What the Duke Wants (16 page)

“Carlotta is
not
a fortune hunter. She doesn’t…” He trailed off, not sure if he wanted to disclose his intimate knowledge with Lady Southridge.

“She doesn’t… what, Charles?” She waited patiently, her expression open but Charles knew the curiosity was likely eating her alive.

“It’s of no import.”

“I find that difficult to swallow. The truth, if you please.” She held out her hand magnanimously.

“I swear,
this, this
emotional upheaval is why men pity others of our sex who have fallen in love. Never have I had so much need for brandy in all my life.” He shook his head and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he rested his head against the back cushion.

“This sounds promising.”

Charles didn’t speak.

“I will continue to poke and prod the subject till you tell me, this is your fair warning.”

“You are a miserable wretch.”

“I’m still waiting.”

“She doesn’t even want me.
That
, is how I know she isn’t a fortune hunter. And she’s not playing coy either. I could easily see through that masquerade. But no, the woman I finally think could reform my wicked ways wants nothing to do with them. Though if I were in her position, I’d likely make the same choice. It’s far wiser. I have nothing save a title and money to offer her. While that would be far more than what most women would desire in a husband, that and, if I say so myself, I’m quite dashing and handsome…” He grinned wryly, though his heart ached. His attempt at humor fell flat to his own ears.

“So, let me see if I have grasped the situation correctly.”

“Yes, please summarize my pathetic existence. I’d love to hear it from your gracious perspective. And I thought the day couldn’t get worse,” he mumbled.

“Life is what you make of it. You, of all people, have no excuse. You’ve been given everything. Don’t be so pathetic to find something,
someone
that requires far more effort on your part and only roll over and quit.
You
are better than that, Charles.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing? Giving up? I’m here aren’t I? Believe me, I was trying,
trying
to do the noble thing and keep myself away! Then you had to barge into my life, inject yourself into the middle of my dilemma and now here I stand, completely at odds with all that I thought I was doing that was correct and I find I was wrong? I can’t pursue her! I can’t offer for her, and I’ll not degrade her with offering less. Nor will I tolerate you inspecting her like a brood mare. I don’t even feel as though I make sense any longer.” He stood up abruptly and paced about the room.

“Sit, Charles.”

“I’m not your pet.”

“No, you’re like my son, and while you are doubting my intentions, I promise you that there is a solution and one that will find you quite happily able to pursue your governess. Now, will you please sit and cease your infernal pacing?”

Charles glared, but sat.

“Now. Before you introduce me, I need you to understand something. While your title does put certain… obligations… on your future wife, those are not set in concrete. Your claim that you cannot pursue her based on her position is nothing short of being a coward. So that excuse is no longer valid. Next—”She paused, subjecting Charles to a very patient glare. “You must choose if you truly desire this woman. I can see, based on your testimony of her virtues, that she is no light skirt or one to dally with. You must choose your words and ways wisely. Under your employ, she will be put in a very difficult position should you choose to try and win her affections. Finally—”

“Will this ever end?” Charles lamented.

“Yes, now quiet yourself so I may finish. Finally, if what I learned is correct, your Miss Lottie is actually Carlotta Standhope whose father was a baron. Titled, but barely. The information I was able to accumulate on such short notice also spoke of a loss of income that precluded her seeking employment. Rumors had it that she was expecting to go to London for a season next year.”

“A season? Carlotta planned a come out?”

“Yes.”

Charles’ imagination quickly spun into action as he dreamed of watching her enter from across the room. Her golden hair spun up and her pastel colored gown clinging to all her perfect curves. The sound of her bell-like laughter carrying across the room to his waiting ears. She’d glance over and meet his gaze…

“Charles? Now is not the time for your wild imagination.”

“Excuse me?” He shook his head.

“What I’m trying to explain is that your chances at winning the affections of your governess, which I might add, I still have not had the pleasure of meeting, are quite good. This of course is on the assumption that you can woo her properly.”

“I can woo.”

“Yes, her earlier behavior was solid evidence.”

