“I consider myself amply warned.”
Mr. Fortier motioned him along. Having friends of Father’s nearby wasn’t the same as having him there, but it was proving helpful just the same.
With the reminder to be patient in his thoughts, he made his way to his bedchamber.
She was inside, sitting on a chair facing the window. She was fully dressed for the day, though she had a blanket spread over her lap and still wore her nightcap. Artemis never appeared anything short of perfection. Was she ill? Surely she would have said as much rather than simply saying she refused to join the family.
“Everyone’s wondering where you are.” It was not the most elegant opening, but he wasn’t certain where to begin.
“I know my company is highly sought after, but I am certain they can endure my absence for a day.” That tone was all too familiar. Artemis was on her high horse again.
But why?
“I understand the sisters-in-law plan to make their way to the vicarage in an hour to create charity baskets for some of the struggling people in the parish. They could use your help.”
She shrugged a shoulder, still not looking back at him. “They’ll manage without me, though they will certainly suffer for the loss of my company.”
Be patient. Don’t assume the worst.It was an easy thought to have, a harder one to follow through with when she was enveloping herself in the cloak of arrogant theatrics.It is a shield, not a window.He repeated the duke’s declaration, reminding himself to not assume the worst in her.
“The entire family is currently gathered on the back terrace. I should very much like to spend time with them. Heaven knows I’ll have few opportunities now that my home is in Cumberland.” She needed to see that this was important. He crossed to the window to face her. “Could you not—” Every drop of fight evaporated. She looked utterly miserable. “What’s happened?”
She turned her head a little away. “You’ll laugh at me.”
He hunched down in front of her. “When have I ever laughed at you?”
That brought her gaze to him, both dry and accusatory. “‘Miss Shamcaster’?”
Lud. She’d heard the name he used to call her.
“You cannot tell me with any honesty that that moniker was meant to be anything other than mocking,” she said.
He set his hand atop hers, where it rested on the chair arm. “I wish I could tell you I’ve grown wiser and more mature of late, but it is a sad truth that Jonquil men are doomed to unending idiocy.”
She didn’t pull her hand from his, which he hoped was a good omen.
“Do tell me what’s upset you,” he said. “You are so seldom truly overset. It worries me to see you upset.”
“Do you promise you won’t ridicule me?”
He threaded his fingers through hers and held her gaze. “You have my word of honor.”
She sighed and pulled off her nightcap. A riot of absolutely chaotic curls shot out in all directions. “Rose isn’t feeling well, and I wanted her to rest. One of the maids helped me dress, but not one of them would know how to tame this monstrosity. I can manage it to an extent myself, but it’s particularly bad today.” Her next breath shook. “I can’t join your family looking like this. They would all laugh at me. I couldn’t bear it.”
Artemis seldom allowed herself to seem vulnerable. This degree of fragility was heartbreaking. And yet, her emergency was something he was actually equipped to help with. He was never the right person at the right time. This was an opportunity he did not mean to waste.
He stood, keeping hold of her hand, and nudged her to her feet.
“I won’t go down there like this, Charlie. I won’t.”
“I have no intention of insisting you do.”
She eyed him doubtfully. “Whatdoyou intend to do?”
He knew his expression held a fair bit of mischief. “I intend to fix your hair.”
Her look of shock was everything he could have hoped for. He laughed out loud.
“Sit on the bed,” he instructed. “I need to grab a couple of things.”
