Chapter Thirteen
Wolcott House
Hanover Square
It had been two days since that memorable coupling in William’s bed. Something had changed between them. Nay, everything had changed, but neither of them had brought those feelings into words.
No matter, there was plenty of time to think about that.
For the past two days, he’d taken meetings with various businessmen and friends while she had met with a modiste the Duchess of Scarborough had sent over.
There had also been meetings with the housekeeper as well as the cook regarding the upcoming midsummer ball.
Currently, she ensconced herself in the earl’s library, making further inroads into cataloging the books. In the next day or so, she would be able to reshelve them into their new collections or even group some of the older volumes into esthetically pleasing rows.
Between doing that, she’d been reading more passages in the scandalous book when she should have been concentrating on the earl’s library.
Mrs. Sherrington certainly was no fan of the earl out of bed.
In fact, from all Charlotte could tell from the long passages in the book, she was only with him for what he could give to her, and she was angling for that large diamond in his signet ring because it would fetch a fortune.
She wished to purchase property in Rome, and no doubt she meant to sell the stone to do just that.
…W is a fool most of the time. He wishes to pour the bulk of his money into modernizing his properties, to make changes to farming and cattle that might bring more income, but there are no guarantees on that…
Horrid woman, truly. Charlotte turned a page.
Apparently, when she was let go as his mistress, she was furious, but then comforted herself in the conviction that his bad luck would pry him from this mortal coil early.
She shook her head. The woman didn’t deserve the earl.
He might not be perfect according to society’s standards—neither was she—but she was coming to care for him despite how their engagement came about.
When the housekeeper came into the room unexpectedly, Charlotte startled. “Oh, Mrs. Monroe. I wasn’t expecting you.” She closed the book then rested another volume on top of it. “Please, come in. I don’t mind the interruption and need to stretch my limbs anyway.”
“Thank you, Miss Primrose.” The matronly woman bustled into the library with a couple of decorative pillows in her arms. “I wanted to refresh the pillows on two of the chairs in any event.” As she did just that and took up the old ones, she glanced at Charlotte.
“How do you fare today?” Amusement danced in the housekeeper’s brown eyes, which made her wonder.
“Well enough.” Dear heavens, did the servants know what she and William had done two days ago? Of course they did. Servants knew everything. “In the midst of organizing His Lordship’s library. Some of the shelves were quite a mess.”
“I can well imagine. He enjoys reading and is always bringing new books into the house, but then they end up in stacks all over.” A chuckle escaped her. “It’s a bit endearing.”
That prompted Charlotte to grin. “Sounds like it.” A perfect man, and one who would never take exception to how much she liked to read as well. “Would you be willing to tell me a little about him? He’s been remarkably closed-mouthed about his history.”
“Let us start with his annual midsummer ball, hmm?” Mrs. Monroe moved to a chair near the table where Charlotte had been working. She perched on the edge as Charlotte took the matching leather chair. “He has been holding this ball since he took the title.”
“Why?”
“His Lordship had just come out of a failed relationship. He wanted to make his mark on society, and he wanted to be scandalous about it.”
Charlotte’s eyebrows rose. “So then the ball was more than just dancing and indulging in finger foods and champagne?”
“You are sweet, Miss Primrose, and a breath of fresh air, I’ll give you that.
” The housekeeper brushed lint off one of the decorative pillows she held.
“Yes, more than that. The years when it was a masquerade were full of half-clothed men and women. The years when the guests weren’t in costume, it was just as bad. We were all so embarrassed.”
“Dear heavens.” Slowly, Charlotte pushed her spectacles back onto the bridge of her nose. “Well, we’re not doing that anymore. This year the ball will be nothing except respectable.”
Mrs. Monroe nodded. “And the costumes?”
She shrugged. “He can have his masquerade, but I want the butler and footmen to turn anyone away who is wearing something distasteful.” This was how she could at least try to help his reputation and thereby her own.
“No scandalous clothing or behavior. I want Wolcott’s name elevated in society, not bashed.
He should have the respect he deserves, for he is making an effort. ”
“Agreed. He is indeed.” A half-smile lifted a corner of the housekeeper’s lips. “And the food? We have already discussed menus but…”
She nodded. “Finger food is fine—there are some tarts I particularly like—and since he doesn’t have a ballroom, such foods will work splendidly.
