The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(96)

Jemmy had joined them, and more than once, Con had found himself in complete sympathy with the boy, but obliged to chastise him for criticizing the girl. Not only that, but he had a feeling the lad was just a little jealous of Miss Susan spending time with his heroine.

When they rose from the table, he pulled Charlotte aside. “Sweetheart, will you ride back to Town with me? It will be our last chance to be alone for several days.”

She glanced at Miss Susan, who was playing with Cyrille, Collette having had the good sense to hide in her basket. “I’d love to. Even if Dotty tires of the girl, Cyrille will keep her occupied.” Charlotte gazed up at him, a line marring her lovely brow. “I detest lying to her, yet I do think the story Dotty came up with did the trick. She is much too trusting. I only hope her parents will try to understand how she could have fallen under the cur’s spell.”

“I knew you wouldn’t like this pretense. Still, telling her a faradiddle was the best thing you could have done. If it makes you feel any better, Merton has heard of her father and sent a note to your brother to find the Merryvilles.”

“Thank you for telling me.” The news made Charlotte feel much better. “She is very young. In many ways, much younger than Augusta.”

Even the twins and Madeline had more sense than their charge. “I cannot see any of your sisters doing anything as ill-advised as this.”

“I agree, but we should not discuss it here.” Charlotte already had the feeling that Susan knew the gentlemen were not as much in sympathy with her as Charlotte and Dotty were. “I’ll get my bonnet.”

They were halfway to Mayfair when Constantine suggested there must be something wrong with his phaeton, necessitating an overnight stop at an inn he knew was just up the road.

Charlotte was trying not to laugh, when Jemmy piped up, “I don’t see anything.”

After that she went into whoops. “He has you there. Sweetheart, we will be married soon.”

“But how soon? When my sisters wed, it seemed as if the poor chaps had to wait for an age.”

She almost told him that in four days they would be saying their vows, but, wanting it to be a surprise, she held her tongue. “At least gentlemen do not have to buy new clothing.”

“No.” He slid a look at her before returning his attention to the horses. “Tell me why young ladies have to dress in pastels? Wouldn’t it be easier to allow them to wear what they want?”

“You mean the colors that suit them best. It would. It would also be considered fast, and the ladies who rule Almack’s would refuse to give them vouchers, and other ladies would refuse to invite them to entertainments. All in all, it is less expensive to play by the rules.”

“You always look lovely.”

“I am fortunate that I can wear some pastels well. However, many ladies cannot.”

“Once we have wed, you may shop for whatever you like.” He sounded so magnanimous. She wanted to go into whoops again.

“Thank you, I shall.” This was another secret she was keeping from him. Encouraged by Grace and Lady Kenilworth, Charlotte had already ordered a new wardrobe. Her conscience gave her a twinge about her mendacity. All she could do was pray it would all turn out well in the end.





Chapter Thirty-Three


It was late afternoon by the time Constantine’s carriage rolled into Berkeley Square. Merton’s coach would not be far behind. No sooner had Constantine lifted her down from the phaeton, than small arms grabbed onto her legs.

“We missed you,” Mary said.

Surprisingly, Theo merely nodded.

“Please, my lady, come into the house.” Royston held the door open, and a footman held Daisy.

“Yes, of course.” Charlotte stepped across the threshold, Constantine and Jemmy close behind her, and the butler shut the door. “Good afternoon, Daisy. I missed you as well.”

The Dane wrapped herself around Charlotte. A chirp sounded from the basket, and Collette jumped out, rubbing herself around Daisy’s legs.

“I am not sure we are going to actually get all the way into the house,” Constantine commented.

“It just takes a bit sometimes,” Jemmy said.

Gradually, Charlotte pushed her way farther into the hall. “Dotty and Merton will be here soon. Let’s go to the morning room. Have you had tea yet?”

“Hours ago,” Theo said. “Dinner will be soon.”

“Goodness, is it that late already?”

Mary nodded. “You have enough time to wash up and change. That’s what Matt and Grace are doing. We saw you come down the street.”

That answered that question, Charlotte thought. She had wondered where everyone else was.

“If his lordship is joining us, I shall escort him to a chamber,” Royston volunteered.

“Thank you.” Constantine grinned at her. “I’ll meet you in the drawing room.”

She shook dog hair from her skirt. “Until then.”

As soon as she got to her room, May began unlacing her gown. “The house was at sixes and sevens when I got here.”

“How so?” Charlotte stepped into the warm bath water May had waiting for her. “This feels good.”

“Lady Worthington got your letter and sent a message to the modiste. Lord Worthington dashed off to the church and had just got back when I arrived.” Charlotte washed quickly and stood for May to rinse her. “He had the special license and you are to wed at nine in the morning. But he said the day you wanted was full, so you’re getting married in three days instead of four.” That was even better than Charlotte had hoped. “They told me in her ladyship’s study so the children wouldn’t hear.”