The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(42)
“In that case, I must try a taste.” He bit off a piece. It was, indeed, one of the best cheeses he had tasted in a while, rich and sharp with a crumbly texture. “Excellent.”
“We told you it would be.” Theodora guided him to a selection of meats.
Pleased to have made it this far, he searched for Charlotte and found her at the end of the table. However, before he could move to join her, three girls, somewhat older than Mary and Theodora, with the extraordinary hats, joined him.
“What lovely bonnets. I do not believe I’ve seen anything like them before.”
The girls preened. “Thank you,” they said in unison. “We made them ourselves.”
He looked around again in a vain hope that another adult would be nearby, but they were all gathered near the table. Well, as they say, in for a penny, in for a pound. “Forgive my boldness, my ladies, but I do not see anyone who can perform an introduction. I am Lord Kenilworth.”
The girls curtseyed.
“I am Lady Alice Carpenter.” She pointed to the girl next to her. Another one with dark hair and the Worthington eyes. “This is my sister Lady Madeline Vivers, and this”—indicating the third girl with blond hair and Charlotte’s eyes—“is my twin sister, Lady Eleanor Carpenter. We are twelve and when we are eighteen, we shall make our come out.”
Lady Madeline and Lady Eleanor nodded in confirmation, and Con made a decision to keep Charlotte in the country that year. On the other hand, Worthington might insist everyone be in Town to help keep an eye on them. “A pleasure to meet you, ladies.”
*
Dotty took Charlotte’s arm as she ambled after her sisters and Lord Kenilworth.
“I see he is well in hand.”
“Theo and Mary will take good care of him. The fun will begin when the twins and Madeline decide it’s their turn to meet the visitor.”
“I think you’re about to see what will happen.”
Charlotte glanced in the direction her friend was gazing to see the girls had taken over from Theo and Mary and wondered what the result of his conversation with his mistress was. Yet she was equally curious as to how he would handle being around the children. Her family meant everything to her, and whoever she married must love them as well.
She chewed her bottom lip. “He wishes to speak with me.”
“Of course he does.” Dotty pulled Charlotte to a halt. “Do not tell me you are concerned about what he may say?”
“Partly.” She tugged her friend’s arm and began walking again. “Truth be told, I do not wish to have been wrong.”
“No,” Dotty murmured. “Though, I shall own myself surprised if you are.” They hung back from the table, allowing everyone else to make their selections. “It is more than that, isn’t it?”
“I don’t understand,” Charlotte said, wondering what her friend was getting at.
“The way his gaze travels to you and the way you continue to glance at him . . . Do you like him, Char? Perhaps more than you are willing to admit at present?”
Maybe she did. Yet, he still had to prove himself before she would allow this to go any further. “Do you remember the night you and Merton became betrothed?”
“I could hardly forget it.” Dotty laughed lightly.
“You were not really happy about it. Then you and he went off together and—”
“And he kissed me.” A dreamy look appeared on her face. “After that, I did not mind at all being betrothed to him. I had not realized how much I truly liked him until that kiss.”
“I don’t want that to happen to me.” They’d taken a few sweets and some cheese from the table and strolled back to the arbor against the wall at the back of the garden. “You had already begun to show him how wrongheaded he was. If I am to fall in love with Lord Kenilworth, I must have some assurances that he is able to change his behavior as well.” She rubbed her right temple, trying to forestall the ache threatening to come on. If only he had not turned out to be the gentleman at the theater, she would have fewer doubts. She might even be happy about the engagement.
Still, she must deal with what she had. “Do you understand?”
“Completely,” Dotty assured her. “And I agree. If he is not all you want, then you should not marry him. Provided you can think of a way to jilt him without creating a scandal.”
That is what it all came down to. A scandal. Although neither Matt nor Grace had said anything, they did not seem to think much about Charlotte’s idea to forestall the wedding indefinitely. “Thank you. It’s good to know that my family and my friends will accept my decision.”
Dotty grinned, and they started walking back to the festivities. “That is what friends and family are for. Now, fortify yourself with some of your cook’s excellent lemon cake, then talk to Lord Kenilworth. I am certain everything will be fine.”
“I shall.” Charlotte prayed her friend was right. She could not put off the conversation much longer.
When they returned, his lordship was surrounded by the rest of her brothers and sisters. There was nothing unusual about that. They were curious children and the twins and Madeline would try to extract as much information as possible from him.
Her brothers would care for nothing more than what types of horses and carriages Lord Kenilworth owned and if he was a member of the Four Horse Club. Being admitted to that famous driving club was now both Phillip’s and Walter’s primary goal. Augusta would want to know if he had traveled to Europe and, if so, what he had seen.