Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

“ T hat is my final decision. No,” the Duke of Henley told Adrian forcefully with a dark scowl on his face.

The older man appeared more like a grandfather to his three barely adult children. Still, he held a fine reputation in Parliament for his lengthy lectures and traditional values, often wheedling his way onto committees that often slowed things down because of his opinions.

Too many opinions if you ask me.

Unfortunately, no one was asking Adrian right now. Instead, he was the one asking another duke. Even though he had a higher standing with a title that had been around for nearly five hundred years compared to only eighty years, that didn’t seem to matter.

Henley wasn’t about to let him speak with Charlotte the way he wanted to. Having thought it would be best to be honest, Adrian found he was wrong. He would be tossed out of the house if he wasn’t careful.

They’d glimpsed someone in the hall earlier––Eleanor, Henley had muttered––before stepping into a side room. It had taken several minutes of arguing until he began to accept he would not get anything his way.

At least not with Henley’s permission.

“Fine.” Exhaling, Adrian knew he wouldn’t get past him. “You are right, Duke. I shouldn’t be asking for something so improper.”

The older man eyed him warily before nodding. “That’s better. What is it with the young thinking they can change everything just to suit their fancy? Well, you should be on your way back to London, I’m sure.”

A wry smile graced Adrian’s lips as he paused to pull out a delicate piece of pink paper—his invitation to the ball. “Actually, I’ll return shortly. I’m collecting my aunt from your neighbor’s and will be attending tonight’s ball. Unless you want to disinvite us?”

Henley waved a finger in his direction. “I expect you to be on your best behavior, Duke. Do not embarrass me or Charlotte.”

Cold spread through Adrian at the order. He ignored the finger to stare at the other man before offering a jerky nod.

As tempted as he could be to shout at Charlotte or shake her over something that happened, he would never do that to the woman he loved.

The very thought of love made him grimace, but the truth was undeniable. He couldn’t let her marry that Earl before she knew the truth.

“Indeed, Duke,” he muttered.

Away Adrian went before anyone else could tell him what to do.

His carriage had been left waiting outside the front gate. The plan had been to request a private meeting with Charlotte, present to her his argument about why they belonged together, and then everything would be made right.

It will work out. It must.

Telling himself there was no other option, he went to retrieve his aunt. Theodosia had barely talked to him for the last two weeks. Most of what he recalled was her complaining about what a fool he was, which he couldn’t particularly argue against. Even after he collected her from the neighbor’s, they rode to the ball in silence.

Theodosia only spoke up once they had made it through the entrance hall and into the ballroom, where everyone had begun to gather. She glanced up at him, holding tightly to his arm while clutching her cane with her other hand.

“What happens tonight?” she asked.

Does she know my intentions?

He clenched his jaw. “What do you want to happen tonight?” he asked back.

“I want your happiness,” she admitted, before frowning. “And I want to go to bed without a care in the world. Can you do that for me?”

In other words, she didn’t want him to make a mess.

Adrian hesitated. He felt his heart hammering as doubt slid through the cracks in his determination.

Maybe he shouldn’t do or say anything to Charlotte. He could leave her alone. If this was the life she chose, then that was her prerogative, and he had no right to interfere. Disrupting her plans did not guarantee that they would find happiness.

But then Adrian saw her.

She stood across the room, near a gilded door and flowing curtains. She was dressed in a simple gown that allowed her natural beauty to shine. The sight took his breath away. She held a glass up to those soft lips, pausing before taking a sip. Those eyes of hers were fixed on the man she was speaking with.

Harold Danwick, the Earl of Rhymen. His man of business was also named Harold. That struck Adrian as annoying.

Charlotte glowed, yet he saw how her smile didn’t reach her eyes while she spoke to the Earl. Feeling his heart hammering in his chest, Adrian knew the truth. She didn’t love Rhymen. And seeing the respectful and blank look on the Earl’s face, he also knew the man would never love her.

Not properly. Not the way she deserves to be loved. To be listened to, to be heard, to be pushed to grow and laugh every day. He’ll never be enough for her.

“Adrian?”

“Auntie.” Adrian looked down with a tight smile. “I should like very much to greet the guest of honor. Would you join me?”

A strange look crossed Theodosia’s face before she shook her head. “You go ahead. I see an old friend I must speak with.”

Leaving her behind, Adrian navigated the growing crowd. Musicians had begun to play quietly in the corner. Elaborate chalk art covered the dance floor, but he had no doubt everyone would soon be dancing. Especially the guest of honor.

He moved quickly to Charlotte.

“Good evening, My Lady,” he said once he had reached her.

“Your Grace,” returned the Earl. He offered a brief nod before gesturing toward Charlotte. “I believe you know Lady Charlotte, and perhaps Lady Eleanor?”

Adrian bit the inside of his cheek when he noticed the lovely young woman standing between the nearly betrothed couple. He didn’t count them betrothed until the world knew it. And the world would never know it. Still, he remembered his manners and tried recalling if he had been introduced to the young woman.

“My cousin,” Charlotte told him.

