Chapter Fourteen
Two days had passed since William had seen Charlotte after that coupling in the library.
In the interim, her mother demanded her time, for that woman wanted to visit with friends who had come to Town from the country.
Oddly, he missed her presence in his library and in his company, but it had given him space to think and to breathe.
Then he’d thought up an idea that he hoped would prove romantic, and it would show her another of his interests. Which was how he came to pick Charlotte up at her home in with his curricle, for he’d wanted to convey her himself without having a driver hanging about.
“Where are we going?” she asked as soon as he joined her on the bench and took up the reins of his horses once more.
The dear woman had worn a gown of light blue satin, and though he couldn’t see the bodice due to the ivory spencer, he knew it would have a low neckline, as was her wont.
In lieu of a bonnet—clearly, she assumed he would take her somewhere inside—she’d put pewter combs into her upswept hair.
Pearls gleamed in the setting sun on the comb tops.
“Out into the Surrey countryside.” Then he clicked his tongue and jostled the reins. Seconds later, the horses trotted into motion.
“But it’s sunset and will be dark soon. Isn’t that dangerous to travel, especially in a vehicle such as this?”
“Not at all. I’m skilled at the ribbons; I know how the curricle moves, reacts, and I trust my bays.
Besides, the Surrey countryside isn’t that far away, all things considered.
” He risked a glance at her, breathed in her floral scent, and couldn’t help but think this was how life should be all the time.
“I thought you’d enjoy this trip. And I brought a picnic dinner of sorts in the event you might be hungry. ”
Her eyes widened behind the spectacles’ lenses. “You brought food?”
“Of course.” William couldn’t help but grin as he nodded. “When word got out of what I intended tonight, Mrs. Monroe was adamant I prepare for every eventuality.”
“She is a lovely woman.” Slowly, Charlotte returned the grin. “All of your staff is. Are the servants at your country estate the same?”
“Most of the time, though Cook has a tendency to bully the kitchen staff so she can have her way, and my butler is part Scottish, so his mood is mercurial at best.” A chuckle escaped him. “We’ll be removing there at the first of July… unless you don’t wish it.”
Excitement reflected in her eyes. “I would adore the chance to travel anywhere.”
“Good.” If he were honest with himself, he couldn’t wait to take her away from London and have her all to himself.
“My estate is near Sittingbourne, which is the nearest town. I’m not far from the Isle of Sheppey and the seashore.
There have been many times when I’ve packed a rucksack and spent a couple of days out in nature, falling asleep to the sound of the crashing waves, breathing in the salt-scented air, enjoying the warmth of a campfire as the sun sets. ”
“It sounds wonderful.” When she laid a land on his thigh, he nearly jumped out of his skin. “Tell me where we’re going tonight.”
“To the countryside,” he said with a wink.
She snorted. “William, please.”
The light touch coupled with the sound of his name in her voice had awareness rushing over his skin. “Uh, I’m taking you out to stargaze.” He nudged a basket on the floorboards between his feet and hers. “I brought a couple of telescopes along with the food.”
“What a lovely thought!” She patted his thigh.
“Indeed.” Warmth filled his chest from her praise. “It’s a clear night, and stargazing is best somewhere a bit away from Town and the lights and pollution therein.”
“So I can imagine. Oh, this is exciting!” She fairly bounced beside him on the bench.
They remained in companionable silence for a good portion of the journey before he broke the quiet with an inquiry.
“If you could, where in the world would you travel?”
“What an interesting question.” Charlotte clasped her hands in her lap.
“I suppose there are many places I might wish to visit.” She glanced at him, briefly met his gaze with a smile.
“I’ve never seen an ocean or a sea, and I do so think I might take to the water.
It must be quite relaxing to enjoy the seashore. ”
“It is, actually. I’ve spent many a day at the seashore, whiling away the time. Not only does being presented with the ocean drive home the knowledge that the world is bigger than ourselves, there is a soothing quality there, found in the way nothing is rushed or frantic.”
“It must be,” she said with a nod.
“What about Brighton? Surely your family visited there during your childhood.”
