AllFreeNovel
Share Us
KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSER
THOUGH SHE TRIED to remain calm, Mélisande was nearly ready to call a search of the grounds. When Charlotte finally resurfaced, however, her panic was only briefly relieved, for her face held a fresh glow that she immediately recognized.
Alessandro and several others within earshot looked askance at the colorful string of French invectives she released on seeing the cause of that glow hovering near Charlotte’s elbow.
Herrington!
Mélisande made a beeline for David. “We must do something!”
“This is your fault,” he said, his eyes hard. “If you hadn’t set such a terrible example and then allowed her to mimic your outrageous behavior, this would not have happened!”
Anger made her bold. “I beg to differ. It is you who are to blame!”
“I beg your pardon?”
It was time to end this foolishness. “Charlotte has been in love with you practically since she was born, you idiot!” Mélisande hissed. “You cannot tell me you didn’t notice.”
He maintained an unblinking stare. “I’d rather hoped she would get over it, quite honestly.”
“Yes, well, as you can see, she’s over it,” she replied flippantly.
“She deserves better, Melly. We both know it.”
“And you think that’s better?” she exclaimed, barely missing a passing footman as she flung an arm in the general direction of the dance floor. “Look at her!” she commanded. “She will ruin herself out of despair for love of you! If, if she hasn’t already! And you don’t care one bloody—”
“If he has touched her, I will kill him,” David snarled.
The violence in his eyes silenced her. It was now quite clear that he more than cared for Charlotte; he loved her.
They watched as Herrington kissed Charlotte’s hand and left to attend another guest.
Without another word, David stalked over and grabbed her by the arm, causing her to squeak in protest. Bending low, he muttered something in her ear, after which she fell silent and allowed him to escort her out of the ballroom.
Mélisande followed.
Opening the first door he came to, David pulled Charlotte in and slammed the door shut behind them.
Not to be deterred, Mélisande reopened it and slipped inside.
“Exactly what do you think you are doing?” David snapped, jerking Charlotte roughly toward him. “Dressing like a harlot and behaving like one, too—and with Herrington, of all people! If you’d chosen any other man upon which to hone your flirting skills, this would be comic, but not him. That man has a soul as black as pitch, Charlie! I thought you had better sense. Pick someone harmless, like Prewitt, if you want to practice playing grown-up games!”
Mélisande winced as the beginnings of a smile faded from the girl’s face.
“Let me go!” Charlotte yelled, tugging her arm in an effort to break his hold. “You’re one to talk of harlots and blackened souls. You should know!”
“My virtue isn’t in question here,” he said. “How far did he take it?”
“Enough, both of you!” Mélisande interrupted, stepping forward. “This is neither the time nor the place.”
They ignored her.
“Why should it matter to you?” Charlotte spat at David, still struggling.
“How far?” he grated, tightening his grip.
“Far enough to know I want more!” she hissed. Clawing at his fingers, she tried to wrench free of his grasp. Finally, she tore loose, stumbling backward into a table. A delicate figurine fell, shattering into pieces as it hit the floor. Blindly, she reached behind her and grabbed the nearest object, a book, and hurled it at him with a shriek.
Her explosion of temper stunned Mélisande. This was not the sweet, mild young lady she knew! She watched as David ducked another missile, a small vase. It grazed his head and crashed into the wall behind him, sending shards of porcelain flying.
