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Cedric observed Charlotte sitting in the leather chair in his parlor. Felicity stood by his side eagerly awaiting the continued conversation. A lump the size of an orange lodged in his throat. His cousin had decided on an unacceptable outcome to the challenge, causing him to panic.
“A tie?” he screeched. After coughing a few times, he regained a breath of air. “You... you cannot declare it a tie. There must be a clear winner or loser.”
“But it was, dear cousin. We both succeeded nearly simultaneously in achieving our goals. He reformed me; I seduced him. It transpired in one day.”
“I’m sorry.” Cedric balked. “This is categorically unacceptable on all levels. The entire club has placed their bets on the two of you. It’s a win-or-lose outcome.”
“Oh, I see.” Charlotte pulled her mouth to one side. “You hope to win a few quid for your pocket at my account.”
“Well, I—”
“He gambles far too much,” Felicity replied in a scolding tone. “If I’ve told him once I’ve told him twice, how does he expect to have a family when he’s always betting on one thing or the other?”
“All men gamble,” he replied, casting aside the comment.
“Well, I doubt it.” Felicity crossed her arms in front of her waist in defiance.
“What the hell happened?” Cedric leaned forward.
“He took me to meet his family, and I behaved extremely well, recalling all his droll blabbering about how to conduct myself among good society. Apparently, I won over his uncle and cousins quite easily.”
“And did you have sex with him?”
“Cedric! How can you ask such a personal question?” Felicity blushed profusely, giving him a wallop on his arm.
“Well, he slipped into my room to bed me before we returned to London. I thought him a bit cheeky when I hadn’t verbally invited him to do so.”
“So you did,” Cedric confidently remarked.
“Well, not exactly, though he did lay alongside me after carrying me to bed.”
“What the bloody hell happened?”
“I’m afraid the poor man declared his love for me. He tried his best to arouse me to the occasion, but I spurned his advances. At that moment, I knew I had accomplished my task, and he had accomplished his. It was a tie. There had been no clear winner between the two of us.”
“What?” Cedric burst into roaring laughter. “He said he loved you?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.” Charlotte continued to act indifferently about Albert’s declaration even though it pricked that her affections for him remained. “I’m innocent in the matter and did nothing to encourage his regard.”
Cedric lowered his head into his hand and moaned. “Oh dear God. What have I done?”
“Yes, what have you done?” Felicity fumed. “I told you it was a ridiculous idea when you came up with the scheme. Charlotte is perfectly fine as she is.”
“Well, thank you.” After scowling at Cedric, Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “You are a devil, you know.”
Cedric got to his feet and glared at his cousin. “Tell me one thing before you go. Do you love Albert?”
Afraid to show any regard for him, Charlotte bit her lip before answering the inquiry. “You think I could fall in love with such an arrogant man? You are quite delusional if you believe so.”
Narrowing his eyes, Cedric studied her mannerisms. “What say you, Felicity? Is my cousin lying?” He turned toward his wife and gave her a wink. In return, Felicity remained quietly gazing at Charlotte until a small smile curled the corner of her lips.
“You know, Cedric, I believe she is lying. Look there in her left eye. It’s twitching in the corner, and a slight rose-colored blush is filling her cheeks.”
“Ridiculous,” Charlotte replied, flinging her hand in the air as if it were nothing. “I’m so thankful this fiasco is finished. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to attend to at home.”
Nervous and embarrassed, Charlotte swung around and left Cedric and Felicity in a whirlwind. She hated that eye twitch because it had been a sure giveaway on previous occasions. But really. Did she love Albert? Shrugging off the possibility she held such deep affections for him would be something she needed to take care of as soon as possible. She was about to complicate her life beyond measure and displease her extended family in the process. Nevertheless, she did not care what others thought and never would.
Exhausted by the contest, Charlotte controlled her emotions and redirected them elsewhere. Many things needed to be done. When the carriage arrived at her residence, she couldn’t wait to hide behind closed doors.
“How was your excursion, my lady?” Her housekeeper greeted her warmly.
“Entertaining. And how are things at home, Gladys? Is Miss Winston settling in nicely?”
“Oh, yes, very well, my lady.”
“And Lily?” Charlotte inquired, glancing up the staircase.
“Cute as a button.” Gladys took Charlotte’s wrap and hat. “I believe she is taking a nap now.”
“I’m glad to hear of it.” Charlotte lifted her skirt and ascended the staircase to the second floor. The home that her late husband had left her had turned into a mausoleum. Her recent decision to bring to it new life had been the right thing to do. She neared the doorway and halted. Lily lay upon her bed, looking like an angel from heaven, covered in a quilt. Miss Winston stood upon seeing her arrival and greeted her.
