Chapter Seventeen
The longcase clock on the floor below had just struck eight in the morning by the time William was ready to meet Charlotte.
After he’d taken a much-needed bath and indulged in a meal of bland foods—directed by the doctor, who’d looked him over and pronounced that all danger had passed—he’d submitted himself into the care of his valet for personal grooming and dressing.
When the culmination of activities made him tired, he’d laid down for a two-hour nap.
Thankfully, the maids had changed the bedding and tidied the room, but Scarborough had been true to his word and remained.
The duke had watched over him while he’d slept.
When they’d both been satisfied that he wouldn’t pop off this mortal coil any time soon, he’d gone down to breakfast. Since the duchess wasn’t apparently an early riser, they would enjoy a celebratory meal, which would give William privacy to talk with Charlotte.
“Don’t cock it up,” his friend said when they’d both left the bedroom. “She is the best thing that’s happened in your life for a long time.”
“Don’t I know it?” Worry formed knots in his gut as he made his way quietly along the corridor toward the countess suite, while the duke went the opposite direction toward the stairs.
And since it wasn’t a long walk, he arrived at her door rather more quickly than he’d anticipated.
As anxiety chewed up his stomach, he patted his waistcoat pocket.
It was where he’d put a ring he hoped she would accept when he pledged his suit.
For the love of God, Wolcott, stop being frightened. It’s your future. Grasp it!
As he lifted his hand to rap on the wooden panel, it shook. Never had he been as nervous as he was in this moment. There was far too much at stake, and he didn’t want to ruin it by being, well, him. Finally, his knuckles connected, and he knocked twice.
When she bid him to enter, no doubt thinking he was a maid, he pressed the latch then slowly pushed open the door. His steps were unsure as he came into the room and closed the door behind him.
At first, he didn’t see her, but Mrs. Monroe had decorated the room at some point in lovely shades of peach, sage green, and ivory.
One wall had striped wallpaper in the shades while the drapes that hung at the window were of the green hue.
The bedclothes were fluffy and looked quite comfortable.
Splashing behind a painted screen depicting a pastoral scene of the English countryside hinted that she was in the middle of morning ablutions.
“Charlotte?” Still unsure, he took another few steps until he reached the center of the room.
As he did so, the door to the adjoining dressing room softly closed.
Her maid had no doubt heard his voice and wished to give them privacy.
In five minutes, the news that he wasn’t, in fact, dead would sweep through the townhouse staff.
“William?” When she came out from around the screen, clad only in her shift and saw him for the first time, she burst into tears.
What was this, then? Confused, he asked, “Are you well?” Damn, she was a sight for sore eyes with her blonde hair tussled from sleep and put into a sloppy updo and her blue eyes bright and the color magnified by the spectacles’ lenses.
“Yes, but I’m so happy to see you up and about.” Without further explanation, she ran over the floor then threw herself into his arms. “How are you feeling?”
“A bit fatigued but much better after seeing you.” He wrapped his arms around her, and the warmth of her sank into him like a balm. “I have missed you.” Because he couldn’t stand it a moment longer, he brought his mouth crashing down on hers.
A tiny sound of surrender escaped her. She looped her arms about his shoulders, holding him close.
From the way she returned his kiss, she’d undoubtedly missed him as well.
It was quite flattering. Before they went further, he pulled away, for if he didn’t, he’d have her tumbled into bed in a thrice.
“We should talk.”
She nodded. In the early morning sunlight that filtered into the room, scrapes and bruises were evident on her face and arms. “I agree. There is much I would say to you.”
“So I surmised.”
“What?” When she glanced at him, confusion was stamped across her face. “Do you remember anything from the night of the ball?”
“Nothing past going out into the garden and arguing with Francine.” He shrugged. “However, Scarborough told me what happened and how long I was dead to the world, essentially.”
She nodded. Worry clouded her eyes. “I was beside myself, thought you would expire that night.
“But I didn’t.”
“So it seems.” When she shrugged, the outlines of her hardened nipples showed through the lawn of her shift. Awareness buzzed through his being, but now was not the time to act on it. “I’m glad you’ve thwarted your family’s misfortune.”
