The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(49)

That did the trick. Charlotte’s smile returned and she glanced at him. “I am sure he will be glad of your offer. As much as we all love Duke and Daisy, we will have to find homes for their progeny.” They rode in silence for a few moments before Charlotte commented, “It is a shame you are not closer to your sisters.”

As close to her brothers and sisters, even her sisters by marriage, as she was, Con knew she would eventually bring up the subject of his sisters. She might even be concerned that he would not wish her to maintain close ties to her family. “My youngest sister, Annis, Lady Kendrick, and I write, but she is still five years older than I am and her family takes up much of her time.”

“Do you have nieces and nephews?”

“Yes. Five nieces and six nephews.” Thinking of them made him smile. Annis’s children were much nicer than the children of his other sisters. Not that he knew the others nearly as well. “The ones I know the best are Annis’s. The oldest, a boy, is fourteen. Then there is a girl, thirteen. Another boy, eleven, a girl, nine, and the youngest boy is seven. They live about a half day’s travel from my mother. I usually make a point of visiting either before or after I see Mama.”

Charlotte had turned in the seat so that she was facing him. “What of your other sisters?”

“Cornelia, Marchioness of Westborough, is eight years my elder and Sapphira, Duchess of Stafford, is ten years older than I. We are not close.”

“I think I understand.” Charlotte’s lips formed a moue. “I have met both of your elder sisters. They are not particularly friendly.”

“That is putting it nicely.” He commended Charlotte’s kindness. His older sisters were shrews of the first order. “In my considered opinion they are both puffed up in their own consequence. You should have seen the fit they threw when Annis was allowed to marry a mere baron. They had got together and decided she should marry one of the royal princes.”

Charlotte wrinkled her nose. She, Louisa, and Dotty had all been presented to Queen Charlotte earlier in the Season. Two of the royal princes had been present and Charlotte had not been impressed by either of them. “Were they any better when they were younger?”

“In a word, no. She would have been made miserable. Fortunately, my mother’s good sense prevailed.”

When she had first met Lady Kenilworth, good sense was not a term Charlotte would have used. However, after having spent the early afternoon answering questions about Kenilworth, Charlotte had a new appreciation for the torture the lady had put her through during the journey back to Town. And no one who spoke to Lady Kenilworth today would doubt that her son and Charlotte had a love match, thus stopping the small bit of harmful gossip that had been bruited about and saving her reputation.

Yet, that brought her around to Kenilworth. He was turning out to be a much better gentleman than she had originally thought he was. Earlier, when he had told her about what he was doing for his mistress, she had been almost speechless at his generosity.

But could she love him? That is what she must discover before she kissed him again. “I am glad she was able to marry the man she wished to wed.”

“So was she.” He grinned. “Unfortunately, the decision caused a rift that has still not fully healed.”

“That is sad.” Although, she had still not completely forgiven her uncles for trying to stop Grace from gaining custody of her and the younger children. “I do not think something like that would ever occur with my brothers and sisters. We are already so close and there are so many of us.”

“I find your family truly enjoyable,” he said, trying to reassure her. “That type of affection is what I wish for in my future family.”

One more of her concerns dissolved. Blowing away like dandelion seeds in the wind. “Thank you. They are very important to me.”

And, equally important, could he love her? At the moment, she had a foreboding that he was insisting on this marriage because he said he would wed her, and not out of any true feeling toward her. Would a kiss show her how he felt? Dotty said it had with her, but for Charlotte it was much too soon. And there was Harrington to consider. She felt duty bound to give him a chance.

They were on the carriage track in the Park, and his attention was taken by the various vehicles, horses, and people strolling along the verge.

“Lady Charlotte.”

“Lady Jersey.” Charlotte acknowledged the Almack’s patroness’s greeting. “How nice to see you.”

“And Lord Kenilworth.” Her ladyship looked like a cat lapping cream. “I am thrilled to learn the gossip was correct. May I wish you happy?”

“Thank you,” Charlotte and Kenilworth said at the same time.

“I shall visit your sister ‘at home’ and congratulate her as well. It is not often one manages to marry off three young ladies in their first Season, and such good matches as well. Though, I suppose she has Worthington to thank for the last two.” Her ladyship gave her coachman the office to go. “I look forward to seeing you at Lady Hereford’s ball.”

Charlotte noticed that Lady Jersey had not added Grace’s wedding. “Yes, indeed.”

“If the ball will be too much of an ordeal for you . . .” he whispered, his low tone causing pleasurable shivers to caress her neck. That had never happened before.

“No. Your mother is correct. We must attend.” Charlotte studied him for a moment. “Unless it is you who does not wish to attend. In fact, I do not remember having seen you at any of the events this Season.”