Chapter 24
Charlotte’s heart pounded as she steeled herself to ask yet another important question. She knew that what she was about to do would be considered scandalous by many, but she didn’t care. Her feelings for Henry were unchanged by this news, however unwelcome it might be.
“Henry,” she said carefully, watching him. “Is this truly the only reason you refuse to marry me? Your illegitimacy?”
Henry’s gaze flickered to hers. His shoulders tensed as though bracing for something. “Yes,” he admitted. “It is the only reason. I care for you deeply, Charlotte.” He glanced at William as though to check whether his friend would be angered by his declaration.
Charlotte fought to contain her smile. Now was not the time for it, no matter how long she’d waited to hear those words. “So if not for this… if there was no risk…” She hesitated, her pulse thrumming in her ears. “We would be married?”
William let out a strangled noise beside her. “Don’t mind me. I’m only her brother. Why, I adore listening to you two fawn over each other.”
Charlotte’s mouth twisted in amusement, but she ignored him. Her focus was entirely on Henry.
He nodded, his eyes burning into hers. “I adore you. More than I should. More than is safe.” He swallowed.
“You are intelligent, kind, far too good for me, and the most beautiful woman I have ever known. If not for this cursed situation, I would marry you in a heartbeat.” His voice dropped lower, rough with emotion.
“I would be proud to call you my duchess.”
Charlotte’s breath hitched. For one perfect, stolen moment, she allowed herself to revel in his words. And then she straightened her spine and raised her chin.
“Then that settles it,” she said firmly. “I will take the risk.”
“What?” William and Henry both asked at once.
She met Henry’s stunned expression with unwavering determination. “I love you. I am not afraid of this. If you will have me, I will marry you.”
William shot to his feet. “Absolutely not. Have you lost your mind? This isn’t some reckless adventure. This is your life. You can’t throw yourself into possible disgrace like this.”
She narrowed her eyes at her brother. “It is my life, indeed. Not yours. Not anyone else’s to control. I choose this. I choose Henry.”
Henry looked stunned. “I would not have you suffer because of my family’s wrongdoing.”
“And I say once again, it is my life and my choice.” Charlotte met each of their gazes in turn, her expression calm. She had never felt so sure of anything in her entire life. “I am prepared to take the risk.”
“The risk is too high!” William protested. “If this gets out, you’ll be ruined, both of you! I don’t wish to lose either of you over this madness.”
Charlotte glared at her brother. Must he still insist on controlling her future, even now? “It is my risk to take.”
William ran a hand down his face, visibly torn. “You need my approval to marry.”
Charlotte pursed her lips. “We could elope.”
Both Henry and William gaped at her. Henry looked utterly shocked but also oddly proud, while her brother was simply horrified.
“You wouldn’t,” William hissed.
Charlotte crossed her arms. “I highly doubt Henry would, given that you’re his best friend. But if I must, I will find a way.”
“You will not,” William insisted, looking to be at the end of his tether now.
Charlotte glared at him, refusing to back down.
Henry stepped between them, a hand raised for peace. “Enough,” he said firmly. His entire body was tense. “Charlotte, you can’t take this risk. I won’t allow it.”
Her heart clenched at his words. “You said you wished to marry me.”
“Yes,” he agreed, his voice quieter now. “But I cannot put you in danger. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you because of me.”
Her throat burned, and she fought with everything she had to stand strong. “Nothing has happened to you so far. This secret has stayed buried for decades.”
Henry grimaced. “And yet, someone else here knows. Someone who could destroy us.”
William jerked his chin up. “Which means we cannot simply ignore the blackmailer and hope that they go away. They could destroy you.”
Charlotte took a deep breath. “Then the answer is simple,” she said, looking between them. “We find out who they are and make them stop.”
Henry and William both looked at her as though she’d suggested they sprout wings and fly.
“Stop?” William repeated dryly. “What will make them do that? Do you think we should just ask them nicely?”
Charlotte ignored his barb, looking to the duke instead. “What do they want, Henry? Money?”
Henry let out a long breath. “I assume so. Although, as they have not simply said so, I fear there may be more at stake.”
Charlotte thought for a minute. “Then we offer them money. Whatever other game they are playing, surely a generous enough offer will entice them to give it up. The dukedom has the funds, doesn’t it?”
Henry’s jaw worked as if he wanted to argue, but after a beat, he sighed. “The dukedom can afford to pay.”
William still looked incredulous. “And if they don’t take the money?”
Charlotte hesitated, glancing at Henry. “Then we find out what else they want. An offer of money could draw them out.”
Henry gave her a long, searching look. “This is dangerous.”
Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “So is living a life of regret.”
A heavy silence settled over the room. Henry dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
William looked like he wanted to shake them both. “Please do not let her do this.”
Henry made one more attempt to dissuade her.
“Even if you are willing to take the risk, and we find the blackmailer and pay them, are you also willing to risk any children we may have? Because they would be burdened with the same danger. It’s unlikely that the truth would come out, but if it did, they could lose everything.
Their place in society, their security, their future. ”
Charlotte didn’t even blink. Her voice was calm, steady.
“Obviously, we wouldn’t have children until the blackmailer is identified and dealt with.
Then, we would give it time and wait to see if they went away before moving forward.
It would be a risk, but a relatively slim one, and eventually, anyone who knows the truth will die.
Secrets don’t last forever, but neither do the people who keep them.
