Chapter Twenty-One
LAVENDER AND LIGHT
“Ah, Duke Verimore. Are you here to visit Charlotte?” Lady Bellmore asked as she peered through the door of Charlotte’s bedroom.
Dominic nodded. He had spent most of the afternoon debating whether or not he should check on his ‘fiancée’. He had, of course, accompanied her back to the castle, but she had dismissed him while she waited for the physician to arrive.
He had not known what to do with himself. Whether it would be better or worse to be by her side or if that would only serve to irritate her.
“I am afraid she is sleeping at the moment. The physician gave her some laudanum for the pain,” Lady Bellmore murmured, stepping through the door and closing it behind her.
“How is she?” Dominic fell into step beside Lady Bellmore as they walked down the stairs.
“She is in pain, but it is nothing too serious, Your Grace. The physician bade her rest for today but said that by tomorrow she will be fine.” Lady Bellmore surveyed him.
“That is good.” Dominic glanced towards the top of the stairs in the direction of Charlotte’s room, taking half a step towards it before catching himself and turning to face Lady Bellmore instead. “I am glad she was not seriously injured.”
“As am I,” the woman agreed. “I imagine it would have made things very difficult for you.”
“What do you mean?” Dominic frowned at her.What does she know?
“Well, the games, of course. It would be hard for her to compete if she were seriously hurt.” Lady Bellmore raised an eyebrow at him, and Dominic had the odd feeling of being tested.
“Oh, yes, of course,” he recovered, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “Though her health is far more important than these shenanigans.”
“Truly?” she canted her head towards him.
“Yes, I would not forgive myself if harm came to her on my account.” Dominic was silent a moment, keenly aware of Charlotte’s stepmother seeming to study him.These games are important, but she should not have been hurt in the course of them.
“Would you walk with me a while, Your Grace? I feel like I have hardly gotten to know you, and well, you are going to marry my daughter after all.” Lady Bellmore smiled at him.
He hesitated, Charlotte’s warning about making her family too fond of him echoing in his mind.But surely it would be suspicious not to acquiesce to such a request. We do not have to walk together long.“I would be delighted to accompany you.”
“Wonderful.” Lady Bellmore slipped an arm through his. “I always find it so much easier to walk and talk. Something about the movement clears the mind.”
Dominic made a noncommittal noise as they began to walk together through the hall of the castle and out into the sweeping estate.
“Do you know these grounds well?” Lady Bellmore asked. “Charlotte tells me you spent rather a lot of time here when you were young.”
“I did. I was often here, and I have many fond memories of this place,” Dominic answered.
“And do you have a favourite place within the estate?” Lady Bellmore gestured around them.
“I have always loved the gardens. There is something about being in them, so full of life, that has always been soothing to me,” Dominic said.
“You are drawn to lively things then?” she asked.
“Are not we all?” Dominic canted his head towards her.Who would not be drawn to life? Especially when we do not know how much time we might have?
“Some of us more than others. I imagine that is part of the reason you are drawn to Charlotte.” Lady Bellmore gave him a sidelong look.
The thought brought him up short, but he recovered smoothly, hoping the woman did not notice his hesitation. “It is hard not to be drawn to someone as full of life as your stepdaughter.”
“So it would seem.” She looked around them, a pensive look on her face. “Have you shown Charlotte your favourite places?”
“Some, not all, and there are others that would be best seen another time. Spring is my favourite time at Caverton; that is when I would love to show her the estate and its gardens. To take our time,” Dominic said, his heart twisting as he did so.Charlotte will not see them in Spring; this whole farce will be ended by then.
The thought made him sad, but he could not work out why. He shook himself, trying to clear his head.
