Chapter Twenty
This was Con and Charlotte’s second waltz of the evening. Some of the other guests slid looks at them telling Con they were the subject of speculation and gossip. He had done his utmost to ensure the ton knew Charlotte was his. All that was needed was a formal announcement.
Most importantly, Charlotte was finally beginning to soften in his arms, slowly trust him like a nervous filly. He was now certain he would have her as his wife. He’d have to make sure he brought her along gradually, something he’d never had to do with a female before. All his women had been experienced.
He cringed at the thought of Aimée. How many of his other mistresses had been forced into the same life and pretended to like it? Not all of them, he supposed, but too many.
Merton had mentioned the charities he and his wife had established for ladies and other women and children who had been preyed upon by brothel owners and procurers. According to Worthington, Charlotte already contributed far more of her pin money to those causes than she should.
That, Con was discovering, was exactly what he would expect from her. He would take up the cause as well. It would give them one more thing in common, and it was the honorable choice.
He gave her a reassuring smile and tightened his hold on her waist. She wasn’t at all sure about his courting her, but she was giving him a chance to redeem himself in her eyes. And he had been doing his best.
A strange flutter caused his chest to tighten, and he knew his earlier possessiveness would last the rest of his life, as would his desire to protect her.
“You look very severe all of a sudden.” She smiled, and the tightness in his chest increased. “What are you thinking about?”
“You. Us.” His voice sounded as if he had not been speaking all evening—or perhaps talking too much.
A crease formed between her brows, marring the smooth beauty of her skin. “Do you wish you had not agreed—”
“No. The furthest thing from it. I wish there was more I could do to make you feel better about my courting you.” One day in the very near future he would have to figure out just what his feelings for her were. Sometime this evening, they had grown beyond merely wanting her to something else. Something deeper. An answer to Lady Worthington’s question the day he took the children for ices.
The corners of her lips tipped up. “It has not all been bad.”
“We do seem to agree on many issues, and enjoy spending time together.” At least he enjoyed being with her.
“Yes, we do.” She said the words slowly, as if she had not thought about it before.
The set ended. She curtseyed, he bowed, and he made a decision. Taking her hand, he placed it on his arm. “Will you come with me?”
A slight look of hesitation formed on her countenance. “To where?”
“Trust me. I will not harm you, or worsen our situation.” Con stilled, praying Charlotte would go with him.
“Very well.” Once again, she seemed to be working out her path as she spoke.
He threaded their way through the crowd to the French windows closest to them. Turning right, they strolled to the end of the terrace, and there, in the shadows where no one could see them, he placed his hands on her small waist. “I want to kiss you. Like we did before.”
She could not know that it had been years since he’d experienced such an innocent kiss. Back then the innocence had been on his part.
Charlotte stared at him, as if she would discover something she didn’t know. Finally, she nodded. “Yes.”
He lowered his head, and their lips touched. He moved his mouth over hers, waiting for her to return the caress, then she placed her hands on his cheeks, raised up, and kissed him back. The purity in her touch almost brought him to his knees.
“Thank you.” Con touched his forehead to hers.
Even in the dark, he could see her blush. “You are welcome.”
He brushed his mouth across hers again. “We should go back now.”
Charlotte hadn’t known what to expect, but she had not expected a kiss as sweet as Kenilworth’s. Once, she had seen Merton kiss Dotty. That kiss had been demanding and full of passion. If Kenilworth had attempted anything like that, Charlotte would have hit him hard and run. Yet now, now that she had felt his lips on hers again and his hands tightening around her waist, she almost looked forward to the other type of kiss.
But not tonight. Not when her comfort with him was still growing and fragile.
Reaching up, she brushed her mouth against his as he’d done to her. “Yes. We should return.”
His body tensed. Even the muscles in his lean face seemed like steel. “You will be the death of me.”
She couldn’t help but grin. “No one has ever said that to me before, my lord.”
Kenilworth groaned, and she laughed lightly.
“I would like it if you called me Con or Constantine.”
She had insisted on being more formal than most betrothed couples only because she was not sure they were truly engaged. Yet now, mayhap, it was time to move forward.
They did have a great deal in common. She had been surprised when he told her that he insisted all his dependents, not just the children, learn the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic. She had heard him talking with Merton about the charities in which he, Dotty, and Charlotte were involved, and he seemed interested in them. Kenilworth was turning out to be a much better man than she had thought possible. And there was the physical connection she had with him that she had not experienced with another gentleman.
She did not know if she was in love, but she would give herself permission to discover what she felt. “Constantine, if you wish. It is a strong name. You may call me Charlotte.”
He drew her gently into his arms and they kissed again. “Charlotte, we must go back now. Before anyone comes looking for us.”
After the next waltz, they joined her family for supper. Matt found a table, and, as usual, he took Constantine and Merton off to select food for the ladies.
Ever since she and Constantine—she really did like his name—had reentered the ballroom, Dotty had been shooting Charlotte questioning looks.
Now her friend leaned close and asked, “Well?”
