Chapter 24
“Your Grace, how delighted you are that you have graced us with your company,” Lord and Lady Holmby greeted them as they entered the party.
“Thank you for the invitation,” Victor said.
“I believe your mother and sisters are already here, Duchess,” Lady Holmby said.
“How delightful,” Charlotte said.
Just then, Joan approached the pair as boisterous as ever.
“There you are, Charlotte, oh my, you are flushed,” Joan said.
Charlotte felt mortified. “It is the heat of the sun, of course. I should get some refreshment.”
Victor cleared his throat beside her. “I'm sure that is all it is. Should I get us some punch?”
“Oh, never mind that. Charlotte must come to mother immediately for she has the most urgent news,” Joan said.
Charlotte looked at Victor.
“Of course, go on ahead. I see a few colleagues I would like to speak with,” Victor said.
With that, Joan whisked Charlotte away to a table where her family sat.
The garden party buzzed around them beneath the pale summer sunlight, ladies drifting between rose hedges with fluttering fans while gentlemen gathered beneath striped marquees with glasses of champagne.
White-clothed tables had been arranged across the lawn, each adorned with silver tea services, tiers of tiny cakes, sugared biscuits, and bowls overflowing with strawberries and cream.
A quartet played somewhere near the fountain, their music floating gently through the warm air as servants moved gracefully between guests carrying trays of lemonade and champagne.
“Charlotte, there you are. We have waited so long… my, you are flushed,” Harriet said, looking at her daughter.
“Oh, it's the…”
“We have heard the most delightful news. It seems that Baron Jackson has called off his engagement to Lady Worland. Is that not good news?” Harriet said.
“How is that good news, mother?” Charlotte said.
“Because now he is free to marry one of your sisters, of course,” Harriet said.
Charlotte laughed softly behind her teacup as Joan declared, “Baron Jackson will undoubtedly fall madly in love with me before the end of the afternoon.”
“You?” Penelope scoffed dramatically as she adjusted the ribbons on her lavender bonnet. “Joan, you frightened Lord Ellis so severely during the last dance that the poor man nearly tripped over his own feet fleeing from you.”
Irene burst into laughter while Harriet pressed a hand dramatically against her chest.
“Girls, girls, do stop squabbling over a man,” Harriet said, though she sounded thoroughly entertained by the entire matter.
Joan pointed accusingly at Penelope. “You are only jealous because Baron Jackson complimented my gown first.”
Penelope gasped. “He did not compliment your gown,” she argued. “He merely asked if the colour was meant to resemble a sunset.”
Irene stirred sugar into her tea and sighed. “Perhaps he simply enjoys sunsets,” she offered reasonably.
Charlotte hid another smile behind her cup as Bridget leaned forward eagerly. “I heard he owns three estates,” Bridget whispered. “And apparently he once fought a duel over a lady.”
Harriet’s eyes widened with interest. “Now that is the sort of passion a man ought to possess,” she declared. “None of these dull gentlemen who only discuss horses and weather.”
Charlotte shook her head fondly at them all.
Only a year ago, her sisters had been quarrelling over worn hems and whether they could afford enough coal for winter.
Now they argued over eligible bachelors and dance cards while dressed in beautiful gowns Victor himself had paid for.
The thought softened her expression immediately, and before she realized it, her gaze wandered across the gardens searching for him.
She found him near one of the marble statues, speaking with two gentlemen.
Even from across the lawn, he commanded attention effortlessly.
Tall and broad-shouldered in dark evening clothes, Victor looked every inch the powerful duke society believed him to be.
Yet Charlotte’s stomach fluttered not because he was intimidating, but because she remembered his hands on her thighs scarcely half an hour earlier inside the carriage.
Good heavens.
Heat rushed into her cheeks so suddenly that Irene narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Charlotte,” her sister said slowly, “why are you blushing at your teacup?”
Penelope immediately twisted around in her chair, searching the crowd. “Oh,” she breathed mischievously the moment she spotted Victor. “Never mind. I believe I know precisely why.”
Charlotte nearly choked on her tea. “Do stop it,” she muttered.
Joan grinned wickedly. “Our sister has become quite romantic since becoming a duchess,” she teased.
Harriet looked positively delighted by that observation. “As she should,” her mother announced. “Her husband stares at her as though she hung the moon itself.”
Charlotte tried very hard not to look back toward Victor again.
Unfortunately for her composure, the moment she did glance up, she found him already watching her.
