“It would be nice for Lucille, too,” Aunt Lydia interrupted, and Charlotte’s heart sank.
“Of course,” she muttered, looking down at the deep red wine that sparkled in her glass.
“And my dear nephew, Arthur. If I recall correctly, you rather like my nephew, do you not?”
Charlotte glanced up at her and smiled weakly. “Yes, I suppose I do.”
The following day, Charlotte spent hours preparing herself for dinner. She considered carefully which gown to choose, opting for a silk empire line gown in a rich emerald green. She had Annie do and redo her hair a number of times until it was just right. Silly though it may have been, she wanted to look her very best for the duke that night. She was truthfulwhen she said she expected nothing from him, but she certainly didn’t want him to regret what they did, either.
She took a deep breath before stepping into the dining room, preparing herself to see him again. But she was greeted not by polite conversation but by a squeal of excitement. She blinked in surprise as Chelsea bounded over to her, fresh from her honeymoon, and pulled her into a rather unladylike embrace.
“Goodness,” she said as she pulled away. “Let me breathe, Lady Lemming, won’t you?”
She forced a laugh and smoother down her skirt while surreptitiously glancing around the room. Alexander was there, in the corner, talking quietly with Lucille. It seemed he was so engrossed in his conversation that he hadn’t even noticed her arrival, and the disappointment weighed heavily on her. It was made all the sharper by Lucille’s loud laughter.
“I’m sorry,” Chelsea said, “but it’s been an age since we last saw one another! And please don’t call me Lady Lemming. It may be my title, but you are as close to a sister as anyone shall ever be.”
Charlotte looked at her properly for the first time, and her heart filled with warmth. She had missed dear Chelsea. Her best friend always had a way of calming her thoughts, even if Charlotte didn’t reveal them. She pulled her into an embrace again.
“I was just surprised, that’s all,” she whispered into Chelsea’s ear. She pulled away, beaming at her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“We thought it would be a surprise,” Chelsea replied, glancing over her shoulder at her new husband. “And your Aunt Lydia mentioned that her nephew was attending this evening and that you might… well, that you and he were something of friends.”
Charlotte frowned deeply. Why would her aunt think such a thing? “He is a perfectly decent conversationalist,” Charlotte replied, hoping to be at least diplomatic. Though she had no desire to grow her friendship with Arthur, he was not a bad man. And she suspected he felt the same about her.
“And there we were, thinking you would never even consider the love of a man.”
At that, Charlotte blushed, flashes of Alexander’s love running through her mind. His hand upon her breast, his breath hot on her neck. Chelsea let out a loud giggle, and Charlotte knew she had entirely misunderstood, but how could she correct her? She couldn’t very well tell her the truth. Instead, she fell back on what she would have done in times gone by—on jest.
“It is not as you think,” she said. “It’s only that nowyouknow what it is to be truly loved by a man, in every sense of the word. I could not help but picture you in such a position.”
Chelsea cackled with laughter and mock outrage. “You haven’t changed a bit!”
“Should I have?” Charlotte asked, her eyes straying to the duke in the corner. He still had not noticed her. “You have hardly been gone a month.”
Chelsea looked around the room, noting all the guests. “Where is your uncle?” she asked. “I have missed his silly humor.”
“Uncle Elliot is away on business. I should imagine he would be horrified to discover so many people in his home, especially when it has always been Aunt Lydia who has shunned society.”
“And yet she has arranged this evening. How curious.”
“Curious indeed,” Charlotte said. “I suspect she is up to something, though I cannot imagine what.”
“Perhaps she merely wants to see her niece happy and in love. It is a perfectly reasonable thing for any guardian to want.”
Charlotte laughed, though it was without much humor. “She has never shown such interest before. I don’t see why she should start now.”
“Perhaps she sees the bloom of love in you, as I do. You might keep it a secret all you like, Charlotte dear, but I know better than anyone.”
“I am not…” Charlotte trailed off. There would no convincing Chelsea, and certainly not as they sat around a dinner table together. It could wait for another day.
“Dinner is served!” The footman’s announcement broke into their conversation, and Charlotte was oddly relieved. If she could get Chelsea alone, she would tell her everything. But in a room full of people and thoughts spinning around her mind, it all felt too much.
She trailed behind the others to the dining room. There was her aunt and uncle, naturally; Chelsea and Lord Lemming; Lucille and Alexander; and Arthur escorted Charlotte. As she took her seat next to Arthur, she swallowed back the dread. Whatever this dinner was meant to be, it had been so perfectly arranged. They had all been placed in pairs, but Charlotte desperately wished to swap.
From where she sat, she had a clear view of Alexander. He looked as handsome as ever, and her entire body called out to him. And though he had greeted her with polite stoicism, he had yet to interact properly with her.
Because he is far too interested in Lucille.
