Page 44 of Always the Chaperone
“Ah, Lady Charlotte!”
She sighed. She knew that voice and did not need Lady Romeril casting aspersions rightly or wrongly about the nature of her conversation with William.
“I thought I saw you there,” declared Lady Romeril, who pushed her way along the pew. “We barely had a moment to talk before this gentleman wrenched you from me. Good morning, Your Grace, I hope I am not interrupting?”
“Not at all,” he said gallantly with a smile. “But you will have to excuse me, Lady Romeril, for I am afraid I am holding my siblings up for their afternoon engagement. Lady Charlotte, I am your servant.”
He bowed and kissed her hand. Then he was gone.
Lady Romeril did not wait long to begin again. “I must say, this hot weather is doing absolutely nothing for me. We older ladies must be wary of sudden changes, for it does naught but ill to our health, I am sure you will agree!”
Charlotte stared in disbelief at the woman who was easily twice her age, if not more.We older ladies?
“It is certainly a warm day,” she said hastily. “I had not expected it to be so warm, with the wind yesterday.”
“Ah, but now we can expect warmer weather, and I must change my pelisses,” Lady Romeril replied with a smug look. “I have so many, you see. Why, when I last saw the Prince Regent, dear Prinny, I said to him…”
“Yes,” Charlotte said without really heeding her words.
“…the Duke of Mercia?”
Charlotte started and saw Lady Romeril staring.
“I said, are you still acting as chaperone for the Duke of Mercia?” Lady Romeril repeated. “I know he is still on the hunt for a bride, for I have seen no announcement. Has he found a suitable lady?”
Charlotte swallowed. It was impossible not to see the irony of the situation. How could she tell one of the matriarchs of thetonthat it was she who seemed to be receiving his addresses?
“You know,” she said slowly. “I think he has.”
Chapter Twelve
Thirty-six hours. Hehad attempted not to count them, but it was impossible. It had been thirty-six hours since he had seen Lady Charlotte St. Maur.
William breathed out slowly to calm his frantically beating heart. It was pathetic, standing out here in the freezing cold night, thinking about how he should have spent every one of those hours with Charlotte, rather than apart from her.
Don’t tease me anymore, Charlotte.
It was intolerable, pacing up and down Queen Square. He had been convinced that she was the one for him, the only one.
But he had to be sure. This wasn’t France where pretty girls could be wooed within hours and left within minutes.
No, this was Bath, the height of society, and he was a duke now. Taking Lady Charlotte to bed could have consequences. He could barely resist her, and he was almost sure she wanted him. He wanted her.All of her.
William stamped his feet as he paused outside Charlotte’s house. This was ridiculous If he did not get a move on soon, there was every chance someone would walk by and assume he was there to burgle the place, not pound the door down to get his hands on the lady of the house.
It was now or never. Despite years in the army, some nights more terrible than any man should ever endure, William had never been frightened of entering a battle. Not like this.
But then, he had never had so much to lose.
As though controlled like a puppet on a string, he walked awkwardly up the steps and rang the bell.
He shivered from anticipation as he waited. In mere moments, he would see her again, and if he played his cards right…
The front door opened, and a stern face appeared. “Yes?”
William started. He had not considered Matthews intimidating before, but he stood as though guarding the gates of heaven. And wasn’t he?
“Good evening, Matthews,” he managed to say. “Is Lady Charlotte at home?”
