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Albert lay in bed, staring at the canopy overhead. The moonlight streamed through the cracks of the closed draperies. Irritated he could not remove Charlotte from his mind, he threw back the covers and strode to the window. With a sharp pull of the curtains, they parted, letting in the full glory of the night. He opened the window and inhaled the fresh air.
After glancing at the clock on the fireplace mantel, he noted the time. One thirty. Sleep eluded him. The silver hues of light spread across the landscape from the heavens above, creating a bewitching scene outdoors. It reminded him Charlotte had managed to crack his hardened exterior to the point of breaking. On a night such as this, he could effortlessly ravish her beauty until the morning hours. In his mind, he imagined the erotic picture of her nakedness bathed in the moonlight upon her bed. The thought aroused him, and Albert quickly thrust his fingers through his hair as if to rid himself of temptation.
Tonight she had proven she could be the woman he desired. Regardless of her crass exterior lay a female capable of becoming a mild-mannered and polite lady who portrayed the qualities of good society. She had managed to impress his uncle and cousins to the point she had them wrapped around her little finger.
“She’s a seductress,” he mused aloud. She lay in wait only two doors down the hall. As he pondered her achievement that evening, he found himself perched on the brink of ruin.
He wanted her.
He needed her.
Without additional thought, he grabbed his robe, slipped his arms through the sleeves, and opened his bedroom door. After a quick glance up and down the hallway to ensure no one saw his movements, he made his way to the guest room. There would be no cause to knock because he believed she expected his visitation. With a slow turn of the handle, he pushed open the unlocked door and entered.
The aroma of her perfume lingered in the air and filled his nostrils. She had left the curtains open, streaming the alluring heavenly light upon her bed, which he found empty. When his eyes adjusted to the dimness, he saw Charlotte sitting in a chair.
“Do you always visit a lady’s room in the dead of night unannounced?” Her question revealed no anger in its tone but sounded soft and enticing.
“Not usually,” Albert replied, closing the door quietly behind him. “I couldn’t sleep. It appears you are unable to do so as well.”
“And why does sleep elude you?” She stood, dressed in a flowing nightgown of pink silk. His fingertips prickled at the thought of touching the softness that covered her flesh.
“I blame you,” he whispered. The corner of her lips raised, showing pleasure at his confession.
“Is there something you want, Albert?” Her hand reached up to the side of his face and lingered there for a few seconds.
Gently he took it away and kissed it. “I should be cursing you for what you’ve done to me.”
“And what pray tell have I done to you?”
“You’ve made me desire you.” Albert pulled her body flush against his and held Charlotte tightly against his frame. “You... you,” he stuttered. “You’ve made me fall in love.” Without asking for permission, he placed his mouth upon hers and tasted her lips. They were everything he had dreamed about—soft, warm, and sweet as honey. His action received no protest by Charlotte. In the ardent force of his kiss, Albert searched out her mouth with his tongue. When he pulled away and examined her eyes, a sparkle of victory flashed in Charlotte’s orbs. He didn’t care. She could have her win. Now he would claim the spoils regardless of his defeat.
Effortlessly he picked her up in his arms.
“Albert.” She gasped. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer immediately but laid her on the bed. The blood in his veins burned, engorging his need. Dropping his robe to the floor and baring his chest before Charlotte, he lay alongside her warm and inviting body. She opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced it with a kiss. A moment later his hands found the plump roundness of her breast underneath the pink waves of silk, and he heard her moan in pleasure. Too long had he merely looked at the ripened fruit—now he possessed it, and an urgency for more of her body aroused him to madness.
“Albert dear.” She wiggled slightly at his touch. “I don’t recall inviting you to my bed this evening.” Her warm hand pressed against his chest, staying his advances.
“I surrender.” He breathed heavily. “You have won the challenge.” He buried his head in her neck and kissed her unceasingly.
“Let me get this correct in my mind,” she announced. “Are you saying your sexual advances at this moment mean I have succeeded in seducing you?”
Surprised at her comment, he pulled away. “It’s what you wanted. You’ve won.”
“But why now?” Charlotte sat up, forcing Albert to change positions. He swung his legs over the side of her bed.
