Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
The estate looked less imposing and formidable than it had upon their arrival. It faded into the distance now. The carriage trundled along the road, flanked by woodlands. During their journey toward the estate, Charlotte had been filled with anxiety.
She couldn’t say that things were all that different during the return journey.
Agatha was giving a running commentary about all they had experienced. Edmund had a thoughtful look on his face while Lydia listened intently to Agatha.
Charlotte stared out of the carriage, thinking about what might have been and what never could be.
“Penny for your thoughts, sister?” Edmund asked.
“They are worth more than that,” she replied.
Edmund smirked.
“Are you sure you wish to travel to our northern estate? It sounds awfully boring.”
“It shall be a nice change of pace from recent events. The wedding was a wonderful distraction, but it is time to return to what matters most. But what of you, Edmund? Has the wedding stirred up any feelings, or are you going to fall into the same habits?”
“There’s no reason to change something that works perfectly well.”
Charlotte assumed this was meant to be a joke, but there was something different about Edmund. When he entered the carriage, his smile had fallen, and it was yet to return.
Eventually, everyone fell silent, and Agatha fell asleep. There was a lull in conversation, and each of the siblings was lost in their own thoughts. Occasionally, Charlotte caught Lydia looking at her. It wasn’t the outcome Lydia wanted, but perhaps this would be a good teaching moment for her.
Real life was nothing like her stories. The sooner she realized that, the better off she would be.
Then, out of nowhere, the sound of thunder shattered the silence. Charlotte glanced outside and saw no signs of a storm. The air was crisp and clear.
“Could it be bandits?” Lydia whispered.
“Everyone, remain calm. If it is, they want our belongings, not us,” Edmund said, reaching across to take Lydia’s hand. The carriage stopped abruptly, which shook Agatha awake.
“Oh, are we home already? That was quick,” she said.
“Grandmother, shush,” Edmund said, placing a finger in front of his mouth. A shadow passed outside. Muffled voices could be heard. The door was flung open. Lydia cried in horror, turning her face lest she be forced to look upon the malevolent expression of a bandit.
But it wasn’t a bandit who stood before them.
“Nathaniel?” Charlotte gasped.
His cheeks were rosy. His brow glistened with sweat. He was panting heavily.
His eyes were fixed on her.
“Would you mind stepping out of the carriage, Lady Hartley?” he asked.
His voice was a rasp. Charlotte remained motionless for a few moments before her heart lurched and thrust her into action.
With Edmund’s help, she alighted from the carriage and stood before Nathaniel.
Bastion was behind the carriage, waiting for his master.
Charlotte searched his face for some meaning, but she could not decipher anything.
“Why are you here? Is there something wrong with Mary or with Clara?”
Panic rose in Charlotte’s voice. Edmund, Agatha, and Lydia all adjusted their positions in the carriage to peer outside.
“No, but there is something wrong with me,” he began. “Ever since we met, I have felt unsettled, and the root cause is you. You are ill-mannered, and you seem determined to go against the very definition of a lady.”
Charlotte wasn’t sure what she expected him to say, but it certainly wasn’t this. Indignation flared on her face like a rising flame.
“You came all this way just to tell me this? There is indeed something wrong with you, Your Grace, but I have nothing to do with it. Perhaps you should seek the counsel of a physician.”
“No physician can cure this ailment, Lady Charlotte. Do you realize how infuriating you are? Everything about you… the way you walk, you talk, your laugh… your stubbornness, your need to argue, even the way you compete, it all made me so angry. It made me furious.”
“And why tell me now? Why come all this way? You truly are cruel, Your Grace. The Iron Duke is an ill-fitting moniker. You should be called the Stone Duke on account of your heart.”
“Yes, my heart was stone until recently. Until you.” Nathaniel reached forward and took Charlotte’s hands before she could react. His expression changed, his eyes widening to be beseeching rather than accusing, hopeless rather than arrogant.
“You cracked my heart, Charlotte. You cracked me. Duty was my prison, but you have freed me. All this time, I was angry because I longed to be more like you, to cast away the shackles that bound me, to pursue my own goals and laugh in the face of expectations. But I was never very good at putting myself first.”
“What are you saying?” Charlotte gasped.
“I’m saying that I want to play cribbage with you again.
I want to discuss literature. I want you to tell me how wrong I am about all kinds of things.
I want us to live life together, not apart.
I want to feel alive, the way I do when you are near.
I have never felt emotions as powerful as these, Charlotte. ”
“I…” Charlotte uttered, struggling for words. She stared at Nathaniel, completely overwhelmed by this unexpected declaration. It was everything she wanted, but now she wasn’t sure how to react.
“I thought that duty came before love, but now, I see how hollow that life would have been. I tried to tell you this after the wedding, but you were so adamant that you only cared about your research. It seems that other people think otherwise. I was advised to give you a choice, Charlotte, something that I have not done before.”
He let go of her hands for a moment, but he was still looking directly into her eyes.
