Page 37 of Always the Chaperone

The crowd gathered to hear Mozart stared, but William did not care. His spirits had risen as soon as she had shown up. Another chance to spend an evening with her.

“There are seats here,” he called out. “Lady Charlotte!”

There were frowns around the room and a few murmurs from mothers to daughters, but William paid them no heed. What care he that Mamas considered him a loose cannon? His brother John knew enough pretty young ladies for both of them, and the dukedom seemed far more important to most mothers than his ineptitude in public.

She turned and saw him, her gray eyes meeting his. She smiled, but there was no warmth. Then she looked away and sat with the couple on the other side of the aisle.

Just as William made up his mind to force Charlotte to speak with him, there was another nudge to his shoulder.

“Miss Howarth, I do not believe my brother has had the pleasure of making your acquaintance yet?”

“My lord, I mean, Your Grace,” she spluttered, cheeks red. “Your brother was telling me how interested you are in…”

“How do you do.” William nodded distractedly despite the beauty of the girl before him.

“I was saying to Miss Seton the other day it would be such an honor to meet the new Duke of Mercia.”

“Yes,” he said. “Please do excuse me, Miss Howarth, John, but I need to go and speak to…”

“And hereisMiss Seton, good evening!” John’s voice overrode his as another lady came toward them.

William groaned. This was intolerable, and now that Miss Seton had joined them, he could no longer see Charlotte. Craning his neck awkwardly around her and a gentleman with a hat far too tall, he caught a glimpse of her.

Charlotte’s mouth was set in a hard line. William knew that face. Someone had said something impertinent. What a shame she was so graceful. Someone with less breeding would be rude in turn, but not her. She was incapable of being inconsiderate even when provoked.

“I do like your gown,” one of the girls John had rounded up was saying to the other. “I think it so brave to wear something that old fashioned here in Bath.”

William was paying attention enough to see the spark of fury on Miss Seton’s face as she responded. “It is funny you should say that, Lady Romeril was just complimenting me on my return to classic style. But then, you are probably not aware, mydearMiss Howarth, all the salons in London are graced with this style.”

William gritted his teeth. He was not going to stand here and listen to women talk about gowns.

“You must excuse me,” he said. “I need to speak with…”

“Ah, here is Miss Ashbrooke!” John said.

William did not see how his brother managed it, so many women attracted to their corner of the room.

“Mercia, have you met…”

“Enough.” William laid a hand on John’s arm. “Enough, do you understand?”

He grinned. “I have no idea what you are talking about. Is there such a thing as enough?”

“When was the last time you spoke with Miss Darby?”

William had not intended his words to be harsh, but his brother flinched as though he had branded him with a hot poker. His shoulders slumped. “Over two weeks. She has not responded to either of my notes, and I heard she was being courted by Marnmouth.”

The ladies around them chattered on as William tightened his grip on his brother’s arm. Now here, finally, was an explanation for that bad temper a week ago. “If she is truly meant for you, and you for her, you need to fight for her, Gloucester. Or someone else will win her.”

John glanced at Charlotte. “About to practice what you preach?”

William nodded wearily. “Something like that. I will tell you more in our rooms, after the concert.”

Without waiting for a response, he pushed his way past the giggling girls as the conductor rose to the podium to a round of applause. The audience took their seats.

“Excuse me, sir,” whispered a haughty looking woman. “But you are in my way.”

William inclined his head in silent apology but kept his eyes on Charlotte. There was an empty seat in the row in front of her. He hoped no one would beat him to it.