The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(107)

“In that case.” He picked Jemmy up from the floor. “Let’s be off.”

“May we go as well?” Phillip asked.

For a moment, Constantine seemed at a loss for words, then said, “If Grace and Worthington agree, you may accompany us. I’m sure Jemmy will feel better having you there.”

Con opened the door for Lady Pierrepont, and the rest of them followed behind.

“Well,” Louisa said once the door shut behind them. “Kenilworth has certainly made himself part of the family.”

“He has, rather.” Charlotte smiled to herself, thinking of their less than auspicious beginning. “All of our husbands or, in my case, soon-to-be husband, have joined our family.” She slid a wicked look at Dotty. “Even Merton.”

“Stop it. Even Louisa must admit that he has changed a great deal since he first came to Town,” Dotty retorted.

“Indeed, I do admit it.” Louisa stepped over to the bell pull and tugged it. A moment later Hal entered the room and addressed Charlotte. “My lady?”

“Champagne, if you please,” Louisa said.

He bowed. “Right away, Your Grace.”

“I think a celebration is called for.” She glanced around the room, as if memorizing it. “To think, this will be the last time we shall be able to call this parlor ours.”

“Think of all the discussions we’ve had here,” Charlotte mused. “I suppose it will now be Augusta’s.”

“Until she weds,” Dotty agreed. “Let’s not become maudlin. We have a great deal for which to be thankful. I, for one, am thrilled that our husbands, or”—she grinned at Charlotte—“soon-to-be husbands, get on so well.”

“Let us agree to visit each other frequently,” Louisa added. “I shall make a list.” She ducked as Charlotte threw a pillow at her, and laughed. “Someone has to keep track of plans.”

The door opened. Hal entered with two bottles and four glasses, opened one bottle and began to pour. “Miss Turley is on her way up.”

“Another person who has become a good friend, despite our first impressions,” Charlotte said.

The evening Dotty and Merton became engaged, they thought Elizabeth had attempted to trap him into marrying her. Yet, since then they had become very close.

“Elizabeth,” Charlotte greeted the other lady, bussing her on the cheek. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well. I would ask you, but you look as if you are walking on clouds.”

“That is one way to put it.” She really had never been happier.

Once her sister and friend greeted their guest, they passed around the glasses of wine and arranged themselves on the sofas.

Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled as she glanced at Louisa, Dotty, and Charlotte. “I did wonder if your original plan to wait until summer to marry would last.”

Heat bloomed in Charlotte’s cheeks. “I discovered I was as unable to wait as the rest of my family.” Wanting to change the subject, she asked, “Do you have any prospects? There are still a few weeks left in the Season.”

“I have had my eye on one gentleman,” Elizabeth said cautiously. “As you are no longer on the market, he is looking in my direction.”

“Harrington?” Charlotte had thought from what Elizabeth said a few weeks ago that she might be interested in the gentleman. “You must put him through his paces before you agree to wed him. He is entirely too sure of himself.”

“I quite agree. At least, he used to be. He had a bit of a shock when he realized you were going to marry another gentleman.”

“I hope you’re right.” As far as Charlotte was concerned, Harrington needed to be taken down a notch or two.

Then again, if he had remained in Town, she never would have met Constantine and would not be as blissfully happy as she was now.

Elizabeth remained another fifteen minutes, before rising. “I’ll see you tomorrow at your breakfast. I just wanted to stop by and wish you happy.” She hugged Charlotte. “I could not be more pleased for you.”

And that was exactly how Charlotte felt. Everything was perfect.





Chapter Thirty-Seven


Charlotte, Louisa, and Dotty were contemplating a fresh bottle of champagne when Merton, Rothwell, and Constantine strode into the parlor. Con and Rothwell perched on the sofa arms next to Charlotte and Louisa. Merton sat on the sofa next to Dotty.

A moment later, Hal entered carrying more champagne and glasses. He poured the remainder of the first bottle into the ladies’ goblets, opened the new bottle, and filled the glasses he’d just brought.

“What are we celebrating?” Con asked.

“Our family and friendship.”

Con raised Charlotte’s hand and kissed the palm. He wanted to take her into his arms, but even in this company, he would not.

“How did the meeting between Jemmy and his family go?” Charlotte asked.

“Quite well.” Con took a sip of wine. “He met his grandmother, Lady Litchfield, who was more than a little distraught that she had misidentified his birthmarks. He has a number of cousins all within a few years of him.” He set his glass down, twining his fingers with hers. “Naturally, Theo, Mary, and Phillip were extremely protective at first. Yet, even they agreed that his family seemed to care a great deal about Jemmy.”