Page 19 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

This felt—she was—utterly perfect.

“Tell me why you ran away,” Chance said. “If we are to be married, you must trust me. Tell me why you hate Englishmen and why you ran away, and I shall tell you my secrets, too.”

She looked up at him, studying his face for a moment before she nodded.

“D’accord,” she said. “I will.”

Chance led her to the mattress, stoked the fire, and then they sat down side by side and he waited for her to speak.

Odette’s heart was beating hard and fast. She was uncertain why, for nothing she would say should make him think any worse of her. He knew the worst already. What he didn’t know was just who she was, or, more to the point, who her uncle was.

“I do not know where to begin,” she said, smoothing her skirts over her knees.

“Wherever you think best. You said you were staying with your uncle’s friends, yes?”

She nodded. “Oui. My uncle, he is Guy André Félix, Marquis de Layon,or at least he was.”

Chance stared at her, his mouth a little open. She could only hope the title did not intimidate him. He was clearly a gentleman, but who knew if he had simply learned how to act the part from fellows in the army, or if he was born to such a world? Not that she cared, but… but if he was afraid of her uncle…. She swallowed down a wave of nausea, unable to blame him if he was. Most people were.

“It is difficult for a man who had such absolute power, such vast wealth, to have been brought so low by the war. We are by no means penniless, but the comparison, you see….” She shrugged. “He is no longer the man he was, and this has made him bitter and angry. It worsened when André died, his only heir, and now his niece has ruined herself.”

“No,” Chance said, taking her hands. “We will go to Exeter, to the cathedral, and I shall buy a licence and we shall marry. It will be done before we face them. There will be no talk of you being ruined. I won’t allow it.”

Odette let out a little laugh, still unable to believe her good fortune, that this man, this good man, would save her.

“So, tell me what happened. What made you run away from him?”

Odette bit her lip. “We ’ad a terrible row. He wanted me to—”

Charlie moved closer to her and put his arm about her shoulder as she broke off, her nerves getting the better of her. What would he say when he realised the powerful family she had offended so gravely was one of his neighbours? They must be. He’d told her he lived not three miles from here, likely on the Blackdown estate, even. He would know the Blackdown name, might know them as friends, might not want to risk offending them.

“He told me I must marry,” she said in a rush, determined to get the words out. “I was given no choice. I was to marry Lord Blackdown’s heir, Viscount Debdon. We went to stay with them. The earl was polite enough, but… but the wretched viscount didn’t even have the decency to come and meet me. I was so afraid, so unhappy, and yet I made myself go, I made myself act the part of dutiful niece. I promised I would behave as a young lady and do what was asked of me, and he… he couldn’t even stir himself to come and see me. It was dishonourable and I’m afraid I was very angry. I thought perhaps all Englishmen acted this way. I was wrong.”

She glanced up at Charlie to see him staring at the fire, a fierce but unreadable expression on his face. He felt her gaze upon him and turned.

“Go on,” he said softly.

“Uncle was so furious at the slight. He and the earl rowed over his son’s shocking behaviour, and then my uncle got cross with me, as though it were my fault, and… I stormed out. I went out for a walk to calm down. It was only supposed to be a walk, but I didn’t stop, and before I knew it, the sun was going down and I was lost… and I realised I did not want to go back. Not to my uncle, and certainly not to a man who couldn’t be bothered to even meet me, and so… here I am.”

Odette finished her story, breathless and nervous, hardly daring to hear what Charlie would say about it. He was tense. She could feel it singing through his body where she leant into him, and her heart plummeted. Don’t be a coward, Odette, she told herself. She must face it, she must allow him to withdraw his rash proposal if he wished to do so. Her eyes were burning as she dared to look up at him again, her throat tight with anxiety.

“Charlie?” she said. “Do… Do you hate me?”

“What?” he said, looking appalled at the idea. “No! Good God, no. I… Oh, Lord, Odette.”

To her dismay, he put his head in his hands and groaned.

“It’s all right.” The words only quavered a very little. “I will release you from your offer. I should not like to cause you difficulties with the Blackdown family.”

He looked up, swallowed hard, and then took a deep breath. She watched as he moved in front of her and took her hands.

“Odette, will you trust me, please? I know I have no right—”

“Oui!” she said at once, squeezing his fingers. “Of course. I do trust you. I said yes, didn’t I? We will be married, if… if you still want to.”

He nodded but still looked unhappy. “Then hear me out. I’m going to tell you something you won’t like one little bit… but give me a chance to explain. Please.”

Odette felt a flare of alarm at his words, but she nodded her agreement. He let out a long breath before he raised his gaze back to hers.