Page 42 of Always the Chaperone

She blinked and then turned to face him. “Your Grace.”

“What a pleasure it is to see you this fine morning,” he said.

She swallowed. “Good morning, Your Grace, my lord…miss.”

It was impossible to hide the coldness of her tones, and the young woman wilted under Charlotte’s gaze.

William looked from one to the other. “I was just saying to Prudence…”

“I cannot believe you,” Charlotte said quietly, attempting to keep her voice calm and level. Lady Romeril had just taken the seat beside her. “After all your fine words, here you are with the youngest chit of a girl I have ever seen!”

The girl flushed and glanced at William, who opened his mouth to speak, but Charlotte stopped him.

“I do not want to hear it. I knew you were just waiting for someone prettier and younger, and you have the gall to deny it.”

John opened his mouth to speak, but Charlotte would not allow it. She would have her say and then leave. To think she had believed him.

“Well, this foolish girl may have believed your lies,Your Grace,but I am through with you. Good day.”

The girl looked absolutely mortified. A smile crept over William’s face.

“What have you got to smile about?” she inquired coldly. She should leave, she should just walk away, but she couldn’t. Something about him kept her here. Some invisible chain between them.

William spoke in a quiet voice. “You are jealous.”

“I am not jealous!” she blustered. “I am impressed, I suppose, at how quickly you have overcome your feelings for me.”

The words were painful to admit. The girl was still looking terrified, and she moved closer to William as though he would protect her from this madwoman.

Shame mingled with defiance rushed through Charlotte. It was her right to speak her mind, and what did it matter that this girl was in the way?

William leaned down, hesitated, and with a wry look said, “Lady Charlotte, may I introduce you to Prudence. Lady Prudence Lennox, my sister.”

Charlotte stared in mortification. “Sister.”

He nodded, his grin never disappearing.

The ground cracking open and swallowing her up was the only solution to this situation. Why had she not thought of that? Why did she have to speak before she had taken a moment to think?

“You…you only mentioned Honora,” she said uselessly.

He nodded. “Prudence is but fourteen and has come to visit us during the Easter holidays from her school in Kent. Pru, go and find a seat with John, won’t you?”

The girl nodded. William’s siblings stepped away from him. “You have no reason to be jealous. I spoke the truth when I said you are the only lady I am courting.”

Charlotte could feel the heat of his touch through her gown, and in a wild moment, she wanted to throw herself at him, kiss him, and tell him everything was settled between them.

“You must forgive me, William. And apologize to your sister for me. I know it will be hard for her to believe, but I meant her no harm. I was just surprised and find it hard to believe you are in earnest, William. I do not have a high opinion of most gentlemen, and one of my deepest fears is…is that you are teasing me. Jesting with me.”

It took courage to admit those dark thoughts, and Charlotte stared at him, looking for any hint of revulsion.

But William’s face fell. “Do you actually believe that? Do you truly think so little of me, or yourself?”

It was strange to have such an intimate conversation at the end of a pew in church with countless others milling about, bowing, gossiping, hoping to see and be seen. But Charlotte looked into his eyes and knew she could not run away.

“I do not wish to, but experience has taught me people interested in a woman like me are after something.”

“Yes.” William nodded seriously. “You.”