Page 80 of Miss Beresford and the Beast

“If you insist upon it.” Charlotte sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be any more of that nonsense Dr. Calthrop had uttered about village boys falling into comas and dying. It was the last thing her father needed to hear at present.

“And all because of an injured dog,” he remarked as he finished his examination. “I might have guessed.”

“Lord Eversleigh is taking care of him for me until I return home,” she said. “He’s a splendid gentleman, really. A former captain in the Navy. A distinguished one as well. He faced cannon fire at the Battle of Kagoshima. He suffered burns from it.”

Papa set her apart from him again, once more studying her face. “Is that a fact?”

Charlotte looked back at her father earnestly. “He saved my life.”

“The Earl of Eversleigh,” he repeated.

“Magnus Sterling,” she said. “Captain Magnus Sterling. He’s returned to England to claim his title.”

“And his ruined estate?” Papa suggested dryly. “And a wealthy bride too, perhaps?”

Charlotte pulled back. “It isn’t like that! He’s not a fortune hunter. Quite the opposite. He’s done everything in his power to discourage our friendship, even so far as commanding me away himself. He doesn’t trust people. Or like them very much. And he has good reason, Papa. Indeed, his life has not been easy.”

“Which I’m sure he’s expounded on to you in suitably romantic terms.”

Her brows sank. “As if I wouldn’t recognize such underhanded tactics!”

“You’re young, Charlotte.”

“Not that young.”

“Young enough.” Papa smoothed her hair. “It wasn’t so long ago that you were reading fairy stories and hosting tea parties for your dogs.”

Charlotte bristled. “I have not given parties for the dogs since I was in the nursery. As for fairy stories—” She gave her father a disgruntled frown. “Why must everyone assume that I have a fixation on cursed castles and handsome princes?”

“Everyone?” Papa queried with interest.

“Just because Magnus lives in a neglected manor house, and just because he’s a bit beastly, doesn’t mean that I’ve mistaken him for some enchanted prince in a fairytale. Even if he did rescue me and look after me and⁠—”

“Charlotte.”

“I do enjoy reading,” she said. “I readily admit it. But it’s been a long while since fairy tales captured my imagination to the exclusion of everything else. I’ve long given up on handsome princes.”

Papa betrayed a brief smile. “You prefer your princes of the unhandsome variety?”

She glared at him. “I prefer to meet my heroes on terms of equality.”

“And this Lord Eversleigh is a hero?” Her father was silent a moment. “Very well.”

Charlotte’s stomach tensed. She stared at her father, uncertain of his reaction. “What does that mean?”

“It means I must speak to the doctor,” he said. “I must assure myself that your health is in order, that you’re safe and well enough for me to inform your mother of the same. And then…”

“And then?” she pressed hopefully.

Her father smiled in grim return. “And then,” he said, “when I am in full possession of the facts, I shall call on the Earl of Eversleigh.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Magnus pried off another section of paneling from the nursery wall. The rotten wood came away easily, bringing most of the aged plaster with it. He removed the rest with his hand, piece by crumbling piece. A framework of rough-sawn timbers lay beneath it. There was nothing of value tucked inside of them. No hidden jewel case or bags of coin. Only sawdust, a deteriorating rodent’s nest, and some crumpled and decaying newspaper that had been formerly used as insulation.

Yet another disappointment in his ongoing search. One of many such, growing in number by the hour.

Today, Magnus hardly felt it.