He finally met her gaze, not knowing why he had avoided it until that moment. His heart stopped beating. He saw no one but her.

“Of course,” he murmured. “She’s a delightful young lady.”

“That… that is very kind,” Eleanor squeaked.

“She is wonderful,” Charlotte agreed.

Clearing his throat, Rhymen glanced between the three of them before saying, “Lady Charlotte? I believe––”

“May I see your dance card?” Adrian interrupted, his eyes still on Charlotte. “Is the first dance still available?”

A shadow flashed behind her eyes so quickly he might have missed it if he had taken a breath. “It is not, Your Grace. I have already been asked by Lord Rhymen. I must go,” she added in a tone that said much more than farewell.

She’s telling me what a fool I have been. And what a fool I am.

“The second set, then,” he insisted, not willing to let her go.

She opened her mouth as though to come up with an excuse, but finding none, she eventually let out a small sigh. “Very well then. Perhaps you and my cousin could––”

“Oh, you don’t need to bother,” Eleanor squeaked. Only then did Adrian look away from Charlotte.

“Nonsense, My Lady. I would like very much to dance with you.”

“I’m not even out,” Eleanor murmured.

“Then this shall be good practice,” Adrian promised her. He lowered his arm slightly due to her stature. She was even shorter than his aunt. “If you really do not wish to dance, however, I will not force you.”

A warm flush spread across her face and down her neck to dip beneath the modest gown that covered her plump figure. She shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting about before she took his arm so tentatively he had to take her other hand to make her hold on to him properly.

“I suppose one dance cannot harm us, can it?”

He offered what he hoped was a gentle smile and a nod. “Certainly not. Shall we?”

And then off they went to the dance floor, albeit at a slower-than-usual pace, after Charlotte and Lord Rhymen.

Young Eleanor was quick on her feet for what ended up being a country dance, though she stumbled frequently. They survived all the same. Adrian thanked her before she could run off, and then he hastened back to Charlotte.

He shouldn’t have been surprised it was a waltz. This was their dance. A flush spread across Charlotte’s face when they took their positions. She glanced beyond him toward the Earl, then frowned.

“Where is my cousin?”

“She left to get some refreshments, I believe,” he replied. “She didn’t wish to be escorted there.”

Sighing, Charlotte nodded. “I had to talk her into attending for even a minute, so no doubt she has already taken her leave. But thank you for dancing with her,” she added awkwardly.

There were a thousand words on the tip of his tongue. Adrian searched her face, wondering what could be said that she would be willing to hear.

This may be my only chance with her.

“It was my pleasure.” He let out a deep breath. “I wish to speak with you, Charlotte.”

A small scoff escaped her. “You made that obvious. Were you rude to my uncle?”

He blinked in surprise. He should have guessed. Henley had thought it was Eleanor who they glimpsed in the hall. But on the few occasions Adrian had seen the young woman, Charlotte had always been at her side.

“No more rude than he was to me,” Adrian said and then gave a short shake of his head. “Charlotte, I only wished to speak with you. It will only take a minute of your time.”

Following his lead, she glanced around the room while her dress swished about his legs. There was a pause as she took a graceful turn before she faced him. “You can call on me tomorrow.”

“By then, it may be too late,” he groused. He couldn’t wait for her to decide on a better time.

“Don’t be impatient,” she muttered. “Tonight is not about you.”

But it is about her. She must hear me out whether she wants to or not.

Adrian immediately made a new plan, glancing about the room to consider his options. The crowd had grown thicker. His time with her was growing shorter by the minute. Soon, the waltz would come to an end and he would have to let her go.

Guiding them to the edge of the dance floor, Adrian slowed them down further until they were nearly still. Charlotte frowned at him. He heard her say his name before he spun her toward the doorway to the hall.

Feeling her grip tighten, he didn’t give her a chance to flee. There was no time for questions as her words were drowned out by the din. Into the hall and around the next corner, Adrian glanced around before moving to the nearest door.

“Adrian!” she hissed, finally pulling free of his grip. “Stop this. What are you doing?”

“I’m talking with you with no one around,” he said pointedly before grabbing her by the shoulders and guiding her into the parlor. The faint moonlight filtered through the windows. “We shall only be gone for a minute.”

She rounded on him, crossing her arms over her chest. “A minute is enough to ruin a lady’s reputation.”

“No one will know.”

Shaking her head, Charlotte huffed and attempted to step around him. “This is ridiculous. I am going back to the ball. I have an announcement to make. We’ve said everything we need to say, don’t we? I’m tired of this back and forth. You are nothing but a blackguard, Adrian, and I cannot do this any longer.”

He let her go to the door, but he moved behind her and put his hands against it. He could smell the roses again. When she tried to turn the handle, he didn’t let it budge.

“Adrian,” she hissed. “Stop this!”

“I can’t. I need you to hear me out, Charlotte.” Adrian swallowed hard before forcing the words out. “I need you to hear what is on my mind and in my heart. I cannot stop thinking about you, and now I fear I never will. I need you in my life, Charlotte. Though I may be a stranger to many emotions, I’ve come to the conclusion that I love you and cannot stop.”