When they’re gone, there will be no one left to tell. ”
He stared at her as though seeing her for the first time. He shook his head slightly, as if trying to clear it. “I can’t believe you’re willing to do this… to make this sacrifice. For me.”
“Neither can I,” William said sharply before Charlotte could respond. His arms were folded across his chest, and his expression was thunderous. “You can’t seriously be encouraging this madness, Henry. You’re gambling with your futures. I won’t stand for it.”
“You don’t have to stand for it,” Charlotte replied, her tone clipped. “Once again, it’s not your decision to make.”
William’s jaw tightened. “I’m your brother. I am legally responsible for approving any marriage you make, and once again, I will not approve this. It’s too dangerous.”
Her cheeks flushed. “And what would you have me do? Marry Sir Leonard? Shrink into a quiet corner of society as a spinster, or wait to be foisted upon some ancient peer with gout and three dead wives? If you won’t approve my marriage to the man I love, I shall simply run away. I have some small means.”
Henry’s head came up at that, eyes wide. “Charlotte.”
“Don’t worry,” she said, forcing a brittle smile. “I couldn’t really run off. I know my family wouldn’t let me. But neither will I dance to anyone else’s tune for any longer.”
Charlotte felt as though a dam had burst within her, setting free all of the feelings and frustrations she had repressed over the years.
However precarious her situation, for once she knew she possessed the inner strength to deal with it.
This crisis had leant her a resolve that she had never experienced before.
She and her friends had decided to steer their own futures and she wouldn’t waver now.
Henry began to pace, agitation rolling off him in waves.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said at last, stopping in front of her.
“You don’t understand what this secret means.
I’ve kept it buried for years. We thought we were safe.
Now that we aren’t, we can’t just... pretend there’s no danger. ”
“I’m not pretending anything,” she said softly.
“But you’re frightened because of a ‘maybe.’ A ‘what if.’ And I refuse to let fear make every decision for me.
What I’m suggesting is not recklessness.
It’s a calculated risk. And from where I’m standing, the risk is no greater than continuing to do nothing and hoping the blackmailer loses interest.”
Henry exhaled, long and slow.
William looked between them and then shook his head. “This is insane. You can’t be serious.” But he sounded less angry now. Charlotte knew her brother, and he was weakening.
“I am completely serious,” she said. “But no one needs to decide anything tonight. Henry, I know this is a lot for you to decide. I’m not asking for an immediate answer. Just that you consider it. And that we all start strategizing how to find out who this blackmailer is.”
There was a long silence.
Then, Henry gave a tight nod. “I’ll consider it.”
They both looked at William.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this to either of you,” he grumbled. “But yes, I’ll think about it.”
Charlotte stood up, sensing the edge of her courage had been reached. Any more, and she might begin to cry again. “Good night, William. Henry.”
She felt their eyes on her as she walked sedately to the door. She slipped out of the library and walked as calmly as she could through the corridor until she reached Felicity’s room.
When she knocked, it opened almost immediately to reveal all five of her friends already gathered inside as though they had been expecting her. She had no doubt that they were on tenterhooks for her news.
“Well?” Adeline asked, not even giving her a chance to enter. She tugged her in and shut the door before hurrying back to her seat.
“Tell us everything,” Genevieve said, leaning toward her.
Five pairs of eyes stared at her in anticipation.
Charlotte shook her head. “Not everything, I’m afraid. I gave my word to the duke that I wouldn’t speak of certain things.”
That sobered them slightly, and they gave her a moment to sit down and compose herself. Felicity passed her a glass of water and Miranda sat beside her.
“Will he marry you?” Helena asked, as ever the most forward of the bunch.
Charlotte looked down at her hands. “I don’t yet know. He tried to say he couldn’t… but also said that he wants to and that he cares deeply for me.” She felt herself flushing. “He said he would like nothing more than to make me his duchess.”
A collective gasp went around the room.
“I knew it,” Miranda said smugly. “It was the only logical conclusion to be drawn.”
Felicity rolled her eyes at her scientifically minded friend, but in a way that showed her fondness.
“Then what’s stopping him?” Helena asked. “This secret? What is it?”
Charlotte gave her a look. “Well, that’s obviously one of the things I can’t talk to you all about.”
They all groaned, but none of them pressed for details. They were good friends. It was one of the reasons Charlotte loved them.
“Is the secret… one that prevents your marriage?” Felicity asked tactfully.
Charlotte sighed. “I don’t believe it should, no. But my brother and Henry himself do not agree. In truth… it could cause problems, even societal disgrace. I can say no more.”
“Yet you still want to marry him?” Felicity asked quietly. “In spite of… whatever it is?”
Charlotte smiled as she remembered Henry’s declaration of love for her. Love. “Yes.”
“Then we’ll just have to make it happen,” Helena said firmly.
All present nodded, their expressions determined. Charlotte’s smile grew. It helped, being with them. It always did. She knew she would have their unwavering support… even if the Arundel secret came to life.
She returned to her bedchamber early, having decided to forego dinner. She was exhausted and needed time to be alone and process the events of the day. Her maid helped her undress in silence.
Once her hair had been brushed, Charlotte climbed into bed with a sigh. She didn’t even reach for a book. A deep night’s sleep was needed before she had to face Henry’s decision in the morning.
Then she saw it. A single folded note resting on her pillow. Her stomach twisted as she picked it up.
The handwriting was unfamiliar, and the message was short. Charlotte sat frozen, the note trembling in her hands as she stared at the words written there.
If you value your future, stay away from Lord Arundel.