“As am I, but I would have liked to have seen you give Francine that thrashing with your sandal.” He cupped her cheek, brushed the pad of his thumb over her cheek where a small bruise had formed. “Charlotte, I…” What? Why wouldn’t the words dancing on the tip of his tongue come to fruition?
She stepped away from him and propped her hands on her hips, which only served to remind him how much he adored her curves.
“You’ve come this far, Your Lordship, stagger the remaining steps and tell me what you’ve come to say.
” Then her expression crumpled from brave to uncertain, and tears once more welled in her eyes.
“I don’t think I can lose you twice in one week, but if that is what you wish—”
The honesty in those words went straight to his heart.
The remainder of the wall around that organ broke down, and it rushed into her capable hands.
“Sweeting, hush, and let me speak.” At least the interruption quelled the tears, and managed to shove his courage to the sticking place.
With a soft groan, for his body still ached, William dropped to one knee before her.
“Over the past two weeks, I’ve come to be held in awe of you.
Hell, I rather think I’m overwhelmed by you most of the time.
You aren’t like any other woman I’ve ever known. ”
When she sniffled, he handed her his handkerchief. “Is that a good thing?”
“Very much so.” He caught her left hand in his. “I adore how you push me, challenge me, adore how we fit together in amorous activities, adore that you defended me from Francine when she would have killed me.”
A faint blush stained her cheeks. “I couldn’t let that grasping bitch usher in your demise like she did the others.”
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, for he had corrupted her.
Just a little bit, and finally he found the courage he’d lacked.
“Because of that and a thousand other little things, I wish to make our forced engagement into a real one.” When she gasped, he dug the ring out of his waistcoat pocket with his other hand.
“Charlotte Primrose, will you marry me?” Obviously, he’d rushed the delivery, could have finessed it more, but he couldn’t wait one more moment without knowing she was his.
Her eyes rounded, and he thought it might be a lovely endeavor to drown in those cool blue depths. “I did what anyone else would do, because the world is a better place with you in it…” Tears threatened in her voice as the words trailed off.
“Ah, Charlotte.” His heart squeezed. “That compassion for those of us who aren’t worthy is another reason that I have come to love you.” Damn but it felt good to finally say the words!
“What?” She gasped. “You love me?”
“Absolutely.” Though he longed to hear them said back to him, he would wait for as long as it took. “I know you are fearful, I know you probably don’t trust me to be true, I know that we haven’t had the proper time to discover everything about each other, I know that—”
“Hush you silly, wonderful, exasperating man.” She sank to her knees before him, cupped his head between her palms. “Of course I will marry you. Not because my father demanded it, not because we’ve indulged in so much scandal since we met, not because you think you aren’t worthy of love—which you are—but…
” A tear dropped to her cheek. “But because I love you too, and I realized how much out in that garden when I feared I might lose you.”
His world went topsy-turvy, and for the first time in a long while, he felt surrounded by happiness and contentment.
As if this was where he was supposed to be all along.
“I am constantly amazed by you.” When he slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand to nestle against the sapphire one he’d already given her, he said, “This ring, this proposal, comes from my heart.” The thin band of tiny diamonds sparkled in the morning sun.
“I don’t want you to think I’m doing this because of your father.
I’m doing this because I want you, need you, love you, and from what I understand, such love is quite rare.
” His hand, as well as his voice, shook.
“I hope I’m fortunate to always have your secrets to discover for years to come. ”
“Good heavens, that’s so romantic.” She threw herself into his arms, and when she kissed him, he didn’t bid her nay. “We are going to have such fun together,” she whispered against his lips.
“On that I can heartily agree. I’ll wager you’ll lead me on a merry chase indeed.” Not that he minded. With every kiss they shared, the need for her grew. “Fair warning, I might cock things up, make you furious with me.”
“We will manage, I think.” She met his gaze, and there was no mistaking the wicked intent in her eyes. “Claim me. Make there be no doubts that you and I have a solid foundation in which to start our life together despite our scandalous beginning.”
“God, you’re beautiful. There is nothing more to say.”
“Hmm, I might need a bit more than that, Wolcott,” she said in a whisper that had awareness racing over his skin.