The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(32)

Con opened his mouth to speak, but shut it again.

Worthington’s eyes began to twinkle with mirth. “When Dotty told Merton what she was going to do, he was speechless as well. Short of locking her in her room, there was no way he could stop her. He was in the coach and they were well guarded.”

“I still do not understand how Charlotte saved the boy.”

“From what I understand, Jemmy was being taken away by one of the villains, and Charlotte shoved open the coach door into his face. He dropped Jemmy and Charlotte snatched him up. If you want more details, you’ll have to apply to her.”

That explained why she was not in a panic when Con rescued her. In fact, the only thing that seemed to overset her was him.

Still, the stuff about Miss Betsy was far and away worse than Con had thought it could be. It was no wonder Charlotte deplored men who frequented brothels. Although, the Covent Garden abbesses got the majority of the blame, and rightfully so: Without customers, those types of houses would not exist. Nevertheless, and this was a point that must be made, those poor women were not the same as the Cyprians he hired. All of his mistresses had come to him willingly. In fact, high-flyers chose their protectors more frequently than the gentleman chose the mistress. It was as different as night and day from the horrors she had been told about. That was what Charlotte must be made to understand. Con keeping a mistress was not at all the same as a man hiring a woman who had no choice.

About two hours later their cavalcade stopped to rest the horses and to partake in a light nuncheon. Con assisted his mother, then Charlotte, down the coach steps. Her countenance might well have been a mask for all the emotion she showed. And, although she didn’t shrink from his touch, she was as cold and stiff as a block of ice. To make matters worse, if that was even possible, his mother spoke of nothing but how happy she was to be welcoming Charlotte into their family and the ball she would plan in their honor. He would have to talk to his mother. There was no reason to make his betrothed more recalcitrant than she was already.

Once in the private parlor he had hired, the cat resided in Charlotte’s lap, eagerly lapping up pieces of meat and cheese. After the animal’s hunger had been satisfied, the little beast emitted a large rumbling sound as Charlotte stroked the thing and effectively withdrew from the conversation. Con wondered if he’d ever receive as much attention from her as the damned cat did.

Unable to talk to Mama about mentioning her plans, he attempted to turn the conversation whenever she opened her mouth. By the time he was back on his horse, he had the beginnings of a headache. In the past, the only time his head had hurt was from overindulgence, and his valet had a remedy that cleared his head in short order. He had a feeling this ache would not be so easily cured.

*

Thank God she was finally home!

Charlotte had just set her feet on the pavement when Jemmy collided with her, his thin arms wrapping around her waist. “They told me you was safe, but I had to see fer meself.”

“I am safe and well.” She patted the child on his head. “And I’m very happy to see that you arrived home unhurt. You were quite brave climbing on the coach as you did. Thank you.”

His face reddened as he looked up at her. “Weren’t nothin’.” He peered around her as if searching for something or someone. “Did the gent bring you back?”

“Ah, yes. He came back to Town with us but went to his own home.” She had never been so glad to get rid of two people in her life.

“I knew he was a good’un. Gave me more than the coach fare and hackney.” He lowered his voice. “Should I give him back the rest?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. In fact, I am positive he would want you to keep it.” She couldn’t imagine even a man such as Kenilworth would quibble over a few pennies.

Jemmy’s wide smile showed another missing tooth. Charlotte would make sure the stable master had noticed it and given the child tand-fé. After all, just because he still insisted on sleeping in the stables there was no reason he should not receive money for his tooth. They would have to move him permanently into the house soon.

“Do you think I’ll have a chance to thank him for the extra?”

“Yes, indeed.” And much too soon for her comfort. She ruffled the boy’s hair and placed a kiss on the top of his head.

The next thing she knew, Jemmy was joined by her sister, Mary, her best friend and Matt’s sister Theo, and the rest of the children. The noise level rose until Matt ordered them all inside. “You may ask your questions in the house. Go on, all of you.”

The two youngest pulled her up the steps and down the corridor into the morning room, demanding to know everything that had occurred. Trays of tea and food arrived as the children settled themselves to hear the story. Phillip, eight years old and her youngest brother, sat with Theodora, also eight, and Mary, five. Matt’s sister Madeline, age twelve, was in between the twins, Alice and Eleanor, also twelve years of age. His second eldest sister, Augusta, who was fifteen and Charlotte’s brother Walter, fourteen, took chairs on either side of Charlotte. The only one missing was their brother Charlie, Earl of Stanwood, who was attending Eton.

After a brief moment of silence the questions started, and Charlotte held up her hand to quiet them. “This will be much easier if you will allow me to tell you what happened. After that, if you have questions, you may ask them.”