Chapter 47
Charlotte and Wolfgang roared around London for the next two weeks, setting the city ablaze with speculation. The queen had lifted her edict, but was Lady Charlotte to be married after all? And if so—when?
“What is taking the duke so long to make an offer?” the dowager said one afternoon at tea, not long before the man in question was set to arrive.
Charlotte’s mouth curved. “Wolfgang says he wants to court me properly. Of course, I told him I’d rather be courted improperly, but—”
“Charlotte! You’ll make me quite impatient. I can see you’re both deliriously happy, but I’d like a wedding now, please, before I’m laid into the grave.”
A noise in the hall caught Charlotte’s attention, but it wasn’t Wolfgang who stepped into the room. Instead it was a couple, dressed in traveling clothes and wearing matching grins.
Gran’s hand flew to her chest. “Julian? Anna? Oh, my darlings.”
She burst into tears and tried to push herself to her feet, but was so overcome she was quite unable to stand. Julian crossed the room to her and knelt by her chair so Gran could take his face gently in her hands.
“How I’ve missed you, my boy,” said the dowager.
“Anna!” Charlotte launched herself at her friend with such force that the two young women nearly tumbled to the floor. “You’re home!”
Anna hugged her tight. “We started back the second we received your letter, but the travel took us ages. Are you all right? Is everything settled with your mother, and the queen? So much news greeted us when we arrived in Dover, though we couldn’t be sure what was rumor and what was truth.”
“Everything’s wonderful, and even more so now,” said Charlotte.
Anna grinned. “Your brother’s going to be miffed—he was quite looking forward to rushing to the rescue, but I told him it’s even better if you managed to rescue yourself. I have so many questions! And so much to tell you.”
Charlotte gave Anna one more squeeze before racing across the room to throw herself at Julian, then racing back to Anna.
There was so much treasure in one room she could hardly contain herself, but eventually the two young women plonked themselves on the nearest settee and started in.
Charlotte itched to drag Anna up to her room and dig into the good stuff, but she also couldn’t bear to tear herself away from Julian so soon, and—dash it, where was Wolfgang?
She glowed at the thought of all her favorite people under the same roof.
Tea didn’t seem adequate to the moment, so Charlotte rang for champagne, and something about how the cork shot off the bottle reminded Anna of one of the mares she’d brought home and also a new type of saddle she’d tried, and—
“Charlotte? Charlotte, are you paying attention?”
“Not in the least. I’m sorry—I’m so delighted to have you here that I can’t begin to concentrate on saddles. Also, I was wondering where Wolf—I’m expecting the Duke of Warrick any minute.”
Anna had a small mouth, but a big smile. “You’re calling him Wolfgang, are you? Julian’s going to be insufferable.”
Charlotte frowned. “Why?”
“Why do you suppose he asked Warrick to watch over you?”
“Are you telling me…” Charlotte paused, took a breath, and reminded herself that she adored Anna.
She did not, in fact, want to murder her.
“Are you telling me that Julian asked Wolfgang to look after me because he wanted to matchmake? What a rotten trick! And how could you allow it? You’re meant to be my closest friend! ”
“I am your closest friend, but how I laugh when people say, Oh, married to your friend’s brother, what a dream!
with no notion of the awkward positions you two put me in.
How am I meant to keep your secrets straight?
I’m not a diplomat, nor am I a martyr—I’ve no desire to throw myself between you.
” She hunched her shoulders and worked up a fierce glare, although soon enough humor crept in. “Also, I rather agreed with him.”
“Why you… you…” Charlotte whacked Anna with a pillow.
“You deserved it!” Anna cried. “You meddled terribly in my courtship!”
“Someone had to.”
“Well, that’s how Julian and I felt. And did we do well?”
They’d started out speaking softly and now they were shouting, and they only stopped at the sound of a laugh by the door. “Shall I come back after the brawl?” said Wolfgang.
Charlotte leaped to her feet and joined him at the door. “No, you’re needed now.”
Julian took in the sight of his sister standing hand in hand with his best friend and he coughed once, his voice uncharacteristically thick. “Come in, Warrick. It seems we have much to discuss, or perhaps there’s a question you wish to ask me?”
“You men can settle the formalities later,” said the dowager. “The duke has a question he wants to ask Charlotte, and I, for one, am tired of waiting. Warrick, take her out to the garden and don’t return until you’re betrothed. Do you hear me?”
“Quite clearly, my lady, yet as much as I value your opinion, there’s another that means even more to me.” Wolfgang bowed to the dowager and turned to Charlotte. “Are you ready to walk with me in the garden, my Charlotte?”
Charlotte’s throat closed up but she felt bright as a star as she nodded.
When they were standing in front of the wild, waving profusion of Gran’s hollyhocks, Wolfgang scooped her up into his arms, holding her so high that she looked down at him.
She gave a shout of laughter and clutched his shoulders, which only encouraged him to lift her higher. “My God, the view from up here!” she cried. “I feel like a queen. Is this what it’s like to be tall as an Alp? Do you walk around wondering if the altitude will put frost in your hair?”
“I walk around wondering why the rest of the world is undersize, though these past few weeks, I admit to an extra swagger.”
Charlotte grinned. “I’ve been completely insufferable lately and it’s all your fault. Do you know, I believe this summer was meant to diminish me, and yet I feel entirely emboldened?”
“I hope our marriage settlement emboldens you further—I’ve consulted my lawyers and it took considerable effort, but I believe we’ve found a way to make sure the silk mill remains your own.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned down to nip his ear. “Strangely, I’m not thinking of silk at this particular moment. Was there a question you wished to ask me?”
Something fierce came over his face and Charlotte quivered.
“Charlotte Louisa Aveton, you’re the love of my life and the bane of my existence. Will you agree to torment me for the rest of my days?”
“Good Lord! I am to be a duchess! You must learn to speak to me with proper respect.”
“You’re tormenting me already, I see. We’re not officially betrothed until you say yes.”
She considered. “Is it official if I say ‘bedchamber’?”
“If I say ‘bedchamber’ in front of your gran, it will be official before either of us can blink.”
She laughed. “Are you threatening me? What sort of marriage is this?”
Wolfgang settled her lower in his arms so they were eye to eye, and his kiss felt like a promise. “Our marriage will be a long, long, happy one.”
Charlotte leaned back, closed her eyes, and tilted her face up to the sun. “In that case, Wolfgang, yes.”