Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

A drian watched Charlotte head to the dance floor with Lord Remold. She started to turn her head back in his direction but seemed to hesitate before focusing her attention on the man at her side.

Chest tightening, Adrian told himself that it didn’t matter. She didn’t need to look his way or expect anything from him except direction and guidance. Wasn’t he here to help her find a husband? One month. He had promised his aunt one month to have Charlotte wed.

Already he could picture her in her wedding dress, drenched in flowers and perfume. She would pick something rare and delightful, and she would be embarrassingly giddy about having a husband even though she denied it now. Her husband would be tall, of course, and he would have to be young. Someone who could keep up with her wit and energy. Someone well-traveled, probably, with enough funds to keep her entertained.

A figure began to materialize, and when he noticed the familiarity, he shook his head before turning away from the dance floor.

“How handsome you look tonight.”

He blinked down at his aunt, who had replaced the group he’d been speaking to only a minute ago. The others had moved a few steps away, eyeing Theodosia with curiosity.

His eyes narrowed. “You’re supposed to be abed with a headache.”

While I wouldn’t put it past Lloyd to lie to me, I must admit my surprise at my aunt’s behavior. Does she not trust me to keep my word?

“I felt much better after I had some powder.” It was true, her eyes looked bright and alert. “Lloyd thought I should stay abed longer, but I couldn’t resist coming for a moment. How disappointed the Hustons would be if I didn’t appear. And I had to see how Charlotte is faring.”

Bristling at the fact that she didn’t trust him to do his job, Adrian grunted. “She fares just fine, as you can see.”

Theodosia fluttered her fan and stepped aside to get a better view of the dance floor. Shifting back, Adrian stepped to her side to look as well. It only took a heartbeat to locate Charlotte as she turned and clapped happily with the other dancers. Her cheeks were flushed. Once in a while, she would miss a step, but she always corrected herself a moment later. She was learning quickly. With a quick look around, it was obvious others had noticed her as well. Everyone was watching her tonight.

“A successful debut so far,” Theodosia said aloud. “How proud you must be.”

“Hardly,” Adrian forced himself to say.

His aunt glanced up at him. “If you don’t care that much, why do you keep staring at her?”

“I’m not. I’m only….” It took three attempts to properly shift his gaze away from the dance floor and back to his aunt. “Someone must make sure she doesn’t cause any accidents. That is all.”

“So protective,” Theodosia teased before shaking her head. “Have you danced with her yet tonight?”

His nod was short. “I took the second set.”

“I’m impressed,” she murmured. “I anticipated taking her myself. You’re so stubborn about the Season that I expected you to fight me about this every step of the way.”

“You were abed three hours ago when we were leaving,” he reminded her.

She hid a small shrug behind her fan. “I would have managed. I always do, Adrian. There is still plenty of fight in me—I could have brought her here if you were that stubborn.”

“Then you are fortunate I can be generous at times,” he said in a tight voice. “Besides, I wouldn’t allow her to attend any function alone. Especially a ball.”

His aunt let out a small huff. “She wouldn’t have been alone if I brought her with me. Am I nothing but the dust on your coat in this circumstance?”

“I don’t mean that and you know it,” he muttered more testily than he had intended.

Inhaling, Adrian paused to gather his thoughts. Though he felt his aunt glancing at him, he didn’t look her way. He was looking for Charlotte again. All night, it had been like this. Ever since he saw her come down the stairs looking lovelier than ever before, he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her for long.

His aunt’s fan brushed against his elbow while he considered his words. “And? What do you mean?”

“I mean, she needs someone who will support her and help her handle the situations she keeps getting herself into. I mean that I’ve made an agreement and I shall keep my word. Charlotte needs guidance, and I shall be here for as long as it takes,” he added before he could stop himself.

He tried not to think about what that meant for the future. For his travels. For his stay in London.

I will go back, surely. I’ll leave. My travel plans shall remain at the ready. But they can wait for a short while. Charlotte clearly needs all the guidance she can get lest she make a grave mistake.

Meanwhile, his aunt chuckled like he had just told her something funny. He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, but she hid her face behind her fan for a moment.

“You should ask her to dance again.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he scoffed. “That won’t help. It’ll only make the ton think that the two of us…” He started to say ‘belong together’ before realizing how serious that sounded. He swallowed loudly. “It’s unnecessary. I wouldn’t dream of a second dance with Charlotte. Don’t be ridiculous, Aunt Theodosia.”

Even as he spoke these words, Adrian felt an itch under his skin. He wanted to dance again, although he’d already danced once. That would have been the first time in ten years that he danced in London.

The current dance came to an end, but now Charlotte was going to someone else. Lord Hall, a marquess already widowed twice at fifty, and with no heirs. Adrian had put the man on a list of eligible bachelors for Charlotte but then had crossed him off, though he didn’t have the words to explain his reasoning. He pursed his lips and thought about the itch, how he could go and take Charlotte with him. She didn’t need to dance with Lord Hall of all people.

But dancing twice together was enough fodder for gossip. A third dance was a marriage proposal. Adrian didn’t want that. Not even with her. Didn’t he?

