“Which should I believe?” Charlotte asked, gazing into his eyes.
The insolent smile that had leaked across his face as he spoke was gone. A look of intensity replaced it, pinning her to the spot, refusing to release her to do so much as to look away.
“When didyoudecide you wanted to marry me?” he asked.
“I cannot recall. Perhaps I am not so sure that I do,” Charlotte murmured, forcing boldness into her voice.
This would be the test. A hint that she did not want to marry him would encourage a reaction. A man who was in love and believed her to be in love would surely be horrified at the suggestion that she might reject him. But Seth merely smiled.
Charlotte had the impression that this, at least, was a genuine emotion. It felt as though she were being allowed to see through a carefully constructed facade, to gaze beyond a mask worn to protect his true nature.
“Well, as to that, I, of course, would be devastated. Whether I am marrying you out of love or politics, losing you would be equally as disappointing,” he declared.
Somehow, he had moved closer. Charlotte could not back further away. Her head was filled with the aroma of his soap and his cologne. There was the suggestion of leather from his boots and possibly the saddle of the horse he had ridden to the Prescott Estate.
Is he seeking to kiss me to reinforce my impression of his feelings for me? Does Amelia kiss him on a regular basis? If I allow it, I might be helping her by cementing the bond with this man. Or I might be condemning her if she sought to get away from him.
Charlotte was momentarily frozen in indecision.
“Then convince me, Your Grace. Put aside any past history either of us has and behave as though we are meeting for the first time. Treat me as you would in those circumstances and we will see if I wish to marry you or not,” she said, suddenly inspired.
“Very well,” he smirked.
He lunged, catching Charlotte’s face between his hands and kissing her lips.
Charlotte froze for a long moment.
She raised her hands to tear his from her face, but her own touch simply rested on the backs of his hands, then slid down to his arms. She felt the muscle there, felt the controlled power and strength. His lips were warm, making her own tingle. A corresponding tingle began in the pit of her stomach, a warmth that spread out to her fingers and toes. She spun even while she was pressed against the