“I—”

“You have no excuse. Now. Will you please introduce me to the woman who has succeeded in tying you in knots? It’s been such a dream of mine. I find myself afraid she doesn’t truly exist.”

“She’ll not want to speak with me at the moment.”

“Because you hurt her.”

“Because she thought I wanted her to be my mistress.”

“Good Lord.”

“I’m assuming that was a prayer?” he retorted, using her earlier words against her.

“It was certainly a prayer for your hopeless soul. Divine intervention is necessary if this is what you call wooing.”

“It was a misunderstanding.”

“Clearly, because I seem to remember you saying you’d not shame her by even asking such a thing… yet if it were a misunderstanding. Why the tears?”

“I, er, well.”

“Good Lord.”

“You are becoming quite pagan in your use of the Lord’s name this day.”

“I’m praying. Believe me, you need it. You didn’t explain yourself did you?”

“I was quite offended that she’d think so low of me—”

“Because your reputation is all sweetness and light, is that correct? Did you ever consider that she
knows
all about you? Your reputation that is?”

“I assumed yet didn’t think…
oh
.”

“Oh.” Lady Southridge mimicked.

Charles glared.

“You need to make this right.”

“Your power to state the obvious is astounding. I’m quite breathless with anticipation over the mysteries you’ll unravel with your next words.”

“Don’t mock me. I’m your only hope.”

“Save me.”

“Believe me, your blackened soul is going through its share of penance with what you’ll be needing to undertake to win this girl.”

“How do you know that?” Charles bit back.

“Think—”

A knock sounded at the door, immediately arresting Charles’ attention. For a moment his heart stopped as he thought it just
might
be Carlotta, but the very thought mocked him. Why would she want to talk with him after his last performance?

“Enter,” Charles called, his tone authoritative. The need to feel in control of something, even as small as someone’s entrance, was overwhelming after the uncertainty of the past few moments with Lady Southridge.

The door didn’t open.

“Enter,” Charles called louder, but he shared a curious glance with Lady Southridge who simply shrugged.

When no one entered, he strode to the door and opened it himself.

“Hello, your grace.” Berty curtsied prettily and batted her dark eyelashes at him.

“Er, hello, Berty.” He stumbled. “What brings you… here?”

“I live here, your grace.”

“Yes, I’m quite aware of that.”

“Then why did you—”

“Why are you knocking on my study door?”

“Oh, well I was hoping to say hello to you, since you haven’t seen us yet.” She beamed at him, one tooth missing from her top row and making her smile almost comical.

“Well, hello, Berty.”

“Hello, your grace.”

Charles wiped his hand down his face. This conversation was going in circles.

Tight circles.

Berty didn’t seem concerned however; she continued to beam at him.

“Berty!” Carlotta’s voice carried down the hall as she strode towards them, her eyes fixed on her young charge. But Charles noticed a becoming blush to her cheeks that wasn’t there a few seconds ago.

“Miss Lottie.” Berty turned and curtseyed, all sweetness and light as if she were not about to get a scolding.

Charles had to hand it to her for being so brave.

Or foolish.

At the moment, he wasn’t in the frame of mind to decide.

Not when his focus kept straying to the lightly pursed lips of Miss Lottie. They were no longer bee stung from his earlier kisses, but their color, the color of his favorite pink roses in his mother’s rose garden, captivated him, stealing all rational thought.

“Berty, you are to be studying with your sisters in the school room. You did not have my permission to leave. And we’ve spoken about his grace’s need for privacy.

“I
did
give him privacy. I didn’t even go into his study. It’s not allowed and I obeyed. I just waited in the hall.” Berty shrugged.

Carlotta closed her eyes, her exasperation evident. “Be that as it may, you still did not have my permission to leave.”

Berty sagged her shoulders and nodded. “Yes, Miss Lottie.”

“Please excuse us, your grace.” Carlotta spoke without looking at him.

Who knew that the lack of a glance could hurt worse than the worst glare?

