Chapter Thirteen #2
She still could not make sense of his behaviour when he had left the room.
He was the one who had proposed the agreement, not her.
But he had acted as if she had offended him.
That must have been why he was so suddenly changed.
But she could not make herself understand.
Still, his words had stung and made her feel embarrassed about their kiss—his intention, she supposed.
But why would he want her to feel embarrassed? He had kissed her! She shook her head, giving up on rationalisation, still more fatigued and dazed than she would have liked to be able to devote proper thought to it. God save her from men and their mercurial moods and reckless whims.
“Do you want to wear the sling?” Lizzy had expertly changed her bandages and tied Charlotte into a high-necked dress that effectively covered the gauze.
“No,” Charlotte replied immediately. Her shoulder did not hurt too much, and if she did not move it, there was no cause for worry. She would not injure it further by going downstairs. She did not want to have to explain herself to her brother and Lord Deering.
Although she had been here for days. Did they know that?
How had they found out she was here anyway?
What excuse would possibly negate the fact that she had spent seven days and nights in the private rooms of a bachelor?
Private rooms attached to the most notorious gaming hell in London!
And a bachelor who was just as notorious.
She had to put her head in her good hand for a moment to let the swirl of frenzied thoughts subside. “What am I going to say, Lizzy?”
“I think I can help with that.” A low voice came from the door, and Lizzy bobbed a deep curtsy while Charlotte turned over her shoulder to see the Duke of Wells standing in the doorway again.
“Apologies for the intrusion. I just came up to fetch you. Scarsdale has abandoned you then?” He clearly knew the answer to that question, but Charlotte found herself wincing at the comment.
“No apologies needed, Your Grace. I am sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Please call me Wells. Most beautiful women I meet do.” It was an absurd thing to say, and Charlotte almost rolled her eyes at the flirtation.
Somehow, she knew he was not sincere. Not because she was below his notice—though she was the spinster sister of a nearly ruined earl and had no aspirations to become a duchess—but because she had seen the bond of genuine friendship between him and Benjamin.
And she knew that there was too much respect between the two of them for Wells to try anything with her.
It was a strange position to be in, and she was not sure what to do with the unprecedented familiarity.
And certainly not sure what to do with the implied proprietary nature of her relationship with Benjamin Scarsdale—if one could even call it that.
Did she want to call it that?
“But I could not help but overhear your issue. I assume you are trying to find a way to conceal the fact that you have been in Scarsdale’s room unchaperoned for nearly a week?”
Charlotte nodded, eager to hear any solution.
“Well, it may help to know, your brother was only notified of your condition earlier this morning. He has not been to your townhouse in that time, and unless someone here has been talking—which I doubt very much—then there is no way for him to know that you have been here for more than a matter of hours. Though—” He eyed the strip of cotton in Lizzy’s hand.
“He was informed that you had taken ill, so maybe play that up.”
“Sling it is then, my lady.” Lizzy looked smug as she gingerly tied Charlotte’s arm up in the cotton wrap.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Why, of course. We do not want any more duels on our hands, now do we?” He winked, and Charlotte laughed out loud. It was a strange relief to know there were at least a few people from whom she did not have to hide the truth of her injury.
Downstairs, Lizzy showed her to Benjamin’s office, where Wells stood with her brother.
Deering was nowhere in sight, and Charlotte experienced a moment of dizzying relief before she noticed Freddie was pacing in front of the desk.
He looked agitated and sleep deprived. There were rings around his eyes, and his face was somehow red and sallow at the same time.
He looked worse than the last time she had seen him.
When he saw Charlotte enter the room, he shot towards her. “Charlotte! What in the world have they done to you?”
“Careful, Lord Elford. I would not go throwing accusations around like that.” Wells’ cultured voice easily crossed the room to meet them at the door.
Freddie looked visibly intimidated and faltered a step back.
“Lady Charlotte was out for a walk in the park this morning and tripped over a root. Mr. Scarsdale and I were riding in the vicinity and escorted her here for medical treatment. The doctor suspects she only sprained her shoulder, and she should be on the mend in no time.” Charlotte was relieved at his smooth explanation.
She was not sure she could have convinced her brother of their lie.
Freddie’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Scarsdale. “Lord Deering seemed to think Scarsdale had been keeping Charlotte here for inappropriate reasons.” He blushed at the accusation and glanced uncertainly at the duke.
“Why would Lord Deering say something so maligning about your sister’s character, I wonder? Surely you are mistaken.” Wells’ tone was steely, and Frederick shuffled his feet.
“Oh yes. I must have mistaken him. You see, he was the one who brought me the letter at—” he broke off, “—my club,” he finished vaguely. “Yes, I must have mistaken him in the din.”
Charlotte closed her eyes. What was Freddie doing at “his club” at nine in the morning? Did he not see the reprieve he had been granted for what it was—an unheard-of opportunity to change his ways?
More concerning was Lord Deering. He clearly knew she had not been at home for the past few days.
Had he been watching the house? The thought sent chills down her spine.
Even now she could see his gaze in her mind’s eye.
Those beady, appraising eyes that shone like a viper’s despite the low light of the Aston study.
Still, he would not be able to refute this claim to Freddie because that would expose him as well.
“Well then. We thank you and Mr. Scarsdale for your invaluable service to my sister.” Charlotte was not sure who he meant by we.
Was he referring to himself and Charlotte or to himself and Deering?
She was worried it was the latter. It seemed, for some reason or another, Freddie had thrown his lot in with Lord Deering.
“Charlotte, shall I escort you home?” Freddie was holding out his arm and, unsure of what to do, she took it.
The idea of leaving Elysium was suddenly horribly daunting. She had not realised it until this point, but this was the first place in ages where she did not feel like the fate of the world rested solely on her shoulders.
But of course, she had to leave. She did not belong here, and she could not rely on others to resolve her family’s problems. That was up to her.