Chapter Twenty-Six
RUMOURS SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE
Charlotte was wandering through the gardens in search of lavender for Dominic. She wanted to make sure he had enough with him so that if he needed it, it would be there. It had been several days since she had given him the sprigs during the obstacle course, and she was sure they would need replenishing by this point.
As she passed through the garden, she noticed several people staring at her and smile soppily. It reminded her of the way people looked at exceptionally adorable puppies, and it made her cheeks flush.
“Maybe I am just imagining this?” Charlotte frowned to herself, trying to focus on her task.
She took several sprigs and tucked them in a pocket, trying to ignore the way her hairs seemed to be standing on end. She glanced around and saw the two women who had been talking to Dominic, Georgiana, and Emmeline talking and glancing at her.
She shook her head. She was being ridiculous. She felt something brush against her and turned to find Cecily beaming at her.
“And what has you in such a good mood?” Charlotte asked.
“Young love.” Cecily grinned broadly as she looped an arm through Charlotte’s, and they began to walk towards the castle together.
Charlotte laughed and looked at Cecily with surprise. “I thought you said no one here had caught your eye.”
“They have not.” Cecily shrugged at her, still looking as though she were a cat who had found the cream.
Charlotte canted her head towards the other woman, one eyebrow raised. “I am confused.”
“I never said it wasmylove.” Cecily winked at her.
“What do you mean?” Charlotte’s brow furrowed even more.
“What can I not live vicariously through the romance of two people I absolutely adore?” Cecily sighed theatrically and giggled.
“Of course, you can, but it must be some kind of love for it to have made you so vicariously giddy,” Charlotte said.
“Well, you would know.” Cecily gave Charlotte a pointed look.
“Would I?”
“Oh, come now; honestly, I am surprised you are not giddy.”
“What are you talking about?” Charlotte asked, a prickle of irritation overtaking her.
“White roses?” Cecily gestured as though expecting Charlotte to continue.
Her heart sped up.White roses?She tried to think of something to say, but her mind had gone almost completely blank.
Cecily had clearly grown tired of waiting for Charlotte to fill in the blanks and had her fingertips pressed to her own forehead, her eyes closed. “Oh goodness, how did he phrase it? ‘And I will spend the rest of my life proving that the white rose is true; I am worthy of you.’”
“What? Did… did Dominic say that to you?” Her voice sounded far away, a cold feeling stealing over her.
“He wrote it in his letter.” Cecily gave Charlotte a look.
Only through sheer force of will did Charlotte manage not to ask what letter. Whatever Cecily had read, it was not one of the ones Dominic had written with her.
She took a deep breath and asked, “You would not happen to have the letter with you?”
“Of course not!” Cecily blushed. “It was being passed around, and well, I never actually held it myself.”
“So everyone has read it?”
“Probably.”
