The Heart of a Duke (50 page)

“
No,” she said with a giggle. “It
was—” She stopped before telling him it was based on her daydreams
of him. “That is, some of it was from the little Elle said, but
mostly from what I imagined a young duke must be like.”

He cleared his throat as he stood. “Come. Our
mothers will be imagining all sorts of things if we do not return.
I enjoyed our little lesson this evening, Lady Charlotte. I look
forward to the next one.”

As she dressed for bed later that night, she
reflected on how kind Langley had been, and how difficult it was
going to be to not fall even more deeply in love with
him.

No, she wasn’t in love with Langley. She was
in love with a storybook hero who shared his name. The real man had
none of the qualities she sought in a husband, nothing to recommend
him beyond a title and suitable income. The real man was incapable
of loving her in return.

She repeated that thought as she fell
asleep.

Chapter Four

Charlotte awoke in a large, comfortable bed
and looked about her, not recognizing her surroundings. Oh, yes,
she was at Hawking Hall, probably the finest house she’d ever been
to. The furnishings weren’t out of the ordinary, but the
craftsmanship of the woodwork was exquisite. Even the linens were
extraordinarily fine. She ran her palm over the fabric and imagined
for a brief moment she could waken on such fine sheets every
morning.

Shaking off the foolish thought, she jumped
from the bed, crossed the room, and threw back the wheat-colored
damask curtains. Beyond the manicured garden, hedge maze and gazebo
she could make out the curving line of trees along the Lymington
River. The grass was still green, though not as richly so as in the
spring and the leaves were beginning to turn gold. The view took
her breath away.

With a rattle of the door latch, a maid
entered. “Good morning, my lady. Would you like me to bring up some
chocolate, or do you prefer to join the others below?”

Charlotte went to where her dress was already
laid out. “Are they all in the dining room already? I must have
overslept.”

“
Some of the gentlemen have eaten
already and have gone riding. Her Grace prefers her breakfast in
her chamber. Your mother asked that you stop by her chamber before
you go down.”

The girl helped Charlotte dress, and performed
some magic with her hair so it appeared much fuller. “How did you
do that? My face looks rounder, not so long and thin.”

The maid frowned. “Is this not to your liking?
I can pull it more tightly.”

“
You mustn’t consider it. I prefer
it this way. Will you be able to help me dress for the ball on
Saturday? Or at the least, style my hair?”

“
Of course. I am to help you
during your entire stay here.”

Charlotte put the gold pendant around her neck
and took a hard look in the mirror. She threw her shoulders back to
see if her figure appeared more mature. She turned this way and
that, trying to find a curve, but none had magically developed
overnight.

The maid stopped straightening the bedding and
looked at Charlotte. “Is something amiss?”

“
No, nothing more than the usual.”
Charlotte sighed and sat down to pull on her stockings.

“
Do you wish to wear a different
gown? I can freshen another one quickly.”

“
Thank you, but don’t bother. I
would still be putting the same figure in it.”

The poor maid stood there with a wrinkled brow
as if she feared she hadn’t done her job properly.

Guilt weighed on Charlotte. “What is your
name?”

“
Betsy, my lady.”

“
You’ve done your job well, thank
you, Betsy. What I keep hoping for is to wake up and be rounder,
like my sister.”

“
But my lady has a fine figure.”
Betsy looked her up and down. “Her Grace always wishes she still
had the figure of her youth. It seems to me the Quality are never
happy with what they have.”

Charlotte smiled. “You may be right.” After
putting on her boots, she rose, smoothing her gown over her hips.
“I’d better see what my mother wishes to speak to me
about.”

Her mother’s chamber was just across the
hallway. Inside, Mama sat propped with pillows, the counterpane
pulled high. A tray rested on the bed beside her with a chocolate
pot and plate of toast.

“
You wished to see me?” Charlotte
asked.

“
Yes, draw the chair
close.”

Moving the small, upholstered chair beside the
bed, Charlotte sat and waited.

“
Now that we’re alone, you must
tell me what you and the duke discussed for so long. I don’t
believe what you told the duchess.”

“
Which time, during the pall mall
game or after supper?”

“
Both. Begin at the beginning. He
singled you out during your little game?”

Charlotte’s lips twisted to one side as she
considered her words.

Mama frowned. She always chided her daughters
about causing wrinkles.

“
The duke didn’t actually single
me out. I accomplished that all on my own. The duke and Lord
Pembrook were observing the rest of us as we played. My ball went
astray and the duke helped me return to the lane marked off for
play.”

Mama chewed silently, then took a sip of her
chocolate. “I suppose you will try to convince me you spent all
that time alone discussing the rules of the game, as you said last
night?”

Charlotte squirmed under her mother’s probing
glare. “Don’t be silly. I understood the rules. It was putting them
into practice that flummoxed me.”

“
What did he say to you, then?
Come, child, what happened that you must keep a secret?”

“
Nothing happened, Mama. Nothing
worth mentioning.” Because mentioning it would cause events to fall
into place which she wasn’t ready to face.

“
Really, dear girl, do you think I
was never young? You don’t need to tell me his seductions, but at
least admit he was paying you marked attention.”

Once her mother learned just how marked his
attention had been, there would be no discussion of whether or not
Langley could love her. Mama would make certain the wedding came to
pass. Charlotte knew she had to say something, mislead her, or her
mother would continue to hound her. “The duke asked my advice on a
rather silly matter. It was nothing important.”

“
Did you flirt with
him?”

She didn’t know how to flirt. That would
require speaking to gentlemen, and the young men she felt
comfortable speaking to didn’t elicit the desire to flirt. “No,
Mama. I behaved myself as you taught me.”

