Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Charlotte could barely keep her eyes open at dinner the following day. They had finally arrived in London after one stop at an inn to stay the night, but she barely took notice of her surroundings. Tomorrow was still another day, and William had promised to take them sightseeing after breakfast.

"I think it's safe to say that retiring to the drawing room is out of the question," William said.

Charlotte looked up from her syllabub, closing one of her eyes as she looked at her husband.

"Mhm," she replied. "Unless you would like to carry me to bed, I think we should all go straight to our chambers and wake up fresh tomorrow. I forgot how tiring traveling on the road can be."

"I second that," Louise replied. "Not even this syllabub has done much to keep me awake. I'm usually excited for dessert."

William chuckled. "Try not to fall asleep while eating your dessert," he said. "I'll have the housekeeper escort you to your room, Lady Louise. You need only reveal when you're ready."

"Ready," Louise replied.

Charlotte chuckled despite her fatigue. "I'm also ready. Where is my room?"

"I'll take you to it," William told her. "It's near my chamber."

Charlotte nodded. Her head felt heavy, and she was in desperate need of a nice, soft pillow. She pushed the dessert away and rubbed her eyes.

"Mrs. Stanford," William called. "Please show Lady Louise to her room."

The housekeeper appeared at the doorway and curtsied before waiting for Louise to follow her. Charlotte didn't notice that William had stood up and approached her chair until he was beside her.

"Oh!" she cried in surprise. "You're too quiet on your feet."

William smiled slightly. "It was necessary during my service," he said. "Shall we go?"

Charlotte wanted to point out that he was no longer in service, but it was unnecessary as shoveling snow while it was still snowing. William knew better than she did that he was no longer in the military fighting for his country, but some habits, like being stealthy when walking or being too rigid and strict with himself and others, remained at times.

However, she had to give him credit for the latter trait because he had become much better and smiled more. Charlotte liked to think that had something to do with her.

"I am more than ready," she replied, taking his offered arm.

They left the dining room and took a few turns before reaching the stairs. Charlotte would likely get lost if she were alone because the house was unfamiliar, and she was too tired to take note of every turn and room. As they climbed the stairs, she was reminded of a night not too long ago when William had helped her to her chamber.

The memory wasn't clear, but she recalled laying her head on his shoulder and how tender he had been with her. Charlotte was quite certain she had mumbled a few things that she sometimes didn't remember the next day. She often spoke in her sleep and even appeared awake to others, but her mind would primarily be in dreamland.

William reminded her the following day that she had asked for Louise to accompany them to London. Charlotte did her best not to appear surprised, or he might have thought her silly for not remembering her own request, but he seemed more amazed that she could keep up a conversation in her sleep state. She inwardly smiled. Her husband was easy to please, at least where she was concerned.

"This is your room," William said, drawing her out of her thoughts. He opened the door. "I hope it's to your liking. You can choose a different room if you prefer something else. This has the best sunrise views, though. That is why I requested this room."

Charlotte walked inside and briefly looked around. "It's perfect," she said. "I just want to fall into bed now, so I'll give it a more thorough look tomorrow.

He nodded. "Then it's a goodnight," he said. "I hope you sleep well."

"And you," she replied.

William bowed and walked away as she firmly closed the door and crossed to the bed. She threw herself on top and burrowed into the covers to sleep, but Templeton wouldn't be impressed if she fell asleep in her traveling clothes.

Her lady's maid was arriving the following day because her carriage had an issue with one of the wheels. Charlotte insisted she stay another day at the inn and meet them once the wheel was fixed. Templeton was not impressed, but Charlotte wouldn't budge.

Sighing, Charlotte slid out of bed and removed her clothing, throwing them on the closest armchair. The maids had provided a pitcher of water and a small basin, but she was too tired to find where they had been packed, so she merely washed her face and patted it dry with a small bath sheet nearby.

"I couldn't be bothered about my hair," she mumbled when she caught her reflection in the mirror.

Taking out the pins would have to be enough. Templeton would likely arrive early enough to help her with her hair before breakfast, so leaving it loose for one night shouldn't be a problem. Templeton had magic in her hands and could remove knots without pulling too much.

Thick, long locks of hair fell like waves as she removed each pin, haphazardly tossing them on the vanity table. She moved behind an intricate screen painted with tropical birds and plants and removed the rest of her underthings.

