Chapter Two
Charlotte Finch sat at her vanity, the afternoon light filtering through the curtains as she brushed her hair, her mind restless.
It had been a few days since the ball, but already the whispers of society were hard to escape.
At finishing school, she had been used to being the center of attention, but here in London, the focus seemed to be elsewhere.
She reached for the latest edition of The Daily Regency Gazette that had been left on her desk. With a sigh, she began to skim the headlines, her fingers brushing over the paper as she read aloud:
"Mysterious Visit: P. B. Calls Upon the Earl of Blackwell – Is a Match in the Works?"
Charlotte's lips curled into a tight smile. Philip had promised this dance to Lady Sophia Marlow, and now this? It was no surprise—Sophia was sweet and pretty, but she was the daughter of an Earl, not a Duke. What could she offer that Charlotte could not?
Her gaze turned to the next headline:
"A Walk in the Park: D. W. and Lady A. B. Stir Speculation"
Charlotte's grip on the paper tightened, her chest constricting with irritation.
D. W.? She didn't need to see the full name to know who it was.
Jasper Finch. The Duke of Winterset. And Lady Abigail Browning.
The girl who had always been too perfect, too dainty.
Always on her best behavior. Always in Charlotte's shadow.
The last line of the article taunted her: "Society remains intrigued by the growing closeness between the two.
" Charlotte's hand trembled as she dropped the paper, her face flushed with frustration.
She had seen them together. She knew exactly what the world was thinking. And she didn't like it one bit.
Her eyes narrowed as she recalled the image of Abigail's soft curls and wide doe eyes.
Abigail, with her delicate beauty and quiet grace.
She could already picture her walking arm in arm with Jasper as his Duchess, everyone looking on in admiration.
Meanwhile, Charlotte... well, she was just the Duke's sister.
Charlotte forced herself to breathe, her mind racing. This was nothing more than idle speculation. Jasper wasn't interested in Abigail. He couldn't be. There was no way that quiet, dull Abigail was being seriously courted by a Duke when she had had no callers.
Yet, there the rumors were, plastered in the very paper she held in her hands. The Daily Regency Gazette had never shied away from making a spectacle out of the most trivial details of society. She threw the paper down onto the vanity with a huff.
Philip's interest in Sophia was ruining her plans.
"Let's see how long this lasts," Charlotte muttered, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
She had a plan—one that would ensure her place at the top of the ton, just where she belonged.
She sighed, brushing a loose curl behind her ear as she tried to focus on something, anything, other than the gossip swirling around her.
Just then, the sound of a soft knock on her door broke her thoughts.
"Charlotte, are you well?" her brother Jasper's voice called from the hallway.
She paused for a moment before responding, turning to face the door with a slight frown.
"Quite well, Jasper," she replied, her voice a bit too sweet. She was certain he wouldn't miss the hint of weariness in her tone, but she wasn't about to tell him the truth. Not yet.
The door creaked open, and Jasper's tall figure filled the doorway.
He was already dressed for the ball, his dark-blue coat fitted to perfection, his blond hair neatly combed, his blue eyes scanning her face with the kind of care only a brother would offer.
At twenty-eight, he was every bit the powerful Duke he had recently become, but there was still the softness of affection in his gaze as he leaned against the doorframe.
"You're sulking," he observed, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "What's troubling you?"
Charlotte turned away, not wanting him to see the way her fingers clenched at the paper. "I'm not sulking," she replied quickly, her voice cool. "It's just that..." She trailed off, trying to gather her thoughts.
"There's just no gentleman who's caught your fancy, then?" Jasper guessed, his tone teasing but gentle.
Charlotte paused, her lips twisting into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Perhaps. The gentlemen at the ball were.
.. fine, but none seemed to quite fit." She turned her gaze to the mirror, her reflection offering no answers.
"But the season has just begun. There's another ball tonight, isn't there?
I'm sure I'll find someone who suits my tastes there. "
Jasper raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "So, you'll wait for the next event hoping to find your match?" he asked, his voice laced with an amused edge.
Charlotte nodded, though her heart wasn't in it.
She wasn't really sure who she was waiting for anymore.
She'd expected Philip to realize he was madly in love with her when he saw her at her debutante ball, that he would demand to court her right after and make all the effort she'd made for her debut season feel worth it.
But instead, all she felt was disappointment and frustration.
Philip obviously was playing hard to get.
But she was a Duke's sister, after all. And that meant that she should be able to snare the gentleman that met her fancy.
"Well," Jasper said, straightening up, "I believe that tonight's ball will be quite exciting.
I've asked Lady Abigail Browning to accompany me as my guest. She's quite excited about it.
" He then quietly added, "I know Abigail has been your friend since childhood, but I hope that my courting her does not make you feel uncomfortable.
You must understand that my intentions with her are quite serious. "
Charlotte's eyes flickered toward her brother. "Abigail?" Her voice softened, though there was something almost tight in her chest. "I see."
"Yes." Jasper continued, seemingly unaware of her sudden shift in mood. "And Philip Browning will be there with Lady Sophia Marlow, I hear."
Charlotte's heart gave an unexpected jolt at the mention of Philip. She forced herself to look casual, though the thought of him attending the ball with Lady Sophia Marlow made her feel distinctly uncomfortable.
"Lady Sophia, yes," Charlotte murmured, "I'm sure they'll look lovely together." She caught herself before her tone became too sharp.
Jasper, who hadn't missed her quick change in expression, narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing. "Well, then," he said, his voice easy. "I shall leave you to prepare, sister. But remember, you are the catch of the season. No need to settle for anyone who doesn't excite you."
Charlotte forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind, Jasper. Don't worry."
As her brother departed, Charlotte turned her gaze back to her reflection, her thoughts swirling.
She would not allow things to remain as they were.
With Abigail's delicate beauty and quiet grace now drawing Jasper's attention, and Lady Sophia capturing Philip's focus, Charlotte found herself left in the shadows.
But surely she could still catch Philip's attention.
After all, she had known him since childhood and had fancied him for as long as she could remember.
She wasn't about to be overlooked. Not when she was the Duke's sister.
There had to be a way to capture Philip's attention—she simply would not consider any suitor other than him.
Tonight's ball would be her opportunity to turn the tide, to reclaim her place at the top of the ton—whatever it took.