“
Oh, dear. You always were the
perfect child, weren’t you? Now is not the time to be too proper.
You must become the hunter, not the prey, if you wish to land your
duke.” Mama took another bite of her toast.

Charlotte’s heart stopped. “My
duke?”

Mama shook her head, the curls visible below
her cap bouncing, and pointed a finger. “You girls didn’t think
anything in our home goes unnoticed by me, did you? I know about
that necklace.”

Charlotte touched her fingertips to the gold
heart. “But how?”

“
That is unimportant. Do you want
to capture your duke or not?”

It was time to confess. “I no longer wish to
marry Langley. He speaks of marriage so matter-of-factly, I wonder
if he’s capable of love.”

Mama’s eyebrows rose behind the fringe of
graying curls. “Does he? Charlotte, Langley wouldn’t speak of
marriage unless he intended to propose.”

“
If you must know, he did suggest
an arrangement between us. I believe he said he was in need of a
wife and I should make an adequate duchess.”

Her mother simply stared for the longest time.
Her mouth opened and closed twice before she finally spoke, her
voice as calm as if she were discussing the menu for supper. “And
you only now thought to mention it?”

“
But Mama, that is not a
proposal.” She brushed at a wrinkle on her lap to avoid looking
up.

“
When spoken by a duke, it’s akin
to a royal proclamation. Did you at least tell him you’d consider
his proposal?”

“
Not exactly.” Charlotte’s words
came out just above a whisper. “I offered to help him do a better
job of it the next time he proposes.”

“
Charlotte! You didn’t. How could
you?” Mama threw back the counterpane, tipping the now-empty
chocolate pot on the tray. “Help me dress, child. I cannot wait for
the maid to return. I must speak to the duchess this moment. Does
anyone else know of this proposal?”

“
No, mum. Only Lord
Pembrook.”

Mama pulled her gown on over her night shift.
“Well, I suppose that can’t be helped. What am I to do with you?
Did you think to get a better offer next Season? There is no one
better than the Duke of Langley. No one richer, no one more
powerful, no one more handsome… I don’t understand what you hoped
to gain by turning him down.”

Tears welled in Charlotte’s eyes, and
frustration burned in her empty stomach. She shrank back from
assisting her mother. “I simply wanted to be treated like I
mattered to him.”

Her mother’s arms stilled and she set down her
stockings and slippers. She turned around and opened her arms. “And
I’m treating you no better.”

Charlotte allowed her mother to envelop her
and pat her back as she bent to rest her head on Mama’s shoulder.
The tears wouldn’t come, and she couldn’t swallow away the lump in
her throat.

“
The duchess says he’s been quite
out of sorts since Elle eloped. She doesn’t believe her son was
enamored of your friend, but the act was still a rejection. Now, if
he wasn’t in love with Elle after all those years of being
betrothed to her, one cannot expect him to fall in love upon
meeting you.”

Inhaling the comforting scent of lavender her
mother preferred, Charlotte nodded. She straightened and smoothed
her hair, but the ache inside hadn’t lessened. “I suppose you are
correct. But did he have to propose to me so soon after asking my
name? Only moments before, he’d told Lord Pembrook that any woman
would suit him.”

Her mother laid her palm against Charlotte’s
cheek. “How those words must have stung, but gentlemen don’t look
at marriage the same way we do. Sometimes they must be guided into
the finer points of lovemaking. I will speak to the duchess about
this.” She waved away Charlotte’s protest and sat to finish her
toilette. “Between the three of us I am certain we can bring the
duke up to your standards.”

A dull heaviness settled in her stomach. Her
mother was determined to see Charlotte married to Langley. But
Charlotte wouldn’t be happy with anything less than love. The heart
pendant radiated warmth against her skin. When she touched it, she
found the metal cold. She tugged the heart from side to side on its
chain.

What an odd turning of events. Charlotte was
trapped. Mama and the dowager duchess were going to scheme to help
her capture the heart of the duke, whether she wanted it or
not.

Chapter Five

Langley changed clothes after his morning ride
and told his valet he’d take his coffee in his study. His mother
had asked that he set aside his work while their guests remained,
but he was unaccustomed to changing his schedule. He’d advised his
steward to only contact him if there was an emergency, and his man
of business was touring his other properties. Still, Langley
insisted on sifting through the post each morning, and at least
glancing at the headlines in the papers. Too many people relied on
the profitability of his estates to shirk his duties.

He was at his desk when Brooky entered, poured
himself a cup of coffee, and sat in the wooden chair opposite the
desk. “What is on the agenda for today?”

“
Are you referring to my list or
the duchess’s? I haven’t seen her schedule. You might inquire of
her.”

“
If I questioned the duchess that
might imply my eagerness to participate. I prefer to make the
discovery before being roped into submission.” His blew on his
coffee. “No doubt whatever she has planned is aimed at finding you
a wife, and I have no desire to take the blame for aiding in that
endeavor. I had hoped for a good game of cards, but I’m capable of
going a sennight without a wager. Although, I wouldn’t be opposed
to making one on the likelihood you’re announcing your betrothal
before the week is out.”

“
Seeing as that is the premise of
this gathering, what would be the point of my wagering against
it?”

Brooky quirked an eyebrow. “No, I’m on the
side of ‘against.’”

“
You speak nonsense. I could
propose to any woman here to win. Has my mother put you up to
this?” Langley pulled out his pocket watch and stood. “I’m not in
the mood for falderal. It’s time I should be playing the host. Are
you coming?”

Before Brooky could answer, the door opened
and Lady Charlotte entered. After closing the door softly behind
her, she turned and gasped. “Forgive me, sir. I didn’t realize
anyone was in here.”