“Because you’ve proven to me you can be a woman who possesses every possible form of good breeding, manners, and social graces when you put your mind to it.”
“Thought provoking,” Charlotte mused aloud. “I’m afraid this entire fiasco sounds like a tie to me.” She stood and glanced down at his befuddled expression.
“Whatever do you mean?” Albert cocked his head in confusion, drawing his brows together.
“It appears I have become the woman you wished me to be, and I have apparently, by the looks of your bare chest, succeeded in drawing sexual attraction from you as a result.” Charlotte flashed a coy grin as the moonlight sparkled around her body like diamonds. “Both of us have succeeded in our quest to change the other. Therefore, there is no clear winner in Cedric’s little game. It’s a tie. We have both accomplished our tasks nearly simultaneously.”
Shocked at her declaration, Albert slowly rose to his feet. Air expelled from his lungs, and he choked out his words. “Might I ascertain if my declaration of love has fallen on deaf ears?” His voice trembled. “Tell me now if I am not a recipient of any affection in return.”
Charlotte let out a sigh. Her long red hair fell about her shoulders in perfect strands. The pink gown glowed as she stood in the stream of the moonlight. When she took a step closer, her perfume swirled around his head, making him dizzy with desire.
“Oh, dear, dear Albert,” she cajoled him like a child. “We are so vastly different from one another. I must admit you have mellowed over these past few days, but I’m afraid I hold no endearing affections that entice me to the intimate joining of our bodies, let alone declaring my love for you in the process.”
Albert felt as if a knife had plunged into his heart. He had irrationally and violently fallen in love with a woman who mocked his affections. Horrified over the humiliation, he stumbled backward and then aggressively grabbed his robe from the floor.
“I shall not bother you any further, Lady Rutherford. Forgive me for my intrusion.” As he walked toward the door, he halted a moment and gazed at her with desire and anger swirling around his heart. “Perhaps you have not changed as much as I thought.” He opened the door and departed.
* * * *
IT HAD BEEN HOURS SINCE they left Broughton Hall. Albert had barely spoken two words to her the entire trip as they returned to London. Charlotte knew she had hurt him deeply by rejecting his declaration of love. She found it surprising, to say the least, that he would utter such an announcement. Even though Charlotte had become fond of him as well the past few weeks, she knew giving her heart to him would only lead to sadness. Besides, she had taken on a new responsibility in life, which Albert would never approve of should he discover what she had done.
She turned her head and glanced at him as the train pulled into the station. Soon they would part ways, and it saddened her that she may not see him again.
“Shall I inform Cedric of the outcome of our challenge?” Her calm voice gave no hint of disappointment the game had ended even though she would miss sparring with Albert’s aristocratic airs. He sat quietly gazing out the window for a few moments before slowly turning his head to look in her direction.
“If you wish since he’s your relation, and this was his ludicrous idea in the first place.” His eyes looked sadly at her, and then he returned their attention to the landscape outside.
“Oh, Albert, don’t look so morose,” Charlotte encouraged him. She slipped her hand upon his, but he pulled away from her touch.
When the train slowed as it approached the platform, he remained silent. Hurt that he had spurned her attempt to make peace, Charlotte announced in a miffed tone. “You need not worry about me. I shall take my bag, hail a carriage, and return home alone.”
Albert stood from his seat when the train came to a halt. “If you insist, I have no objection.” He finally looked at her in the eyes and with cool regard bid a firm and surprisingly quick farewell. “If you will excuse me, Lady Rutherford, I shall take my leave. Thank you for accompanying me on this most informative and interesting trip.”
He turned and walked down the aisle toward the exit. Shocked by his actions, Charlotte called out. “Albert, wait!” She thought he would stop at her call, but instead, he ignored her plea. Astonished he discarded her with such rude anger, she felt mortified their parting had been cross. “If you wish to play the child, then fine,” she mumbled, pushing aside the hot rejection.
Anxious to return home, she suppressed the affections that had grown within her heart for Albert. When he smiled and didn’t spout off his continual dull recitations of what constituted good society, he wasn’t a bad male companion. A pang of remorse clutched her heart that she would probably not see him again. Charlotte knew then that she would miss his pompous ass.