And the house is medium sized, that means I won’t allow precious space to be set aside as card rooms. The billiards room can be utilized, but I’d like the men to mingle with the women. ”
“Lovely thought.” Mrs. Monroe smiled as she hugged the pillows to her chest. “I believe you are the person to sort the earl.”
“Oh, I don’t know…”
“His Lordship is a good man deep down. He’s just worried his bad luck will overtake him before he has a chance to make a difference or even have a family.”
Did he wish for one? When they spoke about children the other day, his answers weren’t exactly definitive.
“Do you think that he’s truly weighed down by misfortune?
” Knots of worry pulled in her belly. If they worked through the engagement, would he go on to marry her, or would he assume his ill-fortune would cut that short and therefore he wouldn’t wish to do it?
“That is difficult to say, but I fear it’s merely an excuse.”
Charlotte nodded. “Yet his family history says otherwise?”
“That was their fate, not his, Miss Primrose. His relatives were reckless, and sometimes bad things do happen to good people.” She blew out a breath. “A man can’t let something that may or may not happen dictate how he goes forward into his future.”
Good advice, if only he would follow it. Something else gnawed at her mind, though. “Do you think he’ll be faithful to me? From what I understand, he’s quite fond of women.”
The housekeeper clucked like a contented hen. “Only because he’s had nothing else in his life to anchor him. Also, he had his heart broken years ago by a woman who told him to his face that she preferred another man to him. He’s trying to mitigate that pain.”
By chasing anything in skirts? That was an interesting way of clearing that from one’s psyche. But then, everyone was different. She’d buried herself in books to stave off the pain that the world had given her. “Will he ever allow himself to love again?” Did that make her sound too desperate?
“I couldn’t say, Miss Primrose, but if anyone could make him break his own rule, it’s you.” She offered another grin. “The servants have been ablaze with gossip about the two of you.”
Heat seeped into Charlotte’s cheeks. “I’m sure. It’s been an interesting week or so.”
“I didn’t mean anything derogatory about it, miss.” She clucked again. “The staff here like you. They have said you’re so polite to them all and treat them as if they matter.”
“Well, they do. Everyone does. I learned that from William. Er, I mean His Lordship.”
They both smiled.
“As I said before, the earl is a good man. The servants were afraid when he took someone to wife, they wouldn’t care for her. This is strictly based off his last mistress. She was a vile woman, and no one liked her.”
“Oh?” Charlotte’s eyebrows went up.
“Indeed.” The housekeeper nodded. “Shallow. Materialistic. Shrill. Social climber. Had a habit of tapping her fingernails on hard surfaces.”
Interesting tidbit about the woman. “What did she want out of a life with him?”
“I couldn’t say.” The other woman shrugged.
“I hope she’s well and truly out of his life.
When that woman was with him, he was beaten down regardless of getting his rocks off.
They didn’t complement each other, and she couldn’t stand his penchant for reading, or any of his other hobbies.
She lusted after that diamond in his ring, and when he gave gifts that weren’t that, she was livid. ”
Charlotte frowned and made a sound of disappointment. “That is truly sad.”
“I quite agree. I never trusted her.”
“From all I’ve read, I don’t trust her either.” How close had William come to being murdered? “I am just glad he sent her packing when he did. The earl deserves more than her.” A wave of protectiveness rose in her chest. “I don’t know him well, but I feel he has such potential.”
“He does, Miss Primrose. He’ll manage to rise to the occasion if he should need to, I’ll wager.” Then Mrs. Monroe heaved to her feet. “I must return to my duties.”
“Thank you for the conversation. I appreciate it.”
The housekeeper nodded. “I’m looking forward to the ball, miss.”
“Oddly, so am I.” Once the other woman left, Charlotte returned to work on a stack of books still waiting on being categorized.
An hour later, the earl entered the room. Clearly, his meeting must have concluded.
“Hullo, Miss Primrose,” he said in a soft voice as he just as gently closed the door behind him. “Your father sends his regards.” The baritone of his voice sent tingles twisting down her spine.
“What?” Heat went through her cheeks, for he stared at her with wicked promise in his eyes. “Your meeting this afternoon was with my father?”
“One of them, yes.”
She frowned. “Why?”