speaking openly would harm her in any way.

“I was thinking of Lavinia Norwell, as a matter of fact.” Malcolm’s sour expression was enough to give away his true feelings for the lady. “You do not like her?” she asked innocently.

“Good Lord, no.” He said emphatically. “My apologies, I should not speak so of a lady, but I confess I have avoided her for much of the season so far. She… rather took a liking to me last year, and it has taken me several months to persuade her that I am not desirous to marry her.”

Elizabeth paused, trying to think of when she might have seen them together. The thought was rather an unpleasant one, she did not like that Lavinia might have had any chance with Lord Preston.

“I assure you, the feelings on this occasion were, if they existed at all, entirely one-sided.” Lord Preston insisted. “I did nothing to encourage her, and I believe she now feels rather slighted by me. However, I would prefer that than having to hide to avoid her.”

At that, Elizabeth laughed quite heartily, and Malcolm answered it with a grin. His lovely smile lit up his face as his eyes twinkled down at her.

Yes, the idea that Lavinia was even a thought in his head is not a pleasant one, Elizabeth thought.

Malcolm tried hard to think of something to change the topic of conversation, terrified that somehow he had upset Lady Elizabeth. But he was surprised to discover that they seemed to find a mutual dislike almost as enjoyable to speak of as literature.

As they neared the pond, Elizabeth brought out the bag of bread she had brought with her and they all began throwing it into the water, the ducks hastening toward them at a swift pace to be the first to claim the prize. As Malcolm placed his hand into the bag, in a moment of distraction, he found that Elizabeth’s hand was already inside it, and for the briefest moment, their hands touched.

He looked up at her, about to apologize, when their gazes locked and held. Neither of them moved for too long to be an accident, and Malcolm thought his heart would burst out of his chest at the contact.

Once the bread was all gone, Charlotte and the duke returned to the picnic area. He offered her his arm, which she gratefully took but was conscious of many eyes upon them as soon as they returned.

Lord Kilby did not appear to have missed her. In fact, when the duke returned her to his side, he barely acknowledged her presence, occupied as he was in a conversation about the latest carriage he had brought. His disinterest was even more disappointing because it only emphasized to Charlotte that he considered her loyalty absolute despite nothing having been agreed between them.

Clearly, approval from my father is all he needs to believe he has secured my affections.

Charlotte sat at his side, letting the conversations flow over her, the disappointment and sadness she had held at bay at the water’s edge returning tenfold as she saw Lavinia maneuver herself beside the duke again.

Everything they had shared, no matter how brief, now seemed a distant dream.