One dark brow lifted knowingly as though he could read every scandalous thought presently racing through her head.
Mortification swept through her so fiercely that she nearly dropped her spoon into her tea.
The arrogant man actually smirked at her from across the lawn.
“Oh dear,” Bridget whispered excitedly. “He is looking at you rather intensely.”
“He always looks intense,” Charlotte lied weakly.
Penelope snorted. “No, Charlotte. Usually, he looks terrifying.”
Irene nodded thoughtfully. “Today he looks as though he wants to devour you.”
Harriet fanned herself dramatically. “How romantic,” she sighed.
Charlotte wanted the earth to swallow her whole.
Before she could recover, a gentleman approached their table and bowed politely.
“Duchess,” he greeted Charlotte warmly. “Might I request the honour of the next dance?”
Joan immediately straightened in outrage. “That was very poor timing,” she informed the poor man bluntly. “Our sister is busy being stared at by her husband.”
“Joan,” Charlotte hissed.
The gentleman looked deeply alarmed.
Harriet waved a dismissive hand. “Pay her no mind,” she said brightly. “My daughters were unfortunately raised without restraint.”
The gentleman chuckled nervously and turned back toward Charlotte. “Well?” he asked hopefully.
Charlotte opened her mouth to answer politely, but before she could speak, a familiar deep voice interrupted behind her.
“I fear my wife’s dance card is already occupied.
” Every woman at the table turned at once as Victor appeared beside Charlotte’s chair.
His hand settled possessively against the back of her seat while his green eyes remained fixed on the unfortunate gentleman.
“Perhaps another lady might oblige you instead.”
The gentleman wisely retreated almost immediately.
Joan watched him flee before looking up at Victor innocently. “Your Grace,” she said sweetly, “you frightened him away.”
Victor looked entirely unapologetic. “Did I?” he asked mildly.
Penelope hid a laugh behind her hand while Irene examined Victor with far too much amusement.
“You are hovering,” Charlotte murmured under her breath.
Victor leaned down slightly. “Am I?” he asked near her ear. “I thought husbands were permitted to stand near their wives.” The warmth of his voice against her skin sent another rush of heat through her entire body. Blast the man for discovering precisely how to affect her.
Joan rose suddenly from her seat. “Come along,” she announced to her sisters with exaggerated innocence.
“I believe we ought to give the married couple privacy.” Penelope stood immediately.
“An excellent idea,” she agreed. Irene nearly laughed aloud as Harriet allowed herself to be ushered away as well.
“Mother,” Charlotte protested weakly.
Harriet merely winked at her. “Do not stay out in the gardens too long, darling,” she advised loudly. “People may talk.” Victor’s shoulders shook suspiciously with restrained laughter while Charlotte stared after her family in horror. “I cannot believe they abandoned me,” she muttered.
“They like me,” Victor said smugly.
Charlotte looked up at him sharply. “You are entirely too pleased with yourself.”
His grin deepened at once. “Can you blame me?” he asked. “Your mother practically shoved you toward me just now.”
Charlotte rose from her chair before he could say anything even more outrageous. “I believe your ego is already unbearable enough without encouragement from my family.”
Victor offered her his arm anyway. “Walk with me, Duchess.”
The simple title still made her heart skip unexpectedly.
She slipped her hand through his arm and allowed him to guide her down one of the quieter garden paths lined with blooming roses.
Sunlight filtered through the trees overhead while distant laughter echoed from the lawn behind them.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke, though Charlotte remained intensely aware of the warmth of his arm beneath her fingers.
“You were smiling earlier,” Victor said eventually.
Charlotte glanced up at him. “Was I?”
He nodded once. “You looked happy watching your sisters.”
Her chest softened at the observation. “I was happy,” she admitted quietly. “They are thriving, Victor. Truly thriving.”
He looked ahead thoughtfully. “Good.”
Charlotte studied him for a moment before speaking again. “You saved us,” she said softly. “I do not think I have thanked you enough for that.”
Victor’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly at her words. “You owe me no gratitude,” he replied. “I merely kept my word.”
“Yes,” she said gently. “But you kept it kindly.”
Something flickered across his face then, something dangerously tender that made her breath catch. Victor suddenly stopped walking beside a hedge of pale roses and turned fully toward her. “Charlotte,” he said quietly.
Her pulse stumbled at the tone of his voice. “Yes?”
“You are looking at me like that again.”