“But what comes after—”
“Ah, so it is not Marcella after all—you are quiet because you’re worried about the future.”
“Marcella provokes me and perhaps I should not have flirted the way I did, but—”
“No buts.” His hand tightened on hers. “You should not have flirted, perhaps, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the action, even if I don’t appreciate the reason.”
She closed her eyes. “If we are about to end our engagement, we cannot be seen to be too close.”
The dance parted them again, and when they reunited, he held her at a greater distance. “Very well,” he said, a slight tightness to his voice that had her glancing up at him. “I suppose that was the agreement. Have you any gentlemen in mind?”
“I—”
“I imagine the Earl of Newtown could be prevailed upon to marry you if you but smiled at him a few times. He believes himself to love hard, but he is easily swayed.”
“I hardly know I want a man easily swayed.”
Aaron gave her a humorless smile. “Then you might consider Lord Routley? He’s an excellent man and a Viscount to boot. Not quite an Earl, but very respectable nevertheless.”
Charlotte looked across at where Lord Routley—a gentleman in his thirties who was, she was forced to admit, handsome enough with blond hair and regular features. “Perhaps he would suit,” she said though there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm in her voice.
“Excellent. Come, I shall introduce you as soon as the dance ends, and you will have your chance.” She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to react. Aaron’s hand was ruthless and strained at the same time. Bitterness coated his words and his actions, and his eyes glittered with anger, yet when she shook her head, he merely raised an eyebrow.
“Do you not want an introduction? And I thought you were extremely keen to meet your prospective husband.”
“If you’re angry—”
“I have no reason to be angry, Charlotte. You merely wish to keep to our deal, and so I am helping it come about as was agreed.” There was nothing she could say or do that would reach the glittering anger, and so she accepted his arm and allowed him to lead her to Lord Routley.
“My dear friend,” Aaron said. “I have a jewel to present—Lady Charlotte Calore.”
Lord Routley turned to them both and gave a quick bow. “A pleasure, Lady Charlotte.”
“I’m afraid the duties of being a host call,” Aaron said. “I feel certain you can entertain yourself well enough in my absence.” Lord Routley gave her an appreciative look, and Charlotte was reminded that she was both wearing rose and no doubt carried roses in her cheeks as tokens from her conversation with Aaron.
“I feel certain of it,” Lord Routley said.
Her role was to charm, so Charlotte looked at him through her lashes and sank into a curtsy. “I think we will find a way, My Lord,” she murmured.
Aaron left them with a brusqueness Charlotte noted and hated, and Lord Routley took her hand and bowed over it. “I hardly know how His Grace can bear to leave your side,” he said with a certain charm she might once have fallen for if her heart had not been so ruthlessly stolen by another. “But I cannot say I am sorry for it. Would you do me the honor of dancing the next with me?”
“I should be glad to.” Dancing with Lord Routley was not as unpleasant as she had at first feared it would be. He was an interesting conversationalist, and although he looked at her rather as though he might drink her up, he did nothing to make her feel uncomfortable while making it plain she had his full attention.
“I heard of your father’s passing,” he said, dropping his voice. “I’m exceedingly sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. It was not precisely a shock as he had been ill for some time, but it was a source of great sadness.”
“Circumstances, I understand, took you from society for quite some time.”
“That’s correct.”
“A shame. If we had met a little earlier—before His Grace, perhaps—I flatter myself… but that is a dangerous thought to pursue.”
Charlotte looked into the face of the man who knew so little about her and yet was so forward in expressing his interest. If she made it plain she was unattached, she had little doubt she would have at least one interested suitor.
“I would not be opposed to learning more about you,” she said, dancing over the words as delicately as she could, “if you could bear to spend more time with me.”
“Bear? It should be a delight.”