She paused when a door suddenly opened. At first, she thought it was Louise coming to have a little chat as they usually did when they were together, but her sister had looked dead on her feet when she left the dinner room earlier. Frowning, she looked around the screen and emitted a yelp of surprise when she met her husband's brown gaze.

"William!" she cried.

He looked away but didn't move an inch. "I, erm, I just came to see if you needed anything," he stuttered. "I didn't mean to walk in while you were changing."

His embarrassment immediately took away hers. They were husband and wife, but he would never take liberties just because they had signed a piece of paper and were legally bound in the eyes of man and God. Other men would not have been so thoughtful.

"Just a moment," she said, looking for something to wear.

A maid had hung a dressing gown on the screen, so Charlotte gratefully donned and secured it around her body before emerging from behind the screen. Not only was William still not looking her way, but he had even closed his eyes. She grinned and approached him.

"You can look now," she said.

William slowly turned to her with bright red cheeks. "I didn't mean to barge in while you were changing," he said.

"Do not dwell on it," she said. "Thank you for coming to see if I was comfortable." She glanced at the door he had used. "I didn't realize there was more than one way into the room. I assumed the door led to a smaller room of sorts."

"It's my room," he revealed, rubbing the back of his neck. "They're connected by the door. Not that I plan to enter your room whenever I wish," he quickly added. "I wouldn't do that."

Charlotte's smile widened. "I know you wouldn't, but it's quite convenient, isn't it? I can just stick my head around the door if I need to speak to you. Provided you're decent and all that."

She was teasing him now, and just as she imagined, his cheeks grew darker with color.

"You're welcome to enter my room whenever you wish," he said. "I have a few books you might wish to read, or you can just come in to talk. Not that you have to. I'm sure having your sister here is enough company."

"I also like your company," she said. She tilted her head to the side. "You are an interesting man, William."

And a good-looking one. William had removed his cravat, and his shirt partially exposed his upper chest in all its glory. He didn't have a thick patch of hair like her father but was sparsely covered in soft, dark hair that curled a little at the ends. His sleeves were also rolled, exposing his forearms and a little hair. Charlotte had never really fancied hairy arms, legs, and chests, so she was thankful William fit her ideal standard.

"I should leave you to rest," he said. "Are you certain you have everything you need?"

"Without a doubt," she said. "All I need is a big, comfortable bed, which I certainly have."

"I'm glad to hear it," William replied. He looked around the room for a moment before focusing on her. "Well, then, goodnight. I will see you in the morning."

"Goodnight," she said.

William nodded and walked away, turning at the door. His gaze lingered on her momentarily, almost as though he didn't want to look away. Part of her didn't want him to, the part that was beginning to see him as more than just a friend.

Mild disappointment settled when he stepped through the adjoining door and gently closed it behind him. Charlotte shrugged a little and jumped into bed, snuggling under the covers. Her mind drifted to thoughts of her husband before sleep claimed her, leading her into a vivid dream world.

***

William leaned against the door with his hand on his chest. He didn't know what he had been thinking by stepping into her room without knocking first. Never mind that they were married—he had no right. They were still friends, and it would likely take some time before they were comfortable enough to partake in marital activities.

William blushed. He shouldn't think about such things, even if Charlotte was his wife. It would only make matters awkward between them. They were getting along just fine as they were, and it was only a matter of time before their friendship deepened. Charlotte had just said she liked his company—that meant a lot to him.

Someone liked being around him. Yes, he had his best friend and those he had led in the military, but Charlotte was different. She was beautiful, young, and could have anyone she wished with the snap of her fingers. Having her willingly give him attention meant he was worthy of someone's affection and time. He wasn't the waste of space his father had often belittled.

Sighing, he pushed away from the door and settled in an armchair. He didn't want to sleep yet despite being so tired. Instead, his mind filled with the image of his lovely wife.

William had known she would look breathtaking with her hair loose about her shoulders and framing her face. He had momentarily been struck dumb and had to question what good he had possibly done to deserve such a divine beauty. Charlotte wasn't just lovely on the outside but just as stunning on the inside. His stepmother truly had done a marvelous job selecting her.

