What the Duke Wants(12)

The sound of her footsteps stopped just in front of the slightly ajar door. She seemed to pause, and then the door opened slowly. “Girls?”

“Do come in, Miss Lottie. We’re having quite the party,” Charles said dryly.

Carlotta’s face flamed with a blush that was likely equal parts humiliation and anger towards the girls. “Forgive us, your grace. We’ll take our leave now.” Carlotta nodded then turned an icy glare to the girls.

“Clairmont? Are you going to introduce me?” Graham asked smoothly. Charles glanced over to his friend and narrowed his eyes. Graham was grinning, showing off his blasted dimples as he approached Carlotta. His stride was overly confident and immediately Charles felt the fiery stab of jealousy. His jaw clenched as a strongly possessive nature overwhelmed him. Taking a deep breath, lest his friend see his rampaging emotions, he swallowed the scathing retorts he wanted to say.


“Graham, allow me to introduce you to my three wards and their governess, Miss Carlotta Standhope.” He clenched his jaw afterward as he watched Graham take Carlotta’s hand and caress it flirtatiously before kissing the air above her wrist.

“A pleasure, Miss Standhope.”

“Thank you.” Carlotta spoke demurely. Her gaze met Charles’, and he lost himself momentarily in the depths of her eyes before she glanced to Graham, then back to him as if asking a question.

“Where are my manners? Miss Lottie…” He smirked as she slightly narrowed her eyes at his familiar manner. “This is Lord Graham.”

“A pleasure, Lord Graham.”

“I find that the pleasure is all mine, Miss Carlotta. Or is it Miss Lottie?” Graham grinned wickedly.

“Carlotta, if you please.”

“Of course.”

“And, who may I ask are these beautiful angels?” Graham turned to face the three girls.”

“These little angels—” Charles cleared his throat meaningfully. “—are Roberta, Beatrix and Bethanny.”

All of the girls smiled shyly at Graham, save Berty who was glaring at Charles at his use of her formal name. But to her credit, she didn’t correct him.

“A pleasure to meet you lovely ladies.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Graham.,” the girls echoed in unison. Bethanny was blushing profusely at Graham’s attentions, causing Charles to experience a strange sensation clenching his stomach. The poor girl was too young and innocent to be charmed by the likes of his friend. Quickly he interceded before she could get any ideas in her young mind concerning his rake of a friend.

“Miss Carlotta, would you please escort the girls to the school room?” Charles clipped more than he had intended.

Carlotta nodded and ushered the girls out. “Please accept my apologies, your grace.” She spoke with a quiet dignity as she was about to leave.

“Your apology is accepted.”

With a slight nod, she followed the girls from the room and closed the door.

Charles watched the door close, tamping down the urge to call her back in and see her just once more. But no, he needed to detach himself, keep her out of his mind before she wormed her way into his heart. She would be leaving with the girls in a few days; he’d likely not see them for months, maybe even years. And aside from that, dukes did not consort with the help. Regardless of how beautiful they may be.

“Clairmont? I say old chap, are you with me?” Graham walked into Charles’ line of sight and broke him from his musings.

“What?”

“I’ve been asking you when you were saddled with three wards for the past few minutes. All you’ve been doing is staring at the door as if you saw a bloody ghost.”

“Yes, well. It turns out I’m their nearest relative so I inherited the little monsters when their parents perished.”

“You, with three girl wards? Hell must have frozen over.”

“Precisely my thoughts. That and heaven’s hysterical laughter.”

“That too, I imagine.” Graham nodded sagely.

“And what do you plan to do with them? I see you’ve secured a governess. Though how you found one so… bewitching, I’ll never know. Some have all the luck.”

“Yes, being saddled with three young girls as wards certainly certifies my lucky state,” Charles replied sarcastically.

“I’d say a governess like that is far more lucky than having three wards is unlucky. But that’s just my opinion.”

“I don’t consort with the help, Graham.”

“Of course not, but you can certainly enjoy a beautiful view, can you not?”

“We’re done discussing this.”

“Very well, but… when did you become their guardian? I’ve yet to hear about it in town and if I, your friend, had no idea…” His voice trailed off as he seemed to gain understanding. “You don’t want anyone to know.”

“No. Can you imagine the gossips?”

“It would be a veritable feeding frenzy.”

“Quite right.”

“So…” Graham’s face twisted into an evil grin, one that Charles knew all too well from their prankster days.

“Heaven help me,” Charles mumbled.

“Indeed. So, in payment for my silence concerning your little sweet dessert of a governess and three wards, you’ll tell my sister of my departure for Scotland. After all, it’s only a fair trade you see.”