The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(99)
The door closed behind his beloved, and the males all moved to the head of the table. Footmen brought lemonade, brandy, and port. The younger boys and Charlie had lemonade, Con and Worthington selected brandy, Merton chose port. The talk turned to sports and, at an elementary level, politics. Yet all Con wanted to do was join the ladies and spend time with Charlotte.
The clock struck eight, and Worthington stood. “Gentlemen, shall we join the ladies? Walter and Phillip, it’s time for bed.”
Con was surprised at how quickly the boys left the room. Yet once the door closed behind them, Charlie said, “I heard you rescued Char not once but twice. I owe you my thanks.”
“I can assure you, it was my pleasure. To be completely honest, she had rescued herself the first time. All I did was provide the carriage. The second time, I can take some credit for.”
Charlie grinned. “I hope you decide to have the ceremony before I go back to school.”
Con glanced at Worthington. “That will be discussed in the morning. Shall we join the ladies?”
*
A half hour later, the butler entered the drawing room and spoke in a low tone to Worthington. He motioned to Con and Charlotte.
“I think the Merryvilles might be here.”
“I hope that’s what it means. I cannot think of anything else.” She placed her hand on his arm. “We shall find out soon.”
Merton caught Con’s eye as they followed Worthington out of the room. Con shrugged and the other man nodded.
They crossed the square to Worthington House. “How did your family come to be living in two houses?” Con asked Charlotte.
“As you know, Stanwood House belongs to Charlie. Before Matt and Grace married, he, his step-mother, and his sisters lived with him in Worthington House. When he and Grace married she suggested they live at Stanwood House as well, but Matt would not even consider taking Charlie’s bedchambers and none of the other beds fit him. But Worthington House was too small for all of us, and Dotty came to us for the Season.” By God! Con could not imagine having eleven children, one’s step-mother, and an extra young lady in a town house. “There was a great deal of discussion, but in the end, Matt and Grace decided that they would sleep at Worthington House, and everyone else, including his step-mother would live at Stanwood House. It gives them more privacy than they would have with all the children about.” Con had no doubt that was Worthington’s idea. “They are renovating Worthington House, and next Season, Charlie will lease this house to Matt’s step-mother and her new husband. That was part of the arrangement when they wed.”
“Who did Lady Worthington marry?”
“Viscount Wolverton. They were childhood sweethearts. I don’t know why they didn’t wed when she came out.”
Con found he’d had to listen carefully to keep all the parts of what Charlotte had said from getting muddled. “You have a complicated family.”
“I have a large family with many different needs.” She slid him a look as they walked up the steps to Worthington House. “Will that be a problem for you?”
Con tugged her closer to him. “Absolutely not. I am coming to care deeply for your family, and I hope our children will be close to their aunts, uncles, and cousins.”
Charlotte relaxed against him. “I’m glad.”
Charlotte entered a parlor on the right side of the hall first, followed by Matt and her betrothed. Her brows rose. “I didn’t even know this room was completed.”
The parlor held two sofas. A low table stood between them. Two wide cane-backed chairs were positioned at the end of the long table between the sofas. The walls were lined with yellow silk printed with small violet flowers and green leaves, and botanical paintings hung on the walls. The effect was bright but soothing, and a brightly colored carpet covered most of the floor.
It was a comfortable room, but impersonal. One where people who were not friends or family would be shown.
A man and a woman, who could only be the Merryvilles, stood when they entered. They were well dressed in the current mode. The man was tall and loose-limbed. His hair a dark blond. The woman was an older version of Susan. Currently, their faces were lined with worry.
Charlotte stepped forward. “Mr. and Mrs. Merryville?” The man inclined his head. “I am Lady Charlotte Carpenter.” She motioned toward Worthington. “This is my brother, Lord Worthington, and my betrothed, the Marquis of Kenilworth. Lord Kenilworth was with me when we rescued Susan.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Mr. Merryville bowed, and his wife curtseyed. Charlotte took a seat on the opposite sofa, Con sat next to her, and her brother sat on a chair.
“May we ask how our daughter is doing?” Mrs. Merryville asked. She clutched the handkerchief with which she had dabbed her red-rimmed eyes.
“Let me assure you that Susan is safe and unharmed.” Charlotte gave the woman a reassuring smile. “She was quite forthcoming regarding her behavior.”
Mrs. Merryville let out a breath. “I am afraid she is a bit of a chatterbox.” She twisted the handkerchief in her hands. “I—we had no idea she would do anything like this.”
“It is beyond the pale,” Merryville said. Of the two he was clearly the angrier.
“It will probably not make you feel better,” Con said, focusing on the girl’s father, “but Sir Reginald is an accomplished rake. I do not believe any young girl would have the experience to counter him.”