“Your ladyship,” she whispered. “It is good to see you.”
Rather than entering a whispering conversation, Charlotte retreated to the hallway, and Miss Winston followed her lead. “How is Lily doing?”
“Very well. She is settling in nicely but is still quite shy and unsure of the new surroundings.”
“Well, it is to be expected. It’s much different from Whitechapel’s cold cobblestone streets to a soft bed and a feather pillow.”
“She loves having baths.” Miss Winston chuckled. “It’s all I can do to get her out of the water even though it turns cold and her tiny fingers wrinkle like prunes.”
Charlotte smiled. “And the lice, are they gone?”
“Yes, the last treatment has eradicated the annoying things.”
“Good,” Charlotte said, pleased with the outcome. “She is such an angel. I love her blond curls.”
“Smart as a whip as well. I’ve started to teach her the alphabet. Surprisingly, she is picking it up quickly.”
“I’m happy to hear of it. Lily is to have the best education so she can make her way in the world as an intelligent woman.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“And you, Miss Winston, are your accommodations to your liking? Is there anything you need?”
“No, your ladyship. I’m quite comfortable. You’ve been most kind, offering me this position as Lily’s governess.”
“Well, I think you shall do splendidly in our household. I’m most happy to have you both.” Charlotte thought momentarily. “I’ve never considered myself as possessing motherly qualities, but becoming Lily’s guardian has given me great satisfaction. It certainly isn’t her fault she tragically lost her mother.” A tear formed in her eye, and she turned her head away. “Life can be cruel.”
“You possess a kind heart,” Miss Winston remarked.
“Perhaps, but I’m afraid my cousin and his acquaintance will find it most distressing, to say the least.”
Charlotte let out a soft chuckle thinking of Albert’s reaction. Whatever words of love he had recently professed would be recanted when he learned of her ward. It would certainly end their relationship.
****
ALBERT ARRIVED AT THE gentlemen’s club in a state of utter defeat. It took a great deal of effort on his part to even walk through the doors, knowing the chiding that awaited him afterward. Cedric had the most to lose having bet a tidy sum. He couldn’t declare himself a victor in her reform, nor could Charlotte claim herself one in his seduction. The game had played out to a terrible end, leaving him miserable.
As he sheepishly entered the sitting room, his eyes scanned the membership. Cedric stood in a circle with Lord Grafton and Sir Walton. His faced contorted into a gruesome display of displeasure nearly causing Albert to spin on his heel and retreat.
“There he is!” Cedric hollered. “Get your ass over here and explain what the hell happened.”
Albert gulped. Cautiously he stepped into the lion’s den.
“You good-for-nothing rake.” Lord Grafton laughed. “What’s this about a bloody tie?”
“I should tie a rope around your neck and string you up,” Cedric added. “I’ve heard Charlotte’s outrageous excuse for this outcome. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Charlotte.
Hearing her name drove a stake into his heart. Remorse and the pain of rejection swirled through his emotions like snakes that coiled themselves around his core, crushing the life out of him. He cleared his throat a few times before speaking.
“It was her idea,” he spouted, deciding to place the blame elsewhere out of spite. “She arrived at this outrageous conclusion we had come to a tie of some sort. Naturally, I didn’t agree with her straightaway, but she insisted.”
Cedric’s eyes narrowed at him. “And I thought you were the man to do the job.”
“So you bedded her, I take it,” Sir Walton said. “What was she like?” He closed his eyes and grinned. “I can just imagine her naked, voluptuous body.”
“Imagine nothing.” Cedric interrupted him. “Apparently he crawled into bed with her, professed his undying love, and she told him to leave.”
“What?” Lord Grafton squawked.
“Well, you make it sound much worse than it played out at that moment.” Albert attempted to save face. “I foolishly uttered feigned affections, hoping she would submit to my desires.”
“Liar.” Cedric snorted. “The story Charlotte tells is much different.”
“And whom do you believe? Me or your cousin?” Albert raised his chin in defiance.
Without hesitation, Cedric replied, “Charlotte, frankly. By the look in your eye, you have made a grave mistake, Beckett. You have fallen in love with her.”
“Well, she does not love me, which is a sentiment she made quite clear upon our parting of ways.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Cedric grinned. “Frankly, I think she is in love with you but is too stubborn to admit it.”
Shocked at Cedric’s declaration, Albert would not believe Charlotte held any affection for him. Nevertheless, it sparked a small flame of hope that underneath her denial she had grown to like him after all.
“Oh dear Lord, what a mess this has turned into,” Lord Grafton announced. He set his hand on Cedric’s shoulder and opened the palm of his other. “Please return to me the money I wagered on this fiasco. Obviously, your ploy has miserably failed.”
