Their father was a cruel man who would do anything to get what he wanted, as Perry had discovered when the truth of Aurelia was revealed. The old duke would hide his own granddaughter to get his way and keep to the marriage contract Perry had with Eliza.
Clenching his teeth, a sour taste built in his mouth at the thought of the harmful tactics his father had used against him. Relief flooded him as he once again reminded himself that Aurelia was found. His daughter was now under his care, as she should always have been. And Charlotte? She was now his wife, as she should always have been. With a gusty sigh, Perry counted those as blessings and resolved to do everything in his power to take the horrible things his father had done and make them right.
Now if only he could find the courage to woo his wife and discover in her the same longing that had been tormenting him for nearly a decade. It was impossible to conceive that such a closeness would die and not remain flickering like a single candle in a dark room.
Perry had once believed his love was dead, as he had believed Charlotte to be. It only took her surprise resurgence in his life for him to realize his affection for her had not died; it had only into hiding. In his years of loneliness, he suppressed his feelings to survive, thinking he could never have such a powerful connection again.
No, his love had not died. The candle that once flickered weakly in the darkness was now ablaze, and Perry was burning up inside. His suppressed longing was an ache that he could no longer ignore. When he had come so close to losing her again, he realized he couldn’t hide from the truth any longer. His wife had to know exactly what she meant to him. What possibilities her presence in his life had inspired that he could never have with another woman.
Even if he had to risk humiliation, Perry would have to find a way to make Charlotteunderstand.
This was more than a marriage of convenience to him.
It was the marriage that should have always been.
Now he just had to find the courage to reveal the truth to his wife.
And survive dinner with his sister.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Ariot of laughter beckoned Charlotte to Aurelia’s room, where her daughter was supposed to be practicing her French verbs. Charlotte left her with the nurse as she spoke to the cook about adding a guest to their dinner table. Her daughter should have nearly completed her daily exercises. It sounded like Aurelia had been granted a welcome distraction.
Having only briefly interacted with Perry’s sister in the ballroom as a young debutante, she was nervous to learn how time had changed—or not changed—the sophisticated, elegant woman. Lady Louisa Mandchin was blessed with perfect poise and manners. A luxurious sweep of long blonde waves perfectly framed her heart-shaped face, and was always styled in the latest fashion. Her bright blue eyes were always keen with interest, making you feel like you were the only person in the room. Though Charlotte had not spent much time in her presence, she instinctively knew Louisa would be the perfect person to orchestrate a smooth reintroduction to society. Often the subject of gossip, the marchioness was popular and invited to the most exclusive events by the prominent members of society.
“And this is how you use this one… ‘Papa, j’aimerais une bellerobe immédiatement.’” An unfamiliar voice spoke, eliciting a wild giggle from Aurelia.
“Papa, I would like a beautiful dress immediately,”Charlotte translated in her head.
Was it possible that someone was teaching her daughter to order her father about? Using French conjugation as a method for manipulation? Charlotte brought a hand to her cheek, scandalized.
“Oh, I could never,” her daughter replied, a bright laugh bursting from her mouth.
Charlotte shook her head, a smile teasing her lips. It felt good to have someone making her daughter so happy. The sound of Aurelia’s laughter was truly a balm to her heart.
“Of course, my dear. And if he says no, you bat your eyelashes like so and give him one of your most darling smiles… You try.”
“Like this?”
“Oh, that is perfect. Yes, my darling girl.”
The voices grew louder as Charlotte approached the room just in time to see her daughter giving the most adorable smile with an accompanying batting of eyelashes. It appeared Aurelia’s aunt was giving her lessons in how to charm a man already. She had wasted little time.
“Welcome, Lady Mandchin. I expected the servants to announce your arrival. I apologize for not coming sooner,” Charlotte said, nodding at her new sister-in-law.
“Nonsense, please call me Louisa. We are family after all. I told Bentley I needed to meet my nieceimmédiatement. There was no time to waste once I heard the wonderful news.” Louisa stood, wrapping her arms around Charlotte and squeezing her affectionately. “How incredible it is to have a sister.”
Charlotte blinked back tears at the words. To be accepted by Louisa so warmly was a blessing. She had no idea until then how much she needed to be accepted by his family.
“My brother informed me of your pressing need for a newwardrobe, so I took the liberty of bringing my modiste with me to measure you and the littlemademoiselle.”
Aurelia shot up from her chair abruptly, the piece of furniture clattering on the hardwood floor behind her as it fell over. “Oh, dear,” she said, bending to pick up the chair and set it right.
“We must go immediately and have a fitting. Madame Auclair will take your measurements and show you some fabrics to start building a wardrobe of essentials very quickly. I’ve told her the earl will spare no expense to dress his countess.” Louisa grinned and quirked a brow. “His words, not mine.”
Charlotte was touched by Perry’s generosity. It made complete sense, but it was such a foreign concept to her. To be gowned in something other than the practical clothing she wore in the country. There, she went mostly unseen and dressed in a rather unremarkable fashion. Sensible colors and fabrics, heavily leaning toward the functional side of fashion. She saw no reason to indulge in bright hues and lush silks when she would be the only one seeing them.
Releasing a breath, Charlotte followed Louisa toward the dressing room, where Mme Auclair was waiting along with a few assistants. The woman spoke in a thick French accent and welcomed the women as they entered the room.
