Charlotte threw her head back and laughed as he mounted his own horse. If they were to spend time together, if there was to be any talk of marriage between them, then she would see to it that he knew the true Charlotte Fairchild, and not some mere image she presented to theton.
They began walking the horses in the direction of the woods, and Charlotte began to think that perhaps this might be fun after all.
“I must admit,” he said as they broke through the brush. “That turned out better than I thought. We spent hardly any time with my aunt, and we managed to get away without a chaperone! A positive result all round, I’d say.”
Charlotte’s cheeks colored and once more, she wondered if she had made a mistake. Why should he care whether therewas a chaperone or not? Were his intentions not honorable? Or at the very least platonic?
“Is that so?” she asked, not wanting to give herself away.
“I have a surprise for you.” He glanced at her with a wicked grin and then dug his heels into the sides of his horse and galloped away.
Charlotte cried out in surprise, infuriated at his teasing but equally desperate to know what was going on. She followed suit, driving her horse forward until she was in line with him once more, and she found herself laughing for the first time since they’d left London.
“You are acting very mysteriously today, Mr. Mulligan,” she said. “And I must say, it is rather different to how I have seen you in the past. Is there something going on?”
He turned and pouted. “Don’t you want your surprise?”
“As long as it’s not an engagement ring,” she muttered. She had thought she spoke quietly enough for him not to notice but she had no such luck. He guffawed.
“An engagement ring? From me? Don’t be so ridiculous! I don’t know what nonsense my aunt has been putting into your head but—”
“Thank goodness for that,” Charlotte said, letting her breath out quickly. “I was worried for a moment that you… well, that you had designs, let’s say.”
He slowed his horse to a trot and looked at her seriously. “The only designs I have are to give you a surprise, as I mentioned. And not having a chaperone makes that all the easier.”
“Well, now I’m dreadfully curious. What is my surprise?”
Arthur directed his horse to take a few steps backwards, revealing the view in front of them. They’d reached a small clearing and there, in the center of it, was a man. He was tall and imposing, his suit perfectly pressed, and his hair perfectly groomed. His chin was chiseled. And he looked at her with such pleading that Charlotte very almost caved.
The Duke of Ashbourne.
She froze for a moment before quickly turning her horse around. “No,” she snapped. “Absolutely not. I will not countenance such a thing. I cannot believe you would do such a thing to me, Mr. Mulligan. I considered us friends, but what a fool I have been!”
“Wait!” Alexander cried.
He crashed through the fallen leaves and twigs, leaping in front of her horse so suddenly that she had to pull on the reins. The horse reared up, but Charlotte managed to keep control. As the horse’s front hooves landed once more on the ground, Charlotte snarled at Alexander.
“What on earth is wrong with you? You could have gotten yourself killed! And I would have been responsible.”
“The risk was worth it,” he said, staring up at her. “If only for the chance to talk to you.”
A knot of tension and hope gathered in Charlotte’s throat. It was indeed good to see him, even if she didn’t want it to be. His handsome face, the way his hair curled at his neck, the shape of his lips. The smell of him. She swallowed back her emotions, refusing to let them control her again.
“And why would I want to talk with you?” she demanded. “After everything you have done?”
“Listen to him, Miss Charlotte,” Arthur said softly from behind her. “I would not have brought you here if I did not think he had something worth saying. We have discovered some truths since you left that you ought to know.”
Charlotte took in a deep breath, straightening her back and shoulders. “Very well. Speak.”
“Would you do me the kindness of at least getting off the horse?”
Charlotte ground her teeth. She didn’t want to give in to him, and yet she desperately wanted to sit next to him. To feel his warmth enveloping her once more. It had been far too long. Without another word, she dismounted and allowed him to lead her to a fallen log at the far end of the clearing.
“I will see you both later,” Arthur said, still atop his horse. “I’ve got to pop into the village to pick a few things up. I shall be no longer than an hour. Are you all right, Miss Charlotte?”
Charlotte looked at him, tears already in her eyes, and she nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Mulligan.”
Once he had gone, she and Alexander sat in silence for a long time, simply basking in each other’s presence. Her thoughts danced and churned, unable to decide what to believe, what to feel. She knew she was angry at Alexander, yet she couldn’t help but feel love for him too. There is a fine line between love and hate.
