Miss Charlotte in particular.
It wasn’t the first time that thought had struck him. They had barely conversed except in irritation, and already he found himself drawn to her. Helikedbeing in her company, though he couldn’t work out why. It surely wasn’tonlybecause she was beautiful and sparked that secret stirring within him. He’d known many a beautiful woman in his time, but there was something different happening.
Different even from Lucille.
Perhaps it was because she herself was so different, so unlike any other lady he had met before. She was somehow dazzling, and when he was with her—even when she was annoyed at him, which was all the time—he felt like the weight of the world was newly shared. He even found himself enjoying teasing her.
He could see how much it riled her, but he couldn’t help himself. There was something exciting, something appealing, in her anger. A flash of it lit up her face whenever he spoke, and he was drawn further in.
And the way she sneaks a glance at me, as though secretly she likes it.
“It was kind of you to escort Stewart,” Lady Chelsea said as they made their way to the glover.
The streets were oddly quiet for this time of day, giving them a chance to talk. Alexander had intentionally stayed away from Miss Charlotte. He seemed to offend her so very much, and though he rather enjoyed teasing her, he didn’t want to create bad feelings among them. It would be unfair to Stewart and Lady Chelsea.
“Thank you,” he replied as they strolled along the cobbles. “But it was more a kindness on his part. I think it is fair to say I needed the break from London.”
Chelsea smiled. “Don’t we all, from time to time?”
From across the road, Alexander heard giggles. They were as light as bubbles and as bright as the sun, and it made him look over at her.
Miss Charlotte.
In that moment, she looked so happy. It warmed his heart and saddened him all the same. She was so beautiful when she laughed, so carefree. So much like the day he had seen her at the lake, before he had revealed himself.
And yet, it hurt his pride to see her enjoying conversation so much with Stewart. It was an odd thing. He knew he shouldn’t care. He was attracted to her, certainly, but other than a stirring of physical desire, he didn’t care much for her at all. But she seemed so very enthralled with every word that Stewart said, and Alexander was annoyed that she had never responded tohimin such a way.
Jealousy, he realized, the word a bolt of lightning in his mind.
He laughed at himself, shaking his head. Surely a woman he barely met couldn’t make him jealous, and yet there he was. It burned in his chest every time he heard her laugh, every time he looked over at her to see her huddling with his lifelong friend. Shewascapable of being sweet and lovely, just as he had suspected.
Just not with me.
“Your Grace?”
“What?” He blinked, pulled back to the world with a jolt. He glanced at Lady Chelsea’s expectant face. “I’m sorry, I was miles away.”
Lady Chelsea’s gaze strayed to Miss Charlotte, and when she returned her attention to Alexander, she was smirking.
“Miles away or just across the road?” she asked.
Alexander’s shoulders tensed, panicked that he had given away his foolish, schoolboy feelings.
You hardly know the woman, for goodness’ sake!
“Er… no, in London, actually,” he stuttered, making excuses for his lack of attention. “I’m afraid to say a duke’s work is never done.”
“I can only imagine how difficult that is for you,” Lady Chelsea offered. “All the more reason that we are grateful to have you here. Are you married, Your Grace?”
She looked at him through the side of her eyes, and he chuckled at her boldness. “No, my lady. I am not married. Were you looking for some marriage advice?”
“No,” she replied with a knowing smile. “Just curious, that’s all.”
Chapter 9
Later that evening, Charlotte pinned her hair up with diamond-tipped pins, sliding each into a curl. She watched her own reflection in the looking glass and found herself paying extra attention to the neatness of her hair. She pinched her cheeks to add a little pinkness and smiled to herself. She felt pretty, something she so rarely cared about.
“He already thinks you’re pretty,” Chelsea said, coming up beside her in the looking glass. It was as if she had read Charlotte’s mind, the deep dark thoughts she wished would stop coming.
