Chapter 6
Charlotte sat beside Arabella in the carriage, her gloved hands clasped tightly in her lap as Mulford Manor came into view once more.
“You realize,” she said quietly, “that this situation is entirely absurd.”
Arabella smiled with infuriating delight. “Oh, completely,” she agreed. “Which is precisely why it is so entertaining.”
Charlotte sighed softly.
“It is not entertaining for me,” she muttered. “I am returning to a household where I have to pretend that I am engaged to a duke.” Arabella’s smile widened.
“There are certainly worse fates,” she said.
Charlotte was spared from replying as the carriage came to a halt before the manor. A footman opened the door at once, and to Charlotte’s surprise, Victor himself stood waiting in the foyer beyond the opened door.
“That,” she murmured under her breath, “cannot possibly be a good sign.”
Victor stepped forward as they entered, impeccably dressed and entirely composed.
“Lady Arabella,” he said smoothly, inclining his head toward Arabella before turning his gaze to Charlotte. “Miss Brown.”
“Your Grace,” Charlotte replied politely.
Arabella’s eyes danced with amusement as she curtsied. “Your Grace, how kind of you to receive us personally.”
Victor’s expression remained unreadable. “My grandmother is taking tea in the parlour,” he said. “I came to intercept you to see if you would both join us?”
Charlotte hesitated briefly before nodding. “Of course.”
Victor offered his arm with maddening ease. “Excellent,” he said.
Charlotte stared at it for one dreadful second too long before accepting, acutely aware of Arabella watching the exchange with poorly concealed delight.
“You appear remarkably comfortable with deception,” she murmured under her breath as they walked.
“I prefer efficiency,” he replied lightly.
They entered the parlour to find Lionel seated beside Elizabeth, tea already arranged elegantly upon the table. The dowager brightened at once upon seeing Charlotte.
“There she is!” Elizabeth exclaimed warmly. “I told you she would return.”
Charlotte forced a pleasant smile. “Your Grace,” she said, crossing to her.
Elizabeth clasped her hands together happily. “And looking lovelier than ever,” she declared. “Victor, you truly have excellent taste.”
Charlotte nearly choked on absolutely nothing.
Lionel coughed discreetly into his hand, though his eyes gleamed suspiciously with amusement. Victor, infuriatingly, remained perfectly composed.
“I do my best,” he said smoothly.
Charlotte shot him a look sharp enough to wound lesser men. He merely gestured for her to sit beside him.
Arabella settled gracefully into a nearby chair, clearly enjoying herself far more than propriety allowed.
“I confess,” she said lightly, “I was quite surprised to hear of the engagement.”
“As was I,” Charlotte muttered before she could stop herself.
Victor’s mouth twitched faintly. “Miss Brown was overwhelmed by happiness,” he said solemnly.
Lionel laughed outright at that. “I begin to understand the appeal,” he remarked.
Elizabeth smiled dreamily at Charlotte. “You shall make such handsome children,” she said.
Charlotte inhaled sharply into her tea.
Victor reached over, taking her cup before she could spill it. “Careful, darling,” he said smoothly.
Darling. The nerve of this man.
Charlotte stared at him in horror while Arabella looked moments away from collapsing with laughter.
“You are enjoying this far too much,” Charlotte whispered furiously.
“Immensely,” Victor replied.
Lionel regarded his brother thoughtfully. “I confess,” he said, “I had long assumed Victor incapable of courtship.”
Victor raised a brow. “You mistake disinterest for inability.”
“No,” Lionel replied calmly.
Elizabeth waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense,” she said. “Victor has always been charming. There was no doubt in my mind that he would find the right woman.”
Charlotte nearly laughed aloud at the irony of the statement. Charming was certainly one word for him, though she suspected dangerous might be more accurate.
The conversation continued with surprising ease after that, though Charlotte remained painfully aware of every glance Victor sent her way.
He played his role with effortless confidence, occasionally resting his hand against the back of her chair or leaning slightly closer than necessary whenever Elizabeth looked particularly emotional.
The worst part, Charlotte thought bitterly, was that he was very good at it.
He almost has me convinced that his feelings are real.
By the time tea concluded, she felt thoroughly exhausted by pretending not to notice him. Arabella rose at last, announcing that she ought to return home before evening.
Charlotte seized the opportunity eagerly. “I shall walk you out,” she said at once.