His valet had already retired for the evening at his insistence, so he would have to get ready for bed on his own. However, he was too comfortable in the armchair to remove his clothing and get into bed, so he grabbed a nearby blanket and threw it over himself. Within minutes, he was asleep.

***

William entered the drawing room first the following morning. He would feel less awkward watching his wife enter the room than having her observe him approach the breakfast table. The previous evening's event was still uppermost in his mind and seemed even more embarrassing in the light of day.

He really should have knocked first, but he couldn't change the outcome. William could only hope Charlotte had not dwelled too much on the matter and didn't think he was rude. She had seemed fine about it, but her mind would be clearer now, and she might feel differently about the situation.

William groaned and aggressively rubbed his scalp. He was overthinking the matter instead of dealing with it once Charlotte entered the room for breakfast.

"Is your scalp itchy?" he heard her say moments later at the door. "You're rubbing it rather vigorously."

William's head shot up. "Erm, good morning," he greeted, stuttering a little as he lowered his hands. "I wondered when you would come down."

Charlotte smiled as she drew closer. "Templeton arrived earlier and insisted I take a long bath because I failed to follow my usual routine last night. Mind you, I feel freshly scrubbed and clean, so my lady's maid knows what is best for me. I see my sister isn't here yet. She is a bit of a late riser."

Charlotte appeared herself and was not at all annoyed or awkward. It seemed that walking in on her changing didn't bother her. William immediately felt more at ease. He rose and pulled out a chair, tucked her in, and returned to his seat.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, pushing a plate of eggs toward her.

"Wonderfully," she replied. "And you?"

"I foolishly fell asleep in an armchair and now have a stiff neck," he said. "I'm getting too old to maintain such habits."

Charlotte chuckled as she added three eggs to her plate. "Thirty is a rather mature age," she teasingly agreed. "I will have to ensure you remain fit so you never fall ill. It's my wifely duty."

William's heart warmed. He liked that she could tease him so easily and readily wanted to look after him.

"I look forward to it," he said. "You're young and strong—you'll be able to take care of me for a long time."

"Starting with your meals," she said. "You really need to eat more of a variety of foods. They do not necessarily have to be rich in flavor and fat, but plain food is boring and sometimes lacks the sustenance you need for the day. And I really do not think drinking many cups of coffee a day is good for you. It keeps you awake."

William hadn't realized she had noticed that. "I have already decreased it to four cups," he said. "It's an addictive beverage, especially with cream and sugar."

"It's not good if you barely eat during the day," she chided. "Here, have more sausages. The Americans have heartier breakfasts."

"You mentioned that some time ago," he said. "Would you like us to have similar breakfasts?"

Charlotte nodded. "I'd like that," she replied. "Not every day, but at least three times a week, so I know you've had a decent breakfast."

William smiled and looked down to slather his toast in marmalade. Having Charlotte so concerned about him felt good. He would likely do anything she wished just to keep her happy.

"You started without me," Louise complained as she entered the room.

"You're late," Charlotte pointed out.

"I suppose I am," Louise agreed. "Oh, sausages. Beef or pork?"

Charlotte took a bite. "Pork—your favorite."

Louise hurriedly sat down and filled her plate with a bit of everything. She had an appetite just like her sister.

"Would you like to go to the opera this evening?" he asked some moments later. "I bought a box during our preparations for London. I thought it would be nice to see a play whenever we wished without needing to worry about getting seats."

"I would love to watch a play!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Are you certain? Do you not wish to have a quiet evening?"

"We had a quiet evening yesterday," he said. "I have also invited my friend, Lord Gregory. He is also in London."

"Then, by all means, we should go," Charlotte said. "What do you think, Louise?"

"I never turn down entertainment," Louise replied.

"Then it's settled," said Charlotte. "We haven't been to the opera in a long time. I wonder what play we'll watch this evening?"

"I didn't find out, but I can send someone to find out," he offered.

Charlotte shook her head. "No, that isn't necessary," she said. "It can be a surprise."

William nodded and cut his toast as the sisters chattered about the day ahead. Hearing their excitement and knowing he had something to do with it was nice. Perhaps Charlotte would never have a reason to be disappointed with him or even grow to hate him as long as he kept her happy. William didn't think he could handle it if she turned away from him like his father had.