She caught a glimpse of his frock coat on the coat stand, but there was nothing more.
“This way,” Margaret waved her daughters into the sitting room. “We must be calm, perfectly calm.”
Charlotte’s heart felt anything but calm, but she abided by her mother’s orders. A minute later, she was sitting numbly, with a rigid posture, in the sitting room. Tea had been served for them, and though Margaret and Rose raised their cups to their lips perfectly politely, Charlotte could not take a sip.
Her anxious manner was not helped by Harry who ran into the room a few minutes later.
“Do not run, dear,” Charlotte and Margaret said in unison. Harry merely laughed and flung himself down into a chair, snatching up a cup of tea.
“They’re still in there. God knows what they’re talking about. I can’t tell.”
“You were listening at the door?” Margaret said in a perfect look of horror.
“Of course.” Harry shrugged.
“Did you hear anything said?” Charlotte murmured.
“Charlotte!” Margaret reprimanded.
Charlotte sat perfectly still again, well aware that the tables had turned, and she was no longer the woman in the room demanding propriety.
A few minutes later, a door opened across the house and muffled voices grew nearer.
“Now, perfectly serious and calm everyone,” Margaret urged in a whisper. “Besides, if this man is about to hurry back off to Scotland without proposing to my daughter first, then I have no kind words for him.”
“Mother!” Charlotte hissed in shock.
“Oh goodness, Charlotte, I may be your daft mother, but I am not completely blind.” Margaret calmly raised her teacup to her lips again.
Charlotte did not have the chance to say any more, for suddenly, her father was in the doorway. He mirrored his wife’s serious expression, leading Gerard into the room.
Silence elongated as Charlotte looked at Gerard, her nerves so palpable that she sat like a wooden pole in her chair. Gerard’s eyes were on her, but she could deduce nothing from his expression. It was perfectly impassive.
What can they have spoken of so long in conference together?
“Ahem.” David cleared his throat and moved toward his wife. “Please, Your Grace. You are welcome to take tea with us.” Yet the words lacked warmth.
Charlotte shot a baffled glare at her father, but he avoided her gaze.
“How are you today, Your Grace?” Margaret asked with perfect politeness. “You have quite surprised us this morning by calling so early.”
“I apologize for me earliness. I know that it is nae… the done thing,” he murmured. He hadn’t yet taken a seat but stood awkwardly at his end of the room. His extra height meant he dominated over the rest of them, leaving Charlotte nowhere else to stare at but straight at him. “I’m afraid I had to call though, as soon as I could.”
“To what do we owe this visit?” Margaret asked as David took a teacup that she proffered to him.
Charlotte glanced at her parents. They were usually so warm and welcoming, especially toward Gerard, but apparently, they had forgotten what warmth meant today. Harry was the one who showed the most interest in Gerard, smiling up at him with curiosity. Rose sat beside Harry, elbowing him every now and then in the effort to make him look away.
“I had something I had to ask yer husband, me lady, and… somethin’ to ask yer daughter, too.” His eyes landed on Charlotte.
She was not sure she had ever made such a good impression of being made of porcelain before. She didn’t think she even moved enough to breathe.
“Well, you can now ask her, Your Grace.” David gestured toward her.
Charlotte was amazed as Gerard blushed a deep shade of red. She was the one who usually blushed between the pair of them, not him.
“Now?” Gerard asked.
“Yes, now,” David said simply. “You must understand my need to chaperone my daughter.” He raised his teacup to his lips, andCharlotte thought she caught the briefest hint of a smile that he was trying to hide, but she could not be certain.
