What the Duke Wants(36)

But the real question was, did Lady Southridge know Carlotta was hiding and simply was toying with him, or was she truly oblivious? Charles scanned the tapestries, there was no bulge, and since the cloth touched the floor, no dainty slippered foot could be seen peeking out.

The stress was killing him.

As if to confirm his anxious state, a drop of perspiration trickled down his temple.

And it wasn’t even warm in the room.

“Has your governess taken the girls to Bath? I would love to accompany them… perhaps tomorrow. That is, if we can find her. I do say Charles, for one so smitten, you really are quite unaware of her person,” she chided.


Charles closed his eyes, praying that perhaps Carlotta would have missed that very loud statement of Lady Southridge’s. He felt his face color, his humiliation compounded by her next statement. “ I say, for her to have you in such a lather, I’d of thought you’d seek her out immediately, yet here I find you… alone… you are alone… aren’t you Charles?” she asked, her gaze piercing him as if she could lift the answer from his mind.

“Actually… I am not alone. You are in my company, Lady Southridge… It would be quite neglectful of me to not acknowledge your presence,” he responded with his usual wit, but his voice sounded strange, strained.

As if smelling his deception, she sniffed then narrowed her eyes.

“That goes without saying, Charles. I’m quite aware of my own person. I’m not senile… yet,” she added with a slight smile.

She turned to the window once more, her slight smile growing.

It was the cat and mouse game. One Charles had enjoyed playing more than once before… but he was always the cat. Never the mouse.

However, right now he was the mouse.

And Lady Southridge was a very large cat. Who looked very much like she had just eaten the canary.

Clearing his throat, Charles reached up to loosen his cravat. Blast it all it was sweltering in that room!

“If you are so set on finding Miss Lottie then I’ll call Tibbs, surely he will help you locate her.”

Lady Southridge sighed. “That will not be necessary.” She eyed him meaningfully.

Charles swallowed hard. Holding his breath, he waited.

“I’ll simply retire for a few moments and then I’m sure I’ll find her quite easily. She must have simply stepped out. Even governesses need fresh air.” She spoke graciously all while eyeing him meaningfully.

If he could only figure out what her meaningful glance meant.

“Very well, I’ll not detain you.”

She left quietly, her skirts swishing as she departed. Charles exhaled the breath he had held until she was out of sight, then he leaned against his desk, his heart sill pounding. Turning he strode to the window.

“Charles?” Lady Southridge’s voice startled him, causing him to jump and turn, his eyes large and his pride quite wounded at his own response.

“I do say… are you quite well? You’re quite agitated. Perhaps I shouldn’t leave,” she mused.

“I’m well, quite well. What is it you needed?” he asked, forcing his demeanor to its usual poise.

“I was simply going to ask at what time we dine? Country hours are usually different than that of Town, you know.”

“Six thirty,” he responded curtly, annoyed that her further intrusion was for such a trivial matter.

“Very fashionable, Charles.” She nodded then left, but not before she cast a curious glance to the window as if something she saw there was not quite right… but she was unable to determine just what.

“I’ll see you at dinner. It will be quite informal as I’m assuming you’ll wish the girls to dine with us,” Charles offered, trying to steal her attention away from the window.

Desperation was nipping at his heels.

“Delightful. I shall look forward to it. And you’re sure your well?” Her gaze swept over him with concern.

“Perfectly splendid.”

“Very well.” She gave him once last glance that spoke of her lack of convincing, but she departed nonetheless.

Miracles do happen.

However, just to be safe, he waited till he heard her footsteps faded from the hall.

Then he went and shut the door.

Then locked it for good measure.

Then just to be sure, he put the key in his pocket and waited one minute more.

“I believe it’s safe now, Miss Lottie,” he called out; his nerves were shot.

Carlotta threw the tapestry away from her person and stormed out of hiding, her face flushed and her hair askew from the rubbing of the rough cloth against it.

“Hide? You have me hide?” she asked, her color bright and her eyes sparking with defiance and indignant anger.

Charles had never seen her more beautiful.

Really, he should have stayed in London.

“I wasn’t thinking rationally, I must admit.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“Surprising.”

“Sarcasm with a smile. I must add that talent to your growing list of attributes,” he retorted, but his face broke into a grin.

It wasn’t that funny. But the tension from the previous situation was draining from him leaving him slightly unhinged.

Or maybe it was just her.

“Never in all my life have I been asked to hide from someone! If I cause you that much humiliation that you cannot even have me in the same room—”