Charlotte could hardly explain that she had no current wish to do anything, so she rose obediently. “Not at all, Cousin.” After she had gathered her bonnet and cloak, she accepted Sebastian’s arm, and they stepped out together.
“I am not a fool, you know,” Sebastian said. “Whatever your motives for ending the engagement—and I applaud your sense in doing so—I know you cared for the Duke.”
My feelings are none of your concern. “Anyone who knows him as I did must care for him,” Charlotte said, her voice detached. They saw a few acquaintances and nodded their heads to them as they passed. If she was lucky, perhaps she would encounter Lord Routley. He would both pose as an amenable marriage option and an escape from Sebastian, whose arm tightened on hers.
“Talk of the separation must end soon,” he said. “Once it does, you will be free to marry again as you should choose.”
“I feel I should be plain, Sebastian.” Charlotte raised her gaze to the iron-gray sky and wished with every fiber of her being that it was not Sebastian on her arm but Aaron, and that nothing her mother had done had come to pass. “I have no intention of marrying you.”
“It’s only natural for you to feel that way so soon after your engagement with the Duke was dissolved.”
“I felt that way before I ever met the Duke, Seb.”
“You would not give me false hope, but you should know I have adored you since we were children, and now, when our family is in such a position, it would strength us if we were to wed.”
“I rather feel my marrying advantageously outside the family would be far more beneficial.”
“That is presuming another man would have you.”
Charlotte pulled her arm from Sebastian’s, anger lighting her cheeks. “I had not anticipated being so insulted,” she said, stepping backwards. “And by a gentleman I considered a cousin and a friend. Could you really be so cruel, Sebastian as to suggest my only hope of matrimony is with you?”
“Is it cruelty, Charlotte, to want you as my own?”
“Excuse me.” The voice was familiar, and Charlotte turned to see Lord Routley standing behind her. He bowed at her acknowledgement, and her flush deepened. “I could not but overhear tones of distress.”
“Your interference is not necessary,” Sebastian said stiffly.
“On the contrary.” Defying Sebastian was not sensible, but Charlotte had had enough of being sensible—it had garnered her nothing but a broken heart and the attentions of a cousin she had tried multiple times to repulse. “Your presence is very much welcome, Lord Routley. Would you walk with us?”
“It would be my pleasure, Lady Charlotte.” Charlotte accepted his arm without a glance back at Sebastian. If he insisted on attempting to woo her into accepting an engagement with him, she would have nothing more to say to him.
“I was deeply sorry to hear of your engagement with the Duke of Hexham ending,” Lord Routley said in a low voice. “My condolences.”
“You cannot think I am much affected?” She turned a bright smile up to him. “The Duke and I were eminently unsuitable.”
“Then I suppose I might offer my congratulations?”
“You may offer me a great many things, and I will choose whether to accept.” She sent him a coquettish glance. Not enough time had yet passed for her to consider what giving herself to Aaron on the night of the ball would mean in the long term. Would her future husband know? Would it be prudent to inform him of her disgrace in advance of a potential wedding, or should she do her best to conceal the truth from him?
“You are charming indeed,” Lord Routley said, “though I had little doubt of that from when we met at the ball. I had hoped we might meet a little more.”
“Then you can be sure we shall.”
“Unfortunately, Lady Charlotte is not currently attending social engagements,” Sebastian said, appearing on Lord Routley’s other side. His glare assured Charlotte her slight would not soon be forgiven. “She has many charms, it is true, but I’m afraid only her family is at liberty to enjoy them at present.”
The nerve of the man. Charlotte controlled her expression before she could scowl too openly at Sebastian and instead smiled up at Lord Routley. “As a matter of fact, I was intending on re-entering society if they would have me,” she said. “I believe Lady Henley is holding a soiree tonight. Will you be attending, Lord Routley?”
Lord Routley inclined his head. “I will indeed, and I should be very glad to see you there, My Lady.”
“Then it is settled.” Charlotte didn’t dare risk a glance at Sebastian. “It will be refreshing to make an appearance in society after so long and good to know there will be at least one friendly face.”
“I assure you, there will be more than one.” Lord Routley paused as they came to Oxford Street. “Regrettably, I have an appointment so must leave you, but I shall see you tonight, Lady Charlotte.” He took her hand and bent over it, his lips lightly brushing her glove. The sensation did not give her shivers as it might have done if Aaron were the one to be kissing her, but it wasn’t unpleasant, and she reflected that she had little more she could hope for at this juncture in her life.
* * *
Constance lounged over a chair in the drawing room, a book in one hand that she appeared to be idly reading at best. Aaron sat opposite her and applied himself to his paper with, he hoped, enough focus that she would not be tempted to speak with him. Alas, it was not to be.
“Do tell me, Aaron,” she said, tossing the book to one side with admirable disregard for its structural integrity, “why you insist on letting Lady Charlotte slip through your fingers?”
