Charlotte’s gaze remained on the duke, and after a few minutes, his eyes found hers. The green of them was even more stark against the background of the park, and she nodded imperceptibly to him in greeting, which he returned. It was the smallest and simplest of interactions, yet it gave her day a purpose that it did not have before.
I am so glad he is here. I believe every occasion is improved by his presence.
Once the pleasantries of the arrivals had been dealt with, everyone moved to the picnic area, which had been set up in the center of a slope beneath some shady trees.
Several wicker baskets had been laid about the edges of the blankets on the grass, and a number of servants stood waiting to bring food over to the party.
Charlotte approached the area alongside Kilby, who insisted on holding onto her arm despite her being quite capable of walking by herself. As she neared the others who were already seated, her heart clenched at the sight of the duke sitting beside Lavinia Norwell.
Lavinia looked extremely pretty in a deep blue gown, a choker about her neck with a dark gem in the center thatcomplemented the color perfectly. Her dark hair was tied up in a complicated construction that seemed utterly effortless when Charlotte compared it to the mass of hair she had to tame every morning. Lavinia was perfect and untouchable, and Charlotte’s heart sank still further at the gulf that existed between the duke and her.
Not only did she have no confirmation of his affection for her, but also the world had introduced more and more obstacles to keep them apart.
Kilby took her hand and helped her sit down as Charlotte tried to organize her thoughts, but the darkness and worry at the back of her mind was growing. She glanced around for Sarah, seeing her on the edge of the circle and longing to take her for a short turn about the park to clear her head.
As she looked away from Sarah, she caught the eye of Lady Victoria Norwell, whose expression was positively triumphant. Her gaze met Charlotte’s with an air of superiority that grated on her nerves. Lady Norwell’s smirk of victory was an obvious slight against Charlotte.
Lavinia leaned into the duke, speaking quietly to him, her hand moving to lay gently on his arm and Charlotte hastily looked away, a stab of jealousy running through her at the sight.
Elizabeth was seated on the other side of the rug with Malcolm attending to her most gallantly, and Charlotte took a moment to watch their interactions. They seemed so gentle and happy together, speaking together easily and animatedly when Charlotte struggled to form a full sentence in Lord Kilby’s company. She was beginning to believe he had deliberately monopolized her attention.
“Here, Lady Wentworth, try the sandwiches.”
A plate of ham and cucumber was thrust beneath her nose, and Charlotte took two, though her appetite was gone. She was beginning to recognize that she was eating very littleat mealtimes with the number of thoughts swirling about her mind, and she endeavored to eat as much as possible, not wishing to faint and draw even more attention to herself.
As the morning progressed, the atmosphere and Kilby’s continuous attention became more and more stifling for her. His constant chatter was suffocating, and as she looked about her, there were many curious glances sent in their direction.
She felt as though all her hopes and dreams were being slowly eradicated in favor of a future she had not wished for. The more time she spent with Kilby, the more she realized he was arrogant, self-obsessed, and proud. He barely spoke to any of the guests he had invited unless it was to make a joke at their expense or insult them.
The happy manners she had heard so much about when she returned to society seemed like an illusion now that she sat beside him. He was a deeply unpleasant man, constantly putting others down to bolster his own good opinion of himself. The difference was that the other people in his circle seemed to find it amusing—or at least made a show of doing so. Charlotte found the whole spectacle extremely cold and wanted to be gone from his side as soon as she was able.
“Well,” Lavinia Norwell said loudly as she laughed at something the duke had said, “I declare, your Grace, I have never heard anything so funny.” She laughed again, but Charlotte only kept her eyes on the duke. He appeared confused by Lavinia’s behavior, and a seed of hope was planted when she noticed him very obviously leaning away from her.
Lady Victoria Norwell’s eyes were never far from any of the women in the group. She appeared to be sizing them up as competition for her daughter, and Charlotte's exhaustion was only heightened at having to keep the smile firmly on her face.
“Do you know, my Lord, I think I will just take a short walk and get some air.” As soon as Charlotte spoke, she noticed Sarah getting to her feet immediately.
“Of course, Lady Wentworth, I shall accompany you,” Lord Kilby said enthusiastically.
“No, please stay. I would not wish to deprive your guests of their host. I shall take a stroll with Miss Gilmore and return shortly. I think I have been sitting overlong.”
She rose and gave him a short curtsy before walking toward Sarah and attempting not to run at full pelt out of the park and away across London.
Sarah’s expression was carefully guarded, but as she took Charlotte’s arm, her pace was swifter than usual. The two women left the group in some haste, walking beneath the dappled shadows of the trees and away into the sunshine.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“What on earth am I to do?” Charlotte whispered as Sarah’s hand squeezed hers tightly.
“Do not despair. Nothing is agreed yet.”
“But it will be. I know it must be. Papa is determined that I shall have him. Did you hear the way he spoke to his so-called friends? I do not wish to be married to a man who speaks so ill of those he is known to care for.”
“Perhaps it was the occasion. He may simply have close relationships with them, and we are not privy to how they interact.”
Charlotte scoffed. “I cannot believe it. Lady Jenson looked rather unhappy about what he said of her son. Calling him a dullard, no less! I could not believe he would have the temerity to say such a thing.”
“You must not think the worst of him, Charlotte. There could be elements to his character that your father has seen.”
