Page 66 of Always the Chaperone

It wasn’t what she was wearing that was astonishing, but the way she moved, no longer apologetic or quiet, or hoping not to be noticed. This was a woman confident and graceful woman, unafraid of everything.

It was a true marvel to see her flaunting her beauty.

Heart thundering, he went to her, humbled and eager to hear her voice, to be the recipient of her glorious smile. “Charlotte.”

The single word came out strangled, but it was all he could muster. He could see Lady Romeril grinning behind Charlotte, at the front of the crowd of spectators.

Well, he had to hand it to her, Lady Romeril had done it again. Her ball was going to be the talk of the town—but how was Charlotte involved? Was she waiting for him to say something—was this his chance to apologize?

“Charlotte—Lady Charlotte,” he corrected himself. God’s teeth, why was he so nervous?

But Charlotte did not appear to be listening to him. The nervousness was still dancing around her eyes. She lowered herself into an elegant curtsey, then…

William gasped, and he was not alone. Shock echoed around the room as all of Bath’s elegant society watched Lady Charlotte St. Maur kneel before him.

Surely, she was not going to…was she?

“Your Grace, William,” she said. The room immediately fell silent. “My whole life, I have been controlled by fear. Fear of my father. Fear of being rejected by my peers.”

Her gray eyes did not waver, but he heard the quiver of pain in her voice and wanted to stop her there, pull her into his arms, and comfort her—but wild horses would not make him do it. This was what she wanted. This was her time.

“I am always a chaperone, and never the bride,” she said. “Gentlemen requested my company because I gave them the chance to court beautiful women.”

“I do not believe there is anyone more beautiful than…” began William, but Charlotte gave him a sharp look, and he immediately stopped.

“Then I met you,” Charlotte said simply. “You saw me for me. Sought to spend time with me because you actually like me—care for me.”

Yes, he did, and so much more. He reached for her, hungry for her warmth and passion. Desperate to connect with her, to marry her. “I love you,” he said so everyone could hear him.

The crowd gasped, and Charlotte and William smiled at each other. Their devotion for each other undeniable.

“I love you,” Charlotte said. “Though it has taken me far too long to realize it, I know we can make each other happy. If you will marry me.”

William had watched her lips move, but it was hard to believe what she had said. Had Charlotte reallyproposed?

She was watching him anxiously. “Marry me?” she whispered.

Some were shaking their heads, others looked scandalized, and William saw Mrs. Bryant fan herself rapidly.

She truly loved him.

William took a step forward.

“I have been in Bath a few months, and in that time, I have met over a hundred young ladies,” he said. Charlotte was still kneeling on the floor, looking up with anticipation. “Of all the women I have met, none have compared to you. Charlotte, you are the most beautiful, intelligent, and witty one of them all. Of course I will marry you.”

He was ready for the world to know what he thought of her.

“I am tired,” he said softly, “of seeing you relegated by society to the role of chaperone. You were always meant to be my bride. Perhaps even the mother to my children, if God is good to us. I want you, Charlotte, today and forever.”

In a swift movement, he closed the distance between them, took her by the hand, and pulled her into his arms for a passionate kiss.

The world could collapse all around them, and William would not have cared. His soul was overwhelmed by Charlotte.

He wanted to lose himself in her forever.

He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. “You proposed to me.”

“I even told you how it should be done. To ask someone in a public place, where a refusal to the question would be very embarrassing.” She laughed shakily. “It made sense for me to show you after I realized how much I loved you, and that fear kept me from accepting you before.”