The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(58)

“Or,” Dotty said, “if I had not told you about the poor women Miss Betsy had abducted and used so badly.”

Charlotte rushed back to her friend. “Please do not blame yourself. Even Grace said we should know.”

“If only his courtship was not playing out in full view of the ton,” Grace mused. “I know that is how it is normally done, but I think you would be better served if it was otherwise.”

“Particularly as it is so late in the Season and there isn’t anyone else to provide entertainment at the moment,” Dotty added.

“Yes.” Charlotte sighed. “And Harrington’s behavior is not helping.”

“This is most likely not the time to tell you”—Dotty grimaced—“but Dom and I are going to a property he has in Surrey for a few days.”

That was not what Charlotte wanted to hear. “When do you plan to depart?”

“Late tomorrow morning. We will only be gone for a few days.”

Other than wish her cousins a good trip, there was nothing she could say that would not sound selfish.

A few moments later, Royston entered with the tea tray and the gentlemen followed on his heels. Grace poured, and Charlotte handed out the cups. She moved to the window seat, allowing her sister to speak with Matt privately.

Kenilworth followed, taking a chair near where she sat. “I cannot believe the change that has been wrought in Merton. He seems almost like a different man.”

Had Kenilworth not noticed her unease? No, at most he might think something was wrong but preferred not to address it. “Matt says he is much more like his father now.”

“I am too young to have known the old marquis, but my father liked him a great deal.” He took a sip of tea. “He seems greatly attached to Lady Merton.”

Charlotte slid a look to where Dotty and Merton stood talking to Matt and Grace. For the first time she noticed the small touches and looks they gave each other. Matt and Grace engaged in the same silent communication. “Yes. They are very much in love.”

“I hear your sister and Rothwell formed a love match as well.”

“They did. My parents also had a love match. It is a tradition in both the Carpenter and Vivers families.” Except for poor Patience, Matt’s step-mother, but she was now happily in love and married as well.

“I see.” His words were thoughtful, but he did not expound upon them.

But what did he see? Would it change what was going on between them?

Matt rose. “We must depart.”

Well, of all the bad timing. Yet, by the time their party arrived at the ball, the first set was underway.

“I believe the next dance is a waltz,” Kenilworth whispered, his lips so close to her ear she once again fought off the shivers his breath caused. She wanted to lean closer, but held herself rigid, fighting her reaction, just as Dotty had observed.

She and Kenilworth fell back from the rest of their group as friends she had not seen recently stopped them to wish them happy. This evening, she felt less like a fraud and wondered if it was because some part of her was growing to care for him.

“What I want to know, Kenilworth,” one of the gentlemen said, “is how you managed to escape most of the events of the Season and still end up with one of the Graces.”

“The Graces?” Turning to Charlotte he raised a dark sable brow.

Of course he would not know. Dotty, Louisa, and Charlotte were thrilled when they had first heard the sobriquet. “It was an appellation given to Lady Merton, my sister Louisa, and me.”

“Then it is only right that since the other two Graces are wed, the last should be as well.” He grinned, lightening his visage and making him even more handsome. There was not a lady here who would understand her hesitation in marrying him. “The Fates were with me.”

“They must have been,” another gentleman grumbled.

“Don’t mind Ruffington,” Lord Endicott said. “He is having a run of bad luck. Lady Charlotte”—he bowed— “may I steal you away from your betrothed for this next waltz?”

Kenilworth’s arm tightened, and he placed his fingers over her hand. “No, you may not.”

He had been acting like a dog with a bone for days now, but this was the first time he had actually said anything. Yet she did not dislike his possessiveness. He sounded so much like Merton when he and Dotty were newly engaged, that Charlotte had to put her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing. “This set is spoken for. Perhaps the next country dance, my lord.”

“Only if Kenilworth stops looking as if he’d like to run me through.” Endicott bowed and strolled toward a group of young ladies.

By the time Charlotte and Kenilworth had reached her sister, the violins were beginning to play the first strands of the waltz. Dotty and Merton were already making their way to the dance floor.

Matt looked at Grace. “Come, my love.”

“I would be delighted.” She smiled at him, love shining in her eyes. “It is so much nicer dancing with you when you have only Charlotte to watch out for.”

Kenilworth raised Charlotte’s hand to his lips, and the sensations began again. “Shall we?”

Were her friend and sister correct? Did this mean she liked him more than she let on, even to herself? “Indeed.”

The moment he took her in his arms, her world tilted. She felt as if her slippers had left the ground, and she was twirling on air. “I have meant to tell you that you dance well.”