“In private, my dear. And a carriage is no place for anything untoward to happen.”
Thinking back to what had occurred in the carriage—and what she feltcouldhave happened if Aaron had decided in that moment to be less of a gentleman—Charlotte fought a blush. “Precisely what is your problem with me entering town with the Duke?”
“We wouldn’t want anyone to talk,” Anastasi said carefully.
“As though anything the people say here should have any bearing on my reputation in London.”
“Perhaps not though you would be surprised how fast scandal travels. But I’m not speaking of your reputation in London.”
“Oh!” Charlotte paced to the window and looked out to where she was just in time to see Aaron canter away. He had a remarkably good seat and looked as though he had been born on horseback. “Well, I hardly think we need to worry on my account, Mama.”
“When you live here, your reputation in this area will matter a great deal,” Anastasia said.
Charlotte wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry because this house in its grandness would never be hers. She settled for saying, “Everyone received us with upmost respect, Mama, and besides, he is a Duke.”
“Even Dukes can have tarnished reputations.” Her mother bit her lip, a frown gathering across her forehead. “There is something else you should know. I had not wished to speak of it with you, but if you persist in spending time alone with him, you must know of the risks.”
“Heavens, Mama!” Charlotte pressed a hand to her cheeks, which really were glowing now. “You do not need to speak with me on this matter.”
“That is hardly something a mother wishes to hear.”
“No, I didn’t mean—” Charlotte broke away, frustrated and looked at her mother with a wry smile. “Pray don’t worry about my reputation, Mama. I am not inclined to become the Duke’s latest conquest.” Even though the thought of the Duke’s mouth on hers made heat rise to every part of her—even the parts that shamed her to think about.
“I would not like for him to take advantage,” Anastasia said, holding out a hand in a gesture so reminiscent of the Duke that Charlotte smiled. “He is but a man, and you are very beautiful, my love.”
“You flatter me more than I fear the Duke does.”
“Impossible! He knows of your beauty as much as I do, Lottie—I’ve seen it.”
He had confessed he would not have offered such a deal to her if she were plain—a shocking confession if you please—but that was not the same as saying she was beautiful. Even his kisses had been provoked, somewhat, by her and her wretched temper. Besides, her mother had not been present for those kisses which were the only proof Charlotte could think of that the Duke found her any more than reasonably pretty—a good enough reason for a man such as him to kiss her.
“You need not fear on my account,” Charlotte said. “I shall both preserve my reputation and my honor to the best of my ability. Does this satisfy you?”
“I have no choice but for it to satisfy me,” Anastasia said with a trace of grimness about her mouth. “Do not disappoint me.”
* * *
The wind streamed through Aaron’s hair as he galloped along the small lane to the road that led west toward the Lake District and Carlisle. From there, his sister would have headed north to Gretna Green.
The infernal girl. Not only was she placing the risk of scandal over all their heads, but she was exposing herself to a life with a man Aaron could not be certain would provide for her. If that man were inclined to any number of sins, his sister would be very unhappy indeed.
Newtown was a decent man. Not a particularly exciting one, Aaron granted, but that aspect of marriage was not for him to decide. If Constance had wanted a rather more dashing young man, she should have said something.
But no, the dratted girl had deceived him and fled without his knowledge, consigning him both to worry and the necessity of wielding away scandal as much as he could. His only relief was that few people this far north appeared to have heard the news—an ignorance he fully intended to preserve.
As for Charlotte… he hardly knew how to think about her. For a start, she appeared to think his sister had taken a reasonable course of action which was utterly beyond belief, and for a second—
He wanted her more than he could ever remember wanting a woman. It consumed his thoughts both when he was near her and when he was apart from her. Even the cold wind couldn’t dim the desire that pumped through his veins whenever he thought of the way her soft lips parted underneath his, and the soft sound she made when he pulled her close and opened her mouth with his.
The way she had yielded herself utterly to him. He growled as he came to a stop by an inn at the side of the road. He had a goal, and he had no intentions of letting a young Miss interfere with those plans. No matter how appealing she was.
The buxom lady serving drinks behind the bar looked up as Aaron approached, and her eyes narrowed in on his tailored coat and the polished shine on his boots. He could almost see when she came to the conclusion, he was a member of the gentry; she offered him a wide smile and leaned across the sticky bar to him.
“What can I get you, sir?” she asked, the slight inflection to her words making it clear there were more services offered than just food or drink.
“Information,” Aaron said, pulling off his gloves and slapping them in his palm. Perhaps availing himself of this woman—he could hardly call her a lady given her behavior—would ease how much he thought about Charlotte, but he had no desire to bed this woman—or indeed any other. Save, of course, Charlotte. “I wish to know whether a young lady passed by this way two weeks ago.”
“A young lady?” The barmaid leaned back, her expression souring. “There’s been lots of young ladies pass by, Sir.”