Her sister was studiously ignoring them as if she did not wish to overhear the conversation. Charlotte held her hand to the side of her mouth just the same and said, “I kissed him.”
Dotty’s smile grew. “And?”
“I liked it. I was very apprehensive at first and almost refused to go outside with him, but he did not attempt to go too far, and—and I liked kissing him.”
“Charlotte, I’m so happy for you.” Dotty’s eyes misted a bit. “I want you to find love, and I think you have, or will do soon.” She blew her nose. “If you have any questions, just ask. Or if anything he does frightens you, tell me.”
“I shall.” Charlotte did not think Constantine would harm her or even scare her, but she was grateful for the offers of aid and advice.
The gentlemen returned and Constantine sat next to her, serving her lobster patties, small mushroom tarts, asparagus wrapped in wafer-thin slices of ham, and ices. This time when he brushed against her, or spoke, his breath caressing her ear, she could allow herself to enjoy the pleasurable sensations he caused, and not run from them.
It was truly amazing what a kiss could do.
* * *
Charlotte woke early the next morning. She had dreamed about more of Constantine’s kisses, even the ones she had not experienced yet.
Her door flew open, and Mary landed on the bed followed by Theo, who’d had the good sense to close the door behind her. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” the girls chorused, scrambling up and hugging Charlotte.
She put her arms around both children. “To what do I owe this visit?”
Mary snuggled tighter. “We hardly see you anymore.”
It was true that Charlotte had been spending much more time away from home.
Theo wrapped her fingers around one of the ribbons on Charlotte’s nightgown. “Matt said that if you were awake and wanted to, we could go to the square and play.”
“Well, I’m awake, so ring the bell pull and as soon as I have washed, dressed, and broken my fast, we will be off to the square.”
“We love you,” the girls cried, smacking kisses on each of her cheeks before jumping off the bed and running out of the room.
“I love you too,” she whispered. When she finally did marry, leaving her brothers and sisters would be the hardest part of her new life.
She was glad that she had not fixed her attentions on Harrington. Being in another part of England would be bad enough. She could never have lived overseas for years.
By the time she arrived in the breakfast room, the children were tucking into their meal.
“Good morning.” The low, now familiar voice took her by surprise. Constantine sat next to Charlotte’s regular place at the table.
“Good morning.” She smiled at him before going to the sideboard. When she brought her plate back, he held out her chair. “I did not expect to see you so early.”
Still, she was happy he was here. All the gentlemen who had recently joined her family had taken breakfast with them.
“Your brother suggested I join you.” After piling his own plate full of food, Constantine returned to the seat next to hers.
The twins and Madeline glanced up, exchanged looks, and giggled.
“At least they are not asking embarrassing questions,” Constantine remarked in a whisper.
“That makes me wonder what they’re planning,” Charlotte shot back.
“Char, did you see the prime goers he has?” Walter asked.
“I did. They have very sweet mouths as well.” She glanced at Constantine. “If you are extremely good, he might show them to you.”
Walter’s and Phillip’s faces lit up. “Oh, would you, sir?”
“Yes, of course. They will be brought around when I leave. You may assess their points then.” Constantine turned his attention back to Charlotte. “I understand there is an outing planned in the square before lessons begin this morning.”
“There is.” She slid him a look. He seemed almost nervous. “Would you like to join us?”
“I’d love to.” He grinned at her before digging into his food.
She began to eat her breakfast also. This morning was going exceedingly well so far. She’d have to thank Matt for inviting Constantine. “Where are Matt and Grace?”
“Inspecting the renovations,” Augusta replied. “I’m not sure they will ever be done.”
“That is what Grace thought about changes she made to this house.” Charlotte glanced at the younger children. “When you’ve finished eating, go get ready for the Park.”
The sounds of chairs being pushed back and children rushing from the room filled the air.
“I hope I’m not being rude when I say that they sound like elephants going up the stairs.”
She placed an elbow on the table and rested her cheek against the palm of her hand. “Have you actually heard elephants?”
“Yes. I was not allowed a Grand Tour, but I was allowed to travel to India for a short time. Although, I spent more time on the passages than in the country.”
“You must tell me about all of it.” She let out a sigh. “I would love to travel.”
“Once Wellington has dealt with the Corsican, Europe will be safe again.”
“So everyone says. My sister Louisa believes Napoleon will give him more trouble than many think he will.”
“I tend to agree.” Constantine blotted his lips with the napkin, reminding Charlotte how his lips felt on hers. “How long do we have before the children arrive?”
“A few minutes. I must fetch my bonnet.”
He walked with her into the corridor. “Before you do.”
Cupping her cheek in his hand, he kissed her. It was every bit as sweet as his kisses had been the night before. She sighed softly. Perhaps soon there would be more.
“I shall be back in a few minutes.” She reached up, drawing her thumb along his bottom lip. He sucked in a breath.
Smiling to herself, she made her way to her bedchamber. Her life finally seemed right. As if everything she wanted—love, a home, and children—might be within reach.