Page 71 of How to Tempt a Duke

Charles and Eleanor were shown into the drawing room, where Lottie rose to greet them. The neckline of her red gown was a bit low-cut for Charles’s taste. Well, perhaps a lot low-cut for his taste. Her hair fell in a heavy curtain of glossy curls down one shoulder and she’d applied a thin layer of kohl to her eyes, giving her a dramatic, seductive appearance.

Charles did not much care for that either.

She ran to Eleanor and embraced her in a heartfelt hug. “Lady Eleanor, I am terribly distraught over what happened at Lady Canterbury’s ball.”

Lottie did indeed appear distraught. The dark smudges under her kohl-lined eyes indicated a lack of proper sleep. And, now that he looked at her, the flush to her cheeks appeared to have been put there by cosmetics rather than good health.

It was no wonder Lottie took Eleanor’s distress so personally. He knew Lottie saw her lessons as a personal failure. However, it also meant she would need to return to the life she’d led before her attempt at educating the daughters of London society.

Lottie looked from Eleanor to Charles and her eyes narrowed. “Is there a reason the two of you have arrived together, without a chaperon?”

“We require a witness.” He lifted his brow. “For our marriage.”

“Well.” Lottie’s face remained blank for a moment, before she gave an overzealous clap and beamed a mite too brightly at them. “I am overjoyed for you both. Felicitations on your upcoming nuptials.”

“We will leave as soon as you pack a trunk,” Charles replied. “We need an additional witness when we get to Gretna Green.”

“Please, say yes,” Eleanor implored. “We will stay for a few days at Comlongon Castle, which is nearby. It will be such a delightful break from all the wagging tongues.”

Lottie folded her hands in front of her. “Charles, may I speak with you a moment in the library?”

Charles glanced at Eleanor, who nodded. “Go on,” she said. “Though if you still have those kittens, Lottie, I’d very much love to see them.”

“I am certain they would very much love to see you as well,” Lottie said. “Once they’re a bit older you may choose one to keep as your own. As a wedding present.”

She rang for one of the footmen to fetch the kittens and motioned Charles to follow her. She did not speak until the door to the library was closed behind them.

“Tell me this is not all in the pursuit of those damned journals.” She glanced to the closed door, as if she could see Eleanor through it. “That young lady has been through so much already. The rumors of what happened last night are dreadful. I am ashamed that her association with me has left her so besmirched. I cannot in good conscience allow you to further use her.”

“Lottie, I...” He ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, we had made an agreement for the journals, I confess.”

An enraged snarl sounded from Lottie’s throat.

“However,” he rushed on, “when I missed the ball where I intended to announce our agreed-upon arrangement I was in a frenzy to see her, to explain. It was only when she brought up the journals herself that I realized...” He shook his head at his own confused thoughts. “I realized I hadn’t even considered them. I had only been thinking of her.”

Lottie’s frown melted into a slow smile. “Very well. I will come. Only I have one request.” She curled a length of dark hair around her finger. “I wonder...is it possible to leave tomorrow?”

“Do you need so much time to pack?”

She was silent long enough for concern to scrape at the back of Charles’s mind.

“What is it, Lottie?”

“I have an...engagement this evening,” she said softly.

The confession hit him like a slap. Charles swallowed around a suddenly dry throat. “A lesson?” he asked with hope.

Lottie’s stare slid from his. “No.”

Hot anger flashed through him. “Lottie, you said you were done.”

“I said I was trying a new venture.” Tears filled her eyes. “It didn’t work.”

“Let me give you money to live on. Eleanor will understand. In fact, she’ll encourage it.”

Lottie put up her hand. “Stop. Please. You know I won’t accept your charity.”

It wasn’t charity. Charles bit back the argument, knowing it would do no good. “We must go now,” he said instead. “The Countess is unaware of her daughter’s departure—or perhaps she is aware now. At any rate, we cannot risk being stopped.”