He looked up at her from the necklace. “If ye had ever given me any kind of gift, I wouldnae have dreamt of lettin’ go of it.” He looked down at the gown she was wearing, and with that movement, she inhaled sharply.
“Your gift to me,” she whispered, “is my most treasured possession. I could never imagine giving it away.”
He dropped the necklace on the table nearest to them, apparently releasing it with such satisfaction that he smiled greatly. He snatched up her hand again and held it to his lips.
“I’m nae scared of this feelin’ anymore,” he said in a rush. “Aye, I ran away, because I was a fool who couldnae cope with what I was feelin’, but I am back here now. I will lay meself prostrate at yer feet, if it could persuade ye in anyway just how much I love ye.”
“Gerard.” She closed her eyes, deciding it was the best way to stop the tears from falling. “I love you. I have just told you that I do, but us two telling each other this is only more heartbreak, is it not?” She at last summoned the courage to open her eyes again. “You have vowed never to marry.”
“That was a vow made long before I met ye. Charlotte…” He inhaled sharply. “Lass, there is somethin’ I must ask of ye now –”
She held her breath.
Is he going to ask me to marry him?
Then the door opened and they both fell silent.
“What in God’s name do you two think you are doing?” Dorothy cried from the doorway with her hands on her hips.
Charlotte couldn’t summon any words at all, for she was so startled. She stared at Dorothy, unable to believe that they had gone from Gerard leaning toward her, confessing he loved her, to Dorothy now marching into the room with a look of anger.
Please go away. Let him finish what he was saying!
“Dorothy, it’s…” Charlotte looked between her and Gerard. He hadn’t released her hand, and it was still raised toward his lips.
“Oh, I know.” Dorothy raised her hands in the air and laughed. “It’s not what it looks like, is it? That’s what they all say.” She stepped forward and caught Charlotte’s hand. “Look, I have bought as much time for you as I possibly could, but there are only so many times I can claim that perhaps the salmon didn’t agree with you and that’s why you’re spending so long in the privy. Your mother was ready to come and check on you if I had not volunteered.”
She tugged on Charlotte’s hand, pulling her away from Gerard.
Charlotte looked back, breathless and frustrated to have lost this heart-wrenching moment.
“Lass –” he called to Charlotte. His expression was contorted in pain. She wondered if it was the same agony that she was suffering, too.
“Not now, Your Grace,” Dorothy called back to him. “I’m sorry but I cannot afford you two any more time alone together. Come, Charlotte, before someone else comes looking for you.”
Charlotte was jerked out of the door and into the hallway, so suddenly that she nearly fell over and into Dorothy’s arms.
“Dorothy!” Charlotte hissed as they hurried down the corridor together. “Could you have not waited one minute more?”
“Believe me, I could not,” Dorothy said hurriedly. “Your mother is ready to storm the privy door in this house in search of you. Would you rather it was me or your mother finding you in the Duke of Rodstone’s arms?”
“Oh, Dorothy, please,” Charlotte begged as they halted by the drawing room door. “Please, please do not say anything to my mother about how you found us.”
“Do you think I would do that?” Dorothy scoffed. “I’m a better friend than that, surely.” She linked arms with Charlotte. “Your secret is safe with me, though if you ask me…” she lowered her voice in a whisper, “…if the Duke of Rodstone is a wise man, then he will come and call on you tomorrow. Mark my words.”
Dorothy pulled Charlotte into the room. All the ladies turned and asked at once what had taken Charlotte so long. Dorothy thrust her into the chair beside Margaret, who at once reached for Charlotte’s hands.
“Is something wrong?” Margaret asked.
“No, no, I’m quite well. The salmon didn’t agree with me,” Charlotte whispered in her mother’s ear, deciding it was best to continue her friend’s lie.
Before she could be pressed anymore on the point, the door opened and the men came in from the dining room. Amongst them was Gerard, perfectly calm and with the illusion that nothing unsettling at all had passed between them. He no longer looked in pain, nor did he pace restlessly. He sat besidehis friend Jeffrey, and though Charlotte took no part in any conversation, he frequently did.
Only at one point in the evening did Charlotte find Gerard’s gaze on her, but they both looked away fast. Gerard was very calm indeed all night, though Charlotte’s heartbeat would not settle. She wished to put it down to her intake of wine, but she knew it wasn’t. It was all to do with the anticipation and the longing to know exactly what would have passed had they not been found by Dorothy when they were.
Oh, Gerard.The thought plagued her all night.If Dorothy hadn’t disturbed us, what was it you were going to ask me?
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
