The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(25)
Sometime later, someone was gently shaking her. “Charlotte, sweetheart.”
Goodness, it was Jane.
“You must awaken, or you’ll not be able to sleep tonight.”
Opening her eyes, Charlotte rubbed the sleep from them. The curtains had been pulled back and sunlight poured into the bedchamber. “How long have you been here?”
“About two hours. It is well past noon.” Even though Jane smiled, a worry line had formed between her brows. “I shall call for May, and she can order a nuncheon to be brought for you.”
Just then, Charlotte’s stomach growled. This morning, her stomach had been so tied in knots she had only eaten a piece of toast. Now she was famished. “A large nuncheon, please. I am quite peckish.”
Her cousin’s smile grew and the worry line disappeared. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Swinging her legs over the bed, she picked up Collette. “Is Hector here?”
“No, he wanted to come with me, but I thought it might be better if he remained with the children.” Jane took the kitten from Charlotte while she went into the garderobe. “Worthington’s butler sent for us shortly after . . . yesterday afternoon. As soon as we knew where you were, I wrote to Grace suggesting she and Matt come directly here. But in the event they do not receive my missive in time, Hector will be able to tell them where we are.”
That meant at least another day or two with Lord Kenilworth and his mother. Charlotte bit her lip to keep from saying anything and went behind the screen, pleased to see that her soap and toothbrush were there.
A few minutes later, May scratched on the door and entered, scanning Charlotte before holding out her robe. “I’m so glad to see you, my lady. I’ve got your pale green gown ready after you finish eating. Let’s do your hair while we’re waiting.”
That was surprising. She had expected May, if not Jane, to mention the abduction. Apparently, neither of them wished to mention the event.
Sitting at the dressing table, Charlotte watched as her maid twisted her hair into a neat knot high on her head.
“Do you still have your gold earbobs?”
“They are on the nightstand. I took them off before going to bed.”
“Ah, I see them.” As soon as Charlotte had donned the jewelry, a knock came on the door, and May gave her another big smile, much as Jane had earlier. “That’ll be your nuncheon, my lady.”
Charlotte stood at the window taking in the view of the garden while her maid arranged the dishes.
“Doesn’t all this look good,” May said, and for the first time Charlotte heard the forced cheerfulness in her maid’s voice.
She could almost see the worry in May’s eyes, much as Charlotte had seen the line between her cousin’s brows. Something was going on, but what? They were both treating her as if she were a fragile porcelain figurine and would fall apart at any moment.
The door closed, and she ambled toward the table where Jane had already taken a seat and tucked into the food. Charlotte was halfway finished eating, when it occurred to her that neither her maid nor her cousin were going to bring up what had happened. It was up to her to allay their concerns.
“I am fine, Jane. I really am. Lord Kenilworth helped me escape before anyone could harm me.”
Jane set down the cup of tea she’d been drinking. “Charlotte, on our way here we stopped at an inn for directions. While the coachman was getting them, I heard two gentlemen discussing your betrothal to Lord Kenilworth. Are you truly betrothed? Neither Lady Bellamny nor Lady Kenilworth told me you had got engaged, but what brought about the talk?”
Charlotte twisted the napkin in her hands. “Lord Braxton and another man saw us enter the inn. Lord Kenilworth told the landlord we were betrothed. Then Lady Bellamny appeared and she asked him if he was going to do his duty and marry me.” The concern in Jane’s eyes had not lessened. “I do not wish to wed him, and I do not believe he wants to marry me. While I slept, a plan came to me. I will simply remain betrothed until sometime in the summer, after any talk dies down. Just like Dotty was going to do before she fell in love with Merton.” Jane’s countenance became graver than Charlotte had ever seen it. “It will be fine. You’ll see.”
Yet, from the look on her cousin’s face, she was beginning to think all might not work out as she wished.
Reaching over, Jane patted Charlotte’s shoulder. “Let us not make any plans now. Grace will be here soon.”
A chill ran down Charlotte’s spine. “What are you not telling me?”
Several moments passed before her cousin replied, “Due to the nature of your clothing”—last night it had looked as if she had slept in it, which she had—“there is a rumor that you and his lordship were trysting this morning.”
No doubt started by Lord Braxton, yet Jane might not know the source. “But Lady Bellamny—”
“Oh, yes. The gentlemen accepted that her ladyship was with you, but they are under the impression the two of you stole away to be alone.”
Blast, blast, and blast! Now what am I going to do?
Denying the rumor would be useless. Charlotte was well aware of what her sister and her friend had done with their husbands before their vows. Lady Bellamny had told Charlotte what Lord Kenilworth had said to Lord Gerald about having an accident with the phaeton. Obviously, despite what Lord Kenilworth thought, Lord Gerald or, more likely, Lord Braxton hadn’t believed the story.