Chapter Ten

Carlotta refused to look at him. No good would come from that; all it would do was remind her of his lips, the touch of his hands at the small of her back, the heat from his body as it pressed up against hers while he stole her breath with his kisses.

Yes, it would be a very bad idea indeed.

No, no, no, no…

She glanced up. Betrayed by her own body, her traitorous eyes glanced up at him and immediately her heart shuddered at the blatant heat in his expression.

Heat she knew all too well.

She was still feeling the burn from earlier.

Turning to Berty, she said, “Bid his grace good day, Berty.”

“Good day.” Berty curtseyed, again, then beamed at him, offering the duke a smile that revealed almost all of her little teeth, at least the ones she had not lost recently.

Then it struck her.

Her teeth.

Berty had been so delighted when she finally lost her baby teeth and the fact that she lost the one in front, absolutely overjoyed her. Her sisters teased her that she looked like a pirate, and Berty had basked in their story spinning over the idea.

Berty was still beaming at the duke.

He was staring at her as if he were trying to understand why.

Carlotta’s heart pinched as she felt pity on him for being so out of his element, so she went against her own self-preservation and reached out an olive branch.

She moved slightly so that she was behind Berty, then glancing up she waited till she got the duke’s attention. Quickly, she smiled and pointed to her teeth.

The duke’s brow furrowed for a moment then his countenance lit up, understanding clearly dawning in his mind.

Carlotta held her breath as he bent down to Berty’s level.

“Well, Miss Berty. It seems as if something is amiss. As beautiful as your smile is, it seems to be missing… something.” He gave her a serious expression as he made a show of studying her teeth.

Carlotta bit her lip to keep her grin in check. Her heart softened, it was times like these when he didn’t even realize how compassionate and kind he was, that it unsettled her the most. It gave her a glimpse into what could never be hers.

Which hurt more than she was willing to admit.

“Do you think, your grace, that I look like an evil pirate?” Berty asked, leaning forward.

“Er, well, I suppose.” He glanced up to Carlotta as if to discern how to answer such a question.

She shrugged.

“I’d have to say yes, you do put me in the mind of a pirate, though perhaps, not an evil one.”

Berty swished her skirts as she swayed. “Thank you, your grace. I better obey Miss Lottie now. Oh! Welcome to Greenford Waters!” She reached out and hugged his neck and then released him abruptly and began skipping down the hall.

The duke had such a look of shock on his face that Carlotta couldn’t contain her bark of laughter. Immediately covering her mouth, it wasn’t quick enough to stave off the bubbling mirth.

The duke stood, offering her a raised eyebrow before she was able to contain herself.

“I say, Charles, what is going on out here?” Lady Southridge walked into the hall, her gaze immediately settling on Carlotta. With a beaming smile, she nudged the duke in the back, her gaze shifting expectantly to him before returning to Carlotta.

“Oh, yes.” The duke cleared his throat and made the introductions. “Lady Southridge? May I introduce you to Miss Carlotta, governess to my three wards.”

Carlotta inwardly winced at the stoic introduction. It was for the best, she knew, but that didn’t stop it from hurting.

But if he wanted her to be his mistress, he had another thing coming. It was best this way.

It had to be.

“Miss Carlotta! I’m so pleased to meet you! I’ve heard so much about you!” Lady Southridge gushed, her green eyes warm and inviting, not at all cool and calculating as Carlotta had anticipated.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She curtseyed and took a small step back, feeling as if she should further distinguish between their ranks in society.

“You’re every bit as lovely as Charles said.” Lady Southridge stepped forward.

Carlotta cut a startled glance to the duke who seemed to be very uncomfortable.

She understood his discomfort completely. It mirrored her own emotions.

But she didn’t feel the least bit sorry for him.

“I’m sure his grace was simply being very kind,” she demurred, rapidly searching for a way to escape, one that wouldn’t offend the duke’s guest.

“Oh Charles isn’t one—”

“Miss Lottie was helping locate a wayward young lady, who is now, presumably, back in the school room. I’m sure you’re anxious to attend to her.” The duke offered her the perfect escape.