“I do not think they were. Perhaps you are mistaking your own letters? After all, I remember one in which you told me you pined for me, that you had been so overcome with joy you had struggled to eat.”
Charlotte’s cheeks flushed. “Do you remember when you wrote to me that you had seen a mother with her puppies, and the sight had moved you so much you had shed a tear — to think that perhaps we might one day have our own family.”
“I did not say that.” His cheeks were flushed now. “I would not cry over puppies.”
“It was very sweet. He wrote several paragraphs about how moving the scene was and how it made him realise the very powerful nature of our love.” Charlotte sighed dramatically, deciding that she might as well lean into this image of naivety if it made him squirm a little more.
“Dominic! I never would have guessed you had the heart of a romantic.” Benjamin laughed.
“Oh, he truly does! Beneath that rugged exterior, he is practically as soft as a kitten.” Charlotte beamed at Dominic.
“I think that is a little bit of an overexaggeration, dear one…” Dominic tugged at his shirt. “Notallof my letters were like that.”
“Oh, come now, Sweetkins, do not be shy just because we are with your family. I am sure they would love to see this side of you.” Charlotte grinned.
“Sweetkins?” Cecily’s eyes widened.
Charlotte heard Benjamin sniggering and could see Georgiana hiding a giggle behind her hand. Dominic was smiling, but she could tell he was irritated. The tips of his ears were a delicate shade of scarlet.
“It is my little pet name for him. My little Sweetkins. He loves it; do you not, Sweetkins?” She met his gaze.
Dominic smiled though Charlotte could see the edge to it. “I thought we agreed such names would be between us, darling.”
“What use are secrets? Are we not all soon to be family?” Charlotte exclaimed.
“We are.” Dominic fixed her with a smile, and she saw a wicked mischief in his eyes. “Then it seems only right that they know your nickname too.”
Charlotte’s heart sped up as she saw the mischief in Dominic’s eyes.What on Earth is he going to say?
“This is getting rather good!” Georgiana murmured to Benjamin. “Go on, tell us!”
“I call her my Precious Plum.” Dominic grinned, and Charlotte tried not to gape at him.
His Precious Plum?He met her gaze with a look that clearly said, “Two can play at this game.”
“Your Precious Plum?” Benjamin laughed.
“Why Precious Plum?” Cecily asked.
“Because she is precious to me, and in one of our earliest letters, she remarked that I made her feel like the most special thing in the world, and that she felt as though she were so sweet and decadent, she might as well be called a plum.” Dominic grinned.
Charlotte shook her head.If he calls me precious plum, I shall step on his foot. If he calls me that in front of my stepmother, I shall never hear the end of it.
Benjamin groaned. “Then you are as bad as each other.”
“I think it is rather sweet. Too many couples these days base their courtship purely on clothing and bloodlines,” a voice said from behind them.
The entire table jumped, whipping around to look at the newcomer and hastily standing up. Charlotte followed suit, clumsily curtseying as the imposing woman moved towards her.
“I take it that you know who I am? But we have not yet had the pleasure of being introduced. I am Agatha Felton, Dowager Duchess Caverton.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am Lady Charlotte Nettle.” Her mouth felt suddenly very dry.
The Dowager Duchess’ gaze made Charlotte feel as though she were being weighed. She was the same height as Charlotte but seemed to take up far more space with her mere presence. She moved with a grace and surety that seemed almost regal.
This is the woman we are trying to fool?The Dowager Duchess continued to survey Charlotte, and she forced herself not to fidget uncomfortably.
“Grandmother, forgive me, I had meant to introduce you to my betrothed earlier, but…” Dominic trailed off as his grandmother gave him a stern look. “I should have tried harder.”
