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“I would like a private moment with Lady Charity before she departs,” he said to his sister before turning to her and saying, “If you will indulge me.”
Charity slid him a thoughtful, sidelong glance. “Certainly, my lord.”
“Please allow me to escort you to my study.”
She stood and followed behind the earl. Near the door, she glanced over her shoulder at Jenna, who shook her head at Charity’s silent question. They padded down the hallway in silence, and he opened a large oak door and stepped back to allow her to precede him inside. The soft snick as the door closed had her taking a deep breath and turning around.
She eyed him uncertainly. “A closed door? How adventurous of you, Lord Ralston. I never knew you had it in you.”
His lips tugged, but he did not fully smile.
“Why did you ask for a private meeting, Your Lordship?”
“My sister has invited you to spend the week with her at Clydesdale Park.”
“It was two weeks, my lord.”
A faint, disinterested smile touched his mouth. “You will refuse that invitation, Lady Charity. Gently, but nonetheless, you will convey your regrets to Jenna.”
Charity’s eyes widened as she realized his intention. What about her did he not like? Clearly, he thought her a negative influence on his sister, and nothing could be further from the truth. “Why?” she demanded tightly.
“I have my reasons, and I do not have to explain them.”
The man was insufferably arrogant. She cautiously cleared her throat. “Jenna is my friend, and she would not have asked for my company unless she needed me.”
He made a soft sound of disbelief in his throat, and she loathed that it pricked at her heart.
“She will not be in the country for long, only two weeks as her ankle mends. There is no reason for her to have your company at this time.”
Charity folded her arms below her waist. “Why did you not simply forbid Jenna to offer any invitation?”
He hesitated slightly.
“Of course, then you would be an odious ogre in her eyes, so you are leaving it up to me to be a bad friend and turn down Jenna when she is in need.” Stiff with hurt, Charity muttered, “I will speak with Jenna, my lord.”
Charity made to turn away, and the relief that flashed in his eyes froze her. First, it rendered him approachable and not so icily controlled and indifferent. Second, it hinted that the reason he did not want her at his country seat was personal and had nothing to do with Charity’s relationship with Jenna. Charity slowly faced him, her heart trembling as possibilities turned over in her thoughts. She took a few steps toward him, her eyes widening when she noted the slight panic that swirled in his eyes before he lowered his lashes, masking his expression.
The Earl of Ralston in a panic? Charity would not have believed it if she did not witness it herself, and even now, she doubted her interpretation of his expression.
“Why do you wish me to reject Jenna’s invitation, my lord?” she asked softly.
His expression coolly controlled, he said, “You would be a lady alone under a gentleman’s roof for at least two weeks, Lady Charity. I thought you would be more circumspect over your reputation.”
“As I understand it, your mother and Aunt Bess will also be under your roof.” Charity bit back the smile that teased at her mouth, truly astonished to find humor at the moment when she wanted to punch him.
“With your reputation, my lord, no one would dare dream that my virtue might be compromised under your roof. And that is what you hinted at, did you not?”
His stare drifted over her like gliding hands. “Lady Charity—”
“I was even recently told it would be something of a miracle to attract a man to my side since I am five and twenty, a spinster far back on a shelf covered with spider webs and dust motes, that it would be a great feat for any gentleman to take notice.”
He stared at her as if she were a creature. “Which fool said that?”
Those words sent a fissure of pleasure through her. “My brother, who I understand is one of your greatest political nemeses.” She took the opportunity to move a few steps closer. “Tell me, Lord Ralston. Why do you want me to reject Jenna’s invitation? The rumors about you speak of a man of upstanding honor and honesty…do I detect an unwillingness to be truthful?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tightly. Charity got the sense this man would throttle her if he could. Her fingers itched with the desire to run her fingers through his slightly rumpled hair. Muss his perfect composure even more. Delight him. Shock him. Entice him.
Oh, what am I thinking?