Scowling, he felt the tension in his body grow once again. It did every time he saw Charlotte on the dance floor with someone else. He didn’t understand it. Why should it matter who else she held hands with? Why should he care when she smiled widely at a potential suitor? Why should he notice if a gentleman held on to her for a moment too long?

The itch turned into a burn. He breathed out through his nose, trying to relax.

“My dear boy, is something the matter?”

Of course, nothing is the matter. Only that everything is the matter. Why is Charlotte smiling like that? Her dance partner cannot be that amusing. It’s only a quadrille. It’s only her. It doesn’t matter. Nothing is the matter.

“No.”

Theodosia laid a hand on his shoulder and turned him to face her. He could have easily shrugged her off, but he didn’t dare do it. The look on her face was quizzical before it turned pointed, as if she had something to tell him.

“If you were being honest with yourself, then you would know the correct answer,” she announced.

“What the devil does that mean?”

She whacked his arm hard with the fan, and he winced. “Do be mindful of your language. We are being watched, and I expect you to always be on your best behavior. Remember your words even if you cannot remember your heart.”

“I haven’t misplaced my heart. It’s still trapped within my ribs.”

“And yet you are not using it to think, which will only bring you harm. You’re being foolish,” she added emphatically. “Adrian, be truthful. You care about Charlotte.”

He grunted. “I do not. At least, not any more than I should. Charlotte is your goddaughter, after all. I am only helping her so she can have a successful Season, and… and I…” he trailed off as he searched the dance floor for Charlotte.

He’d lost sight of her for a moment when his aunt pulled him aside. Now, however, he couldn’t find her. He looked for the curly golden hair that no one else had, and he searched for her green dress and warm smile.

Where had she gone? Disconcerted, he felt the panic well up inside him.

And then he glimpsed her. Just for a second, just before she vanished through the large doors leading to the gardens.

Where the devil does she think she is going?

“Adrian?”

“I’ll be right back, Auntie,” he promised. He paused just long enough to pacify Theodosia with a quick kiss on the cheek before he started toward the doors.

Charlotte was out of sight. His unease grew. Though he could have said something to his aunt, he didn’t wish to raise any concerns. Surely the young woman had just stepped out for some fresh air. The ballroom was filled to the brim with half of London, after all.

It better be fresh air and she better not be on the arm of a man wishing to do more than admire her rosy cheeks and pink lips.

He gritted his teeth, knowing he had to move quickly if he wanted to find her before the night was over. Out to the balcony he went, feeling the cool breeze on his face as he looked for her familiar face. His thoughts raced, wondering where she could be when he didn’t spot her.

A few young women to his right were fanning themselves and eyeing him. He could feel their hunger even while he looked everywhere else for golden hair and a pale green gown.

That knot in his stomach tightened. He didn’t like this. Moving to the edge, he searched the stairs and gardens below.

And there she was in a spot of lantern light, a soft halo over her head. She fanned herself furiously and turned toward the man at her side––Lord Remold.

The Baron had brought her out here.

Taking a young lady to the courtyard was innocent enough so long as they were surrounded by a dozen other people. But here they stood under a single lantern with no one else nearby.

Adrian bristled. His concern became a raging storm as he grabbed the railing and hurried down.

Although he couldn’t hear Remold’s voice when the man spoke, he did hear Charlotte’s careful and cultured words.

“Thank you for your concern. I fear it is rather warm inside, is it not? Perhaps I’ve had too much to drink tonight. I’m rather dizzy,” she added.

The foolish girl. Is she trying to invite something untoward to happen? One never admits their weaknesses to others.

Adrian growled, startling the young woman and older man on the top of the stairs. But he dismissed them as he hurried toward Charlotte and Lord Remold.

Seeing the Baron put both hands on her shoulders sent a shiver of white-hot rage through him. As mad as he was at Charlotte, for her childish remarks were bound to land her in trouble with the wolves of London, he knew she didn’t know better. Her words were uttered in innocence and not a ploy for a man eager to take what he could weasel his way into.

Adrian’s hands tightened into fists. No one was allowed to touch Charlotte like this. No one.

How far away were they? He could hear Charlotte’s sharp intake of breath when the Baron touched her. Though she stepped away, he followed her until her back was pressed against a hedge. She stammered in panic, and Adrian quickly closed the distance between them.

“Remold!” he snarled.

The Baron turned around in surprise, his eyes wide. There wasn’t an ounce of guilt on his face.

Adrian saw it at that moment. He had listened to his gut, but it had almost been too late. Hating himself for his failure, he took a final step and punched the man in the face as hard as he could.

“Oh!” Lord Remold staggered back and landed in the bushes only a foot away from Charlotte.

She gasped as she moved away from the man, her hands over her chest. She was safe, Adrian told himself.

But still, he glared at the Baron, unsatisfied. He wanted the man to stand up. He wanted to fight. By God, he was ready to demand satisfaction for even daring to touch Charlotte.

“Your Grace?” she whispered.

“You,” he snarled at Remold while jabbing a finger in the man’s chest.

He hadn’t felt rage like this in many years. It reverberated through his bones and ran hot in his veins.

Ignoring the whimpers and scratches on the man, Adrian growled, “You will never come near Lady Charlotte again. Do you hear me? If I see even your face in the same room as her, I will end you.”