Victor looked entirely too amused by her haste. Outside, the cool air felt like freedom itself. Charlotte escorted Arabella toward the waiting carriage, only for her cousin to burst into laughter the moment they were beyond earshot.
“Oh, Charlotte,” Arabella gasped, fanning herself dramatically, “that was magnificent.”
“There was nothing magnificent about it,” Charlotte hissed. “It was dreadful.”
Arabella grinned. “You have such a strong tongue of wit.”
“He deserved it,” Charlotte replied.
“I believe he rather enjoyed it,” Arabella said knowingly.
Charlotte froze briefly, then dismissed the thought at once. “Do not be absurd.”
Arabella stepped closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “You realize he scarcely looked at anyone else the entire afternoon.”
Charlotte’s cheeks warmed irritatingly. “That is only because he was maintaining the charade,” she said firmly.
“Of course,” Arabella replied in a tone that suggested she believed no such thing.
Charlotte groaned softly. “You must promise me something.”
Arabella’s smile widened. “How ominous, go on.”
“You must not tell anyone about this false arrangement,” Charlotte said seriously. “Not Margaret, not your husband, no one.”
Arabella placed a hand dramatically over her heart. “I swear absolute secrecy,” she declared. Then she laughed again. “Though it is unquestionably the most amusing secret I have ever kept.”
Charlotte pointed a warning finger at her. “Arabella.”
“Very well,” she said, still smiling. “Your scandalous false engagement remains safe with me.”
Charlotte exhaled slowly. “Thank you.”
Arabella squeezed her hand warmly before stepping into the carriage. “Do try not to fall in love with him,” she said lightly.
Charlotte stared at her in utter disbelief. “I would sooner throw myself into the Thames.”
Arabella only laughed harder as the carriage pulled away.
Charlotte watched it disappear down the drive before turning reluctantly back toward the manor. Somewhere inside waited a maddeningly handsome duke, an increasingly complicated deception, and a household already treating her as though she belonged there… as it's mistress.
The thought unsettled her far more than she cared to admit.
Me? A duchess. That could never happen.
* * *
Victor stood near the front entrance with one hand clasped behind his back, watching through the open doorway as Charlotte lingered beside Arabella’s carriage.
The afternoon breeze tugged lightly at the ribbons of her bonnet while Arabella spoke animatedly, no doubt offering entirely unhelpful commentary about the situation.
Charlotte looked simultaneously resigned and determined, which Victor was beginning to suspect was her natural state.
It irritated him how noticeable she had become within the span of only a few days.
Arabella finally climbed into the carriage, though not before sending Charlotte one last deeply amused smile. Victor caught only fragments of the exchange.
“Do try not to fall in love with him,” Arabella said.
“I would sooner throw myself into the Thames,” Charlotte retorted.
Victor smiled at the words.
The carriage rolled away, leaving Charlotte standing alone upon the front steps for a brief moment before she turned and entered the manor once more. She halted slightly upon noticing him still waiting there.
“You remain,” she observed.
“It would appear so,” he replied smoothly.
“How unfortunate for us both,” she said.
Victor followed beside her as they crossed the foyer together. “It is perhaps fortunate,” he said, “that your cousins are now aware of our arrangement.”
Charlotte nodded faintly. “Arabella will undoubtedly attempt to pry further details from me until the end of time,” she muttered. “But she may be trusted.”
“Even so,” Victor said, “I think it wise we keep the matter private. No one else should know within society.”
Charlotte glanced toward him at once. “Agreed,” she said. “The ton would devour this story alive.”
“They generally devour everything,” he replied dryly.
That earned the faintest twitch of amusement from her. “True.”
She hesitated briefly before continuing. “I shall also be writing to my sisters this evening.”
Victor looked down at her. “Indeed?”
“I intend to ask them to come to London earlier than anticipated for the season. They can stay with my uncle,” she explained. “It seems prudent to begin preparations now, particularly regarding gowns.”
Victor raised a brow slightly. “And why are you informing me of this?”
Charlotte stopped walking altogether, staring at him as though he were exceptionally slow. “Because you intend to sponsor them,” she said patiently. “I assumed you would wish some say in how your funds are spent.”
Victor blinked once before letting out a quiet huff of amusement. “Miss Brown,” he said, “if you are going to empty my coffers, you shall need to make a far more ambitious effort.”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Empty your… I would not. Oh, I see. You are mocking me again.”
“Only a little,” he admitted.
Charlotte folded her arms. “I am being quite serious.”