Charlotte knew the others were staring at her and Nathaniel, but she could not look away from him.
All kinds of wild thoughts and emotions careened through her mind, and she wasn’t sure her heart was ever going to stop thumping.
“The truth is, I was relieved when Lady Honoria left. But now, the thought of you leaving brings much sorrow to my heart. Especially because you are leaving for the north. If you never return, I could not live with myself. I do not wish to be plagued with regret. You may well reject me, but I need to ask anyway for my own sanity.”
At this, Nathaniel dropped to one knee and looked up at her. Charlotte’s breath rushed out of her.
“Lady Charlotte… Charlotte… will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Charlotte stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. Her heartbeat echoed as a powerful thrum in her mind. The future she envisioned for herself began to crumble away. It had been so strong, so vibrant, but now, it was dull and mundane.
Nathaniel’s eyes were filled with hope. It was a stark contrast to the arrogant sneer he possessed when they first met. He was finally showing the truth of himself to her, but she was not yet ready to let him get away with the insults.
“Say yes,” Lydia whispered, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. Agatha quickly admonished her. The interruption did not shake Charlotte’s composure.
“This confession would have been more heartfelt without the insults,” she replied.
“I do not mean them as insults. They are all positive qualities because they make you who you are. But what is your response to my question? Or are you going to be cruel and force me to wait for a reply? You have the power here, Lady Charlotte. I am at your mercy.”
Charlotte was aware that this was a huge admission from Nathaniel. For a man notorious for displaying no signs of vulnerability, he was practically giving her a knife and offering his throat.
“Before I offer my response, there is a question I need to ask you.” Charlotte managed to keep her voice measured even in the wake of turbulent emotion.
Nathaniel nodded, urging her to ask.
“Are you willing to accept that I am not going to be a typical duchess? I will continue with my research.”
“I am. I want all of you, Charlotte.”
Excitement bubbled in Charlotte’s soul and erupted along with her smile as she gave her answer.
“Yes, I will be your wife, Nathaniel. I will be so many things to you.”
“As long as you are never boring.” He rose to his feet, and a smile adorned his face.
He clasped her hands tightly. A dizzying sensation whirled in her mind.
She could feel herself falling for him. All she wanted was to hold him and be held by him, but she managed to restrain herself in the presence of her family.
And it was her family who brought her back down to earth.
Lydia was the first one to alight from the carriage, practically tumbling out. She had her arms outstretched in a ready embrace and threw herself toward Charlotte.
“I knew it! I knew it!” she cried out.
Charlotte was forced to give a begrudging nod.
“It seems you know me better than I know myself,” Charlotte said.
“The same is true of my family as well,” Nathaniel added with a wry smile. “Even Clara could see what we could not.”
“You have a strange sense of timing, Your Grace. This would have been more straightforward if you had realized this before we left the estate. And I believe there has been a serious breach of etiquette,” Edmund said with a hint of a smile belying his stern words.
Nathaniel returned to his feet and relinquished Charlotte’s hand. He turned to Edmund.
“Of course, Your Grace. I apologize. I would like to request permission to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage,” Nathaniel said stiffly. He lowered his head, but Charlotte could see the glow of embarrassment on his cheeks.
Edmund tapped his finger against his lips.
“Hmm, what an intriguing offer. I shall have to mull it over for a time. This is not a decision that can be taken lightly after all. And I shall have to put you through some rigorous tests, Your Grace, to make sure that you are good enough for my sister.” Edmund pulled his finger from his lips and wagged it in the air.
“Edmund!” Charlotte glared at him. She dug her heels into the ground and looked like she was about to snap his head off.
“Don’t tease them like that, Edmund. We have waited long enough for this day. Do you really want to give Charlotte a chance to change her mind?” Agatha said as she pushed past Edmund and embraced Charlotte.
“There’s not a chance of that, Grandmother, not a single chance,” Charlotte replied, beaming at Nathaniel.
“Perhaps we could all return to the estate and discuss the details of the wedding.” Nathaniel beckoned back down the road with his hand. Lydia squealed with delight as she rushed back into the carriage.
“As long as you have some of that delicious champagne ready.” Edmund grinned and helped Agatha back into the carriage. He then turned to Charlotte with an expectant look on his face.
“Lady Charlotte, I was rather hoping you would ride with me,” Nathaniel said.
Edmund was already in the process of closing the door before Charlotte gave her reply.
Nathaniel escorted her to Bastion and helped her mount the horse. He then sat beside her. Her back was pressed against his chest. His breath drifted through her hair and tickled her cheeks. His long, strong arms wrapped around her as he gripped the reins.
She was completely enveloped in him. A radiant smile adorned her face. Nathaniel cued Bastion, and he broke into a swift gallop. He moved so quickly that the colors of the forest blurred together. But it wasn’t because of this that her heart raced.
That was entirely due to Nathaniel.
This was not the life of her dreams. It was even better than she could have imagined. She leaned back against his chest, ready for the future to arrive.
Ready to live it with him.