“No, she cannot.”
“Why?”
“Because… Because…” Charlotte wracked her brain, trying to think of something that would stop her stepmother.
“You see? You can’t give me a single reason to deny your sister this opportunity. You are just trying to stand in the way of your sister’s prospects.” Lady Bellmore made to turn away from her.
Something inside of her snapped, and Charlotte exclaimed without thinking, “Evelyn cannot marry the Duke because we are courting!”
“What do you mean ‘you are courting’?” Lady Bellmore turned back to face her, her eyebrows wide with surprise. “This is a rather despicable trick, even for you.”
“It is no trick, just the simple truth. Duke Verimore and I are courting.” Charlotte seized on the momentum she’d gained and took a step in front of her mother, turning her own back to the dance floor as she did. “This is why Evelyn must not pursue him. It would only waste her time and yours.”
“You mean to tell me that you have been courting with a duke, and you have only just now decided to tell me of this fact?” Lady Bellmore narrowed her eyes.
“I —” Charlotte began, but before she could say anything else, a shadow fell across her, and her mother’s gaze fell upon someone standing behind her.
“Ah, Duke Verimore. You will not believe what my daughter Charlotte has just told me.” Lady Bellmore glanced at Charlotte and then back at the Duke. “She claims that you are courting.”
Charlotte’s heart sank.It’s over. Now she will know the truth, and poor Evelyn will be thrust upon him.
“We are,” the Duke replied.
Charlotte only just managed to keep herself from gaping at him as he said it.Did he just say we were?
Chapter Three
PERFECT TIMING
“You… You are?” Lady Bellmore stammered.
“Yes. In fact, we are engaged.” Dominic saw his opportunity and decided to take it.
Mercifully, Lady Charlotte seemed to have been struck dumb by his words. Her obsidian dark hair highlighted the flush on her cheeks and the surprise in her eyes.
He focused on keeping Lady Bellmore distracted, smiling his most ingratiating smile at her and tempering it with a side of earnestness. After all, if Lady Charlotte was in need of a fiancée, he was only too happy to oblige.
“Then why did you seem so interested in Evelyn?” Lady Bellmore demanded.
Dominic gave the woman an apologetic look, doing his best to come across as well intentioned but over enthusiastic.I must play this right, or this whole thing will be over before it can begin.“Ah. I can see how that might have been confusing. I simply wanted to get to know the family of my fiancée a little better.”
Lady Charlotte had managed to stop gaping, much to Dominic’s relief, but the power of speech still seemed to elude her. He hoped that she would recover it rather swiftly.
“But… You have not spoken to my husband about this engagement.” Lady Bellmore frowned.
“No, indeed. I realise it is rather unorthodox, but you see, the affection I feel for your daughter is such that I simply could not wait to propose.” Dominic ran a hand through his hair, keeping his voice full of hope and what he prayed sounded like affection. “I only hope the Earl will forgive my behaviour.”
“Of course, I am sure he will.” Lady Bellmore looked somewhat mollified by his words. “Charlotte, why did you wait until now to tell me of your engagement?”
“I… Well… We…” Lady Charlotte looked at him, her green eyes wide. It was obvious to Dominic that she was struggling to come up with a suitable lie.
Briefly he rested a hand on Lady Bellmore’s arm, drawing her attention to him as he said, “We did not want to upset the Earl. I bade Lady Charlotte keep this secret from you until I could speak to her father, but I see she could not contain her excitement either.”
“Apparently not.” Lady Bellmore sounded unconvinced. “And how exactly did you two meet? I do not think I recall you ever speaking to each other before.”
“Lady Danterbury’s masquerade,” Dominic answered at the same time as Lady Charlotte said, “Lord Winterbloom’s ball.”
“Ah, I mean the ball.” Dominic corrected as Lady Charlotte answered, “I mean the masquerade.”