“We never went.” When Charlote shrugged, her shoulder brushed his, and frissons of need twisted down his spine to lodge in his shaft. “Mama is afraid of the water.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He concentrated on the reins for a few seconds. “What about the Lake District? There are loads of lakes up there.”
“I shall take your word for it. We never visited, for Papa is afraid of the Scots.”
What the devil for?
It wasn’t as if the viscount was a warrior or had bad blood between his family and a Scottish one. As far as he could tell, Charlotte’s father never went anywhere unless it was to his country estate.
And now he has my damned hunting box.
“A man—or a woman—cannot go through life being afraid of things. That is a path to nowhere.”
An amused chuckle left her throat. “A bit of the pot calling the kettle black.”
One of his eyebrows went upward. “Meaning?” Truly, the woman was baffling.
“Well, you haven’t lived your best life either due to your family history of misfortune. Fear of that is holding you back from your true potential.”
Damn, how did she know him so well? “Touche.”
When she smiled, his world tilted. “Where would you go, William?”
No one had ever asked him that before. “Oh, let me think.” But he knew.
Of course he did. There were times when he sat in his library alone and planned out holidays he would never take…
due to fear. “Scotland or Ireland. Wales even. It sounds fascinating. The Lake District definitely. I might try my hand at fishing for salmon.”
“Do you enjoy that fish?”
“I have no idea, but it would be interesting.” He couldn’t help but snicker. “I’d go to Cornwall, eventually. And then if I were sick of the dreary weather here, I might meander to Rome for a winter, soak up the sunshine, and poke about some ruins or churches, but England will always be my home.”
“Ah, so then you won’t vanish to the Continent or steal away to America to live out a new life?”
“I will not.” At least not right now, because that would mean he’d leave her behind.
She nodded. “Tell me about your country estate. What is it called?”
“My grandfather bought the manor and land from a squire who had no family to speak of shortly before he died, so after expanding his own acreage with that purchase, he decided to keep the name of the manor as Brinkley Hall. Apparently, he’d always coveted the larger manor house, and he had a head for business.
A year later, he married.” He tugged on the reins when the horses tried to wander.
“It is the only place that has ever felt like home, if I’m being honest. Despite seeing so much death throughout my family line, there is something comforting about being there. ”
“How sweet. I’m glad you have that.”
“As am I. Unfortunately, the manor is quite outdated these days, so I’m looking to modernize it, at least start that project this summer.
Not only the manor, but also how the tenants are farming and working the land.
” He risked a glance at her while she stared raptly at him.
“Since I have just under two hundred acres, there are many sheep and cows all about, and with the sea so close, the cheese made with the cow’s milk is something special indeed. ”
“How do you tenants like you?”
“I hope they’ve found something redeeming in me. I try my best to take care of them, even if I don’t visit often.” That was something he needed to change about his life.
Charlotte made a sound of contentment in her throat. “It sounds lovely. I can’t wait to see the library.”
Neither could he. “You’ll adore it. It has two levels, with a few wooden rolling ladders.
There is a quaint twisting staircase in one corner to gain the upper level that has a railing running all the way around the room.
I have books in there that once belonged to my great grandfather.
” How would she react when she saw them?
She clutched at his arm. “What a heavenly space! Now I’m more anxious than ever to visit.”
“Mmm.” A slow grin curved his lips. It was indeed something to look forward to.
In about an hour, they arrived at the field he had in mind.
“Incidentally, a few times a year, illegal bare-knuckle boxing matches are held in this field, but for now, it will serve our purposes nicely.” After he jumped down, he wrapped the reins around a broken fence post and let the horses graze.
Then he assisted Charlotte down, and when she slid along his form until her feet found purchase on the ground, he shivered with awareness.
But this night wasn’t about claiming her body.
As she went to talk softly to the horses, William grabbed the basket from the curricle along with a tattered quilt.
By the time he’d laid out the blanket and placed the basket, Charlotte joined him.
With his pulse hammering as fast as if he were a green youth meeting his first girl, he removed the contents of the basket.
“We shall enjoy dinner al fresco with cold cuts, cheese, bread, and a few jam tarts my housekeeper tucked inside.” He winked as Charlotte sat on the quilt beside him. “There is also a corked bottle of lemonade or a bottle of red wine if you’d prefer.”