“I daenae deny that is exactly why I am here.”
“A gentleman should deny it!”
“Our lessons are over, remember?” he said with a smirk. It seemed to incense her even further. She shook her head, about to step away, when another set of footsteps reached their ears.
They both looked toward that end of the corridor, freezing. Another lady must have left the drawing room and was heading toward the privy. Charlotte stepped back, clearly fearful of being discovered alone in his company.
Gerard acted fast. He snatched up Charlotte’s hand and pulled her toward the nearest doorway.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Ye saved me from bein’ caught in a compromisin’ position once, remember?” He reminded her of the first night they had met. “It’s me turn to return the favor.” He pulled her into the room. She no longer fought him, but hastened inside, pulling her hand free just as he kicked the door shut behind him.
She backed away fast across the moonlit library. She looked around for another door, but there was no other, then made a beeline for the window.
“Charlotte, surely ye arenae goin’ to climb out a window?”
“What else am I supposed to do?” she whispered madly. “I have to get out of here.” She reached for the window, but it would not budge.
Gerard leaned against the door behind him, satisfied that at least in the darkness, she could not see that the window was in fact locked, and that catch was set high above her head height.
“Surely a lady shouldnae be seen to be gallivantin’ alone across a gentleman’s garden at night?”
“A lady should not be alone in a gentleman’s company either.”
“Ye have never minded before.”
“That was different.” She had an accusatory tone as she momentarily broke off in her effort with the window and turned to look at him. “Let me out of here, Gerard. Please.”
The fact she used his name made his heart hammer in his chest. He stepped away from the door, toward her, and once again, she tried her best with the window to be let out.
“Let me out!”
“Charlotte, please, just talk to me. There is so much ye and I need to say to one another.”
“There is nothing I need to say to you. Everything was discussed last time I saw you. You made your position quite plain. What is wrong with this window!?”
“It’s locked.” He nodded his head at the catch over her head. She tried to jump to release it, but he held his hand over the catch, so she could not touch it. It brought the two of them together. She turned once again, back flat to the window, eyes glistening in that moonlight.
“I do not wish to talk –”
“But I do.” He nodded firmly.
“Still used to getting what you want, eh?”
“Aye, somewhat.” He couldn’t deny it. “Yet I do this because I cannae stand for any further misunderstandin’ between us.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I mean… ye lied.” He stepped closer toward her. She planted her hands between her back and the glass window, apparently trapping them. He wondered, absentmindedly, if she was stopping herself from reaching up toward him. He wished she would. He wished they could share another one of those kisses that he had loved so much the last time they were alone. “Ye lied to me, Charlotte. Ye said ye were hopin’ to marry Mr. Withers. A claim that Mr. Withers kens nothin’ of.”
She swallowed, the gulp audible between them. She no longer looked at his face but down at the center of his chest.
“Why did ye lie?”
She didn’t speak.
“Answer me!”
