The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(30)

“But—”

Grace cut him off. “She should do what any young lady who has just contracted a betrothal would do.”

“And that is?” he asked slowly, in a wary voice.

“Go shopping,” Grace pronounced emphatically.

“Shopping?”

Charlotte couldn’t tell if it was dread or doubt in Matt’s tone.

“Indeed.” Grace’s eyes began to sparkle. “Although Louisa, Dotty, and I all wed so quickly, there was not a great deal we could do—”

“That was not how it seemed to me,” her husband muttered.

Her hand fluttered, dismissing his statement. “Nevertheless”—she speared him with a look—“while we are still in Town, and since the purpose is not to have a quick ceremony, she must be seen to be putting together her trousseau.”

“What about Kenilworth?” Matt asked. “We cannot simply leave him here.”

Quite frankly, Charlotte thought that was an excellent idea.

“No, my love, you are correct. I am sorry, Charlotte.” Her sister gave her a sympathetic look. “You must be seen with him.”

That was not what Charlotte wanted to hear. Then again, it was not surprising. She had seen how much time Dotty and Louisa had spent with their husbands before they married.

Charlotte had only one stipulation. “I will not be alone with him.”

“As you wish, my dear.” Grace smiled warmly as Matt’s jaw began to twitch. “It is only for another few weeks.”

“Then we may go home?” Charlotte asked, praying the answer was yes.

“Then we may go home.” Grace put her arm around Charlotte’s shoulders. “Try not to look so down in the mouth. I have found that things always seem to work out the way they are supposed to.”

That was what Lady Bellamny had said as well. Perhaps they were right. Despite what he said, Kenilworth did not truly wish to wed her, and she would never agree to marry him. He could go back to his debauched life, and she would find a man she could love and respect. Perhaps even Lord Harrington, if he could prove he truly cared for her.

*

The following morning, Charlotte, Grace, Jane, Matt, and Kenilworth were not the only ones to depart. Lady Kenilworth had decided she should make the journey to Town as well. And ride in the Worthington coach.

At first, Charlotte had not minded the change in plans. Unfortunately, the moment the doors were closed, her ladyship could speak of nothing but wedding plans.

“Naturally, now that Kenilworth and your brother have spoken, the wedding announcement may be sent to the paper.” Lady Kenilworth smiled beatifically at Charlotte as if making a formal announcement of a betrothal she did not want was the best news in the world.

Biting her tongue, Charlotte decided not to remind the lady that she had no intention of going through with the marriage. It would only make the ride back to Town even more disagreeable than it was turning out to be. She wished she could have ridden or taken another vehicle. But riding a horse was out of the question and the only other conveyance was Kenilworth’s phaeton. “Naturally.”

“I suppose you will wish to wed at St. George’s.” Her ladyship inclined her head toward Jane. “I understand all your recent family weddings have taken place there.”

“I do not yet know where I wish to be married,” Charlotte replied before that idea could grow in her ladyship’s mind. Wherever her wedding took place, it would not be with Lord Kenilworth.

“I suppose we must discuss a date.” Lady Kenilworth gave Charlotte a look filled with such hope that she felt horrible for disappointing the lady.

“Um, yes. However, there is no rush. Sometime in autumn would give his lordship and me time to come to know each other better.” If she did not turn this conversation soon, she would go mad. “Where will you stay while you are in Town?”

“I wrote the Pulteney Hotel. I will remain there for a few nights while chambers at Kenilworth House can be made ready for me. I have not visited since my husband died, and it would not do for me to use my former apartments.” Her ladyship gave Charlotte a significant look while she tried not to think of the marchioness’s chambers. “I hope to host a dinner in honor of your betrothal.”

Her own polite smile tightened. “You are very kind.”

By the time they stopped to change horses, her head had begun to ache. If it was this difficult to maintain her countenance with a woman who knew her feelings on the betrothal, even if her ladyship did choose to ignore Charlotte’s objections, how much more difficult would it be to pretend to the entire world that she was happy about marrying Kenilworth?

Yet, that was what she must do. Lady Bellamny had made it very clear that no one could know about the abduction or that Charlotte had spent the night at an inn and was alone with Kenilworth in the wee hours of the morning, riding around the countryside with him. The scandal would be impossible to live down.

All Charlotte could do was pray she was much better at dissembling than she thought she was, and hope no one saw through the deception.





Chapter Eleven


The previous day, when it had become clear the scheme Con and Worthington had formed had fallen through, Con offered his friend a neatish bay mare.

From his gray gelding, he surveyed the coaches in the front of his mother’s house. “Better to ride than be stuck in a coach.”