Page 36 of Duke of Sapphire

Her eyes found him and widened, just slightly. Ian looked over too, and his expression was considerably less ambiguous. It was the look of a person who had been interrupted at something important and had not forgiven the disruption yet.

“Ian,” Henry said. “I require Lady Charlotte’s company for a moment.”

Ian’s eyes narrowed. “She was in the middle of showing me the second guard.”

“She will return shortly.”

Ian looked at Charlotte. The negotiation was silent. She said, “I’ll be back before you’ve counted to a hundred.” He considered this, clearly decided it was adequate, and went back to swinging the branch at nothing in particular.

Charlotte fell into step beside Henry, and they moved together down the cobbled path that ran along the inner wall of the garden.

Henry waited until they were well out of Ian’s hearing.

“I owe you an apology,” he said.

She looked at him. She did not say anything.

“Last night’s proposal was ill-considered and poorly delivered. I ought not to have put it to you in the manner I did. You are not required to accept, and I will not press you.” He kept his gaze on the path. “I will make other arrangements for Ian. It will take time, but it can be done.”

Charlotte turned a broad smile on him.

It was not a polite smile, but the genuine article, wide and warm and occupying her entire face.

“You look,” Henry said, “extraordinarily pleased.”

“I am.” She clasped her hands behind her. “It is a very pleasant morning.”

“I note it did not require the offer of fresh air to bring you outside today.”

“The tree was,” she said, “sufficient air. For a while.”

Henry looked away before he could say something unwise. “In any case. I will need your help with Ian. I fear he will simply not agree to go to London. But he listens to you, and if you can persuade him that the journey is reasonable⁠—”

“That should be easy enough,” Charlotte said.

“Yes.” A beat. “Good.”

They walked another few paces. The cobblestones were uneven and the morning light was thin and grey. Henry was aware that the problem had not, in fact, resolved itself in any material way. Ian still needed to go to London. Nathan and his wife still needed to be found. And as for what to do with Lady Charlotte…The weight of it settled back onto his shoulders like a coat he had briefly shucked before donning once more.

“Where will you go?” he said.

Charlotte glanced up at him.

“When Ian and I return to London,” he said. “What do you plan to do?”

She was quiet for a moment.

“Why,” she said, “I plan to become a duchess, of course.”

Henry stopped walking.

He turned to look at her.

She was facing him with her hands still clasped behind her, and the smile had returned—smaller this time, more contained, but there, very much there.

“Are you mocking me?” he said.

She laughed. It was a clear, genuine sound. “Would you rather I was?”