The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(33)

Several minutes later, Augusta’s brows drew together. “I really did not think the lessons we received would be of much use. Now I shall have to start practicing in earnest.”

“What lessons?” Alice, Eleanor, and Madeline asked as one.

“Ones you will receive before you come out.” Charlotte glanced at the others. “Are there any other questions?”

Mary, sitting at Charlotte’s feet, tugged her gown. “I was scared.”

As she pulled Mary into her lap, tears filled her eyes for the second time that day.

“Me too,” Theo said, making room for herself on Charlotte’s lap.

“Me three.” Phillip stood next to Charlotte, placing his arm around her shoulders.

“I was, as well, but everything is fine now.” She gave them each a kiss, then set Mary and Theo down and stood. “Let me wash the dust off me and see to Collette. We will speak again later.”

As Charlotte left the room, Walter strode with her down the corridor. “I’m glad you’re safe. We were very worried about you.”

She would have drawn him into an embrace, but lately he had been eschewing them as too babyish. “Don’t tell the others, but I was terrified.”

“I won’t.”

Charlotte thought his posture became a little straighter. “I’m glad you confided in me.”

She was too. He was on his way to becoming a good man. She’d miss him when he joined Charlie at school in the autumn.

A few minutes later, she set the basket down on the floor of her bedchamber, before removing her bonnet and throwing it on the dressing table. Collette poked her head up and, after realizing she was finally home, hopped out of the basket and went behind the screen.

Finally with her family again, it was the first time Charlotte had felt completely safe in days. The thought stopped her. It was not the truth. Before she had known who Kenilworth was, she had felt safe with him. Safe enough to fall asleep against him and let him kiss her.

She yanked off her gloves, throwing them on the table. All that proved was that she had been tired and was a much worse judge of character than she’d previously thought. If only she had waited for her footman to catch up with her, or not gone at all . . . Charlotte took a large breath. There was nothing to be gained by rethinking over and over again what had happened or what she could have done to change the results. The only thing she might have any control over at all was marrying Kenilworth.

She turned her mind to the plans Lady Kenilworth and Grace had made on the way to Town. Grace’s “at home” was in three days. Between now and then, Lady Kenilworth, Grace, and Charlotte would spend the days making morning visits, presenting what her sister called a united front. By the time she and Kenilworth made their first formal appearance together, no one could possibly think anything about Charlotte’s betrothal was unusual, especially with her ladyship so ecstatic about the engagement.

That, though, had brought up the question of how they had met. Naturally, the truth would not do. After much discussion, it was decided they would say Matt had introduced them. Considering her sister Louisa and Louisa’s new husband, Gideon, had met in Matt’s study, that was the simplest solution.

Next was the problem of the gentleman himself. Somehow, Charlotte must find a way to make him understand that she had no intention of marrying him and that having a mistress, a woman he bought for her body, was morally depraved. Regrettably, he appeared to be convinced he was doing nothing wrong.

Charlotte glanced at the clock on the mantel. There was plenty of time for her to practice the piano before tea. Playing would help clear her thoughts. She might even come up with a persuasive argument to make his lordship change his hardheaded mind and agree with her.

May entered Charlotte’s bedchamber from the dressing room, carrying her favorite Pomona-green day dress. “Pardon for being so long, my lady. I wanted to get everything put away. Let’s get you out of your carriage gown.”

After changing one garment for the other, she opened the door. “If anyone wants me, I’ll be in the music room.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Charlotte.”

“Dotty!” Thank God. Just the person Charlotte wanted to see. “I am so glad you are here. How did you know I had returned, and when did you arrive in Town?”

Laughing, her best friend in the world took Charlotte’s hands and squeezed them. “Let us go into the parlor, and I shall tell you.”

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Very much, and if your cook has any of his biscuits, they would be welcome as well. I cannot stay long, but I will see you at dinner this evening.”

She nodded to May, who rushed out the door as Dotty and Charlotte strolled into the Young Ladies’ Parlor.

“Are you happy?” Charlotte searched her friend’s face, pleased with what she saw. “You look to be.”

“It is hard for even me to believe, but I have never been happier.” Dotty’s smile seemed to light the room. “Dominic is everything I could have asked for in a husband and partner.”

Dominic, Marquis of Merton, was a cousin on Matt’s side of Charlotte’s family. Before he’d fallen in love with Dotty he was so stuffy and puffed up in his own consequence that no one in the family liked him. “That is only because you changed him.”