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Seth leaned back in his chair. “A way to get you back in the committee’s good graces.”
Charlotte didn’t have to ask which committee he was referring to. “Oh?”
“I shall get straight to the point—”
“Do you ever do anything else?”
They shared a smile, an easy, we-understand-one-another smile.
“I have recently been the recipient of some interesting news.”
Though he continued on, Charlotte couldn’t deny that she wished to hold on to that smile they’d shared. Hold on to it for not only the rest of their conversation, but for the rest of her stay in London. For the rest of beyond that. For the rest of forever.
“What news is that?” she asked.
“ThatIam your problem.”
Charlotte leaned forward and set some cake on a plate for each of them. “I didn’t realize I had a problem.”
He accepted the plate from her. “Well, you do, and I am it.”
“I wouldn’t call you a problem. Handsome, maybe. A handful, certainly. But not a problem.” Had all those words come out of her mouth? Gracious, she’d meant for most of them to stay inside.
Seth let out a deep guffaw, not glancing her way. “Society would disagree.” He popped one of the cakes fully in his mouth without so much as considering it first.
He seemed to think nothing at all of her bold statement. It wasn’t often Charlotte admitted aloud that she found someone handsome.
It was a relief.
And...a disappointment.
If ever there was proof Seth saw her as nothing more than a common acquaintance, it was all those little conversations they’d had. Not once, not during any of them, had he ever looked at her or spoken to her as more than a friend.
It wasn’t as though Charlotte was out of practice, either. She’d been a widow for nearly two decades now—and she’d turned down offers of marriage more than a handful of times during those years.
No, it wasn’t her. Seth truly must not be interested.
And that stung. A lot.
Seth swallowed and continued, “As it was told to me, the reason the committee has stopped listening to your suggestions is because of our friendship.”
There it was—the proof she had been hoping never to find. Not “our association,” not “our connection.”Our friendship. He saw her as that and nothing more.
“I don’t see how that could be a problem.” Charlotte lifted her teacup to her mouth.
Seth shrugged. “They’ve gotten the idea that you have set your cap at me.”
Charlotte sputtered on her tea, sending droplets all over herself.
“I know,” Seth said with a nod. “Nonsense.”
She quickly placed her teacup down on the table and took Seth’s proffered handkerchief to clean herself. What a fool she was being today.
“Who is saying such...ridiculous things?”
Seth’s eyes darkened slightly. “Yourold friend, Lord Linfield.”
Charlotte stilled at his tone. Though why he’d bit so hard at the words “old friend” she couldn’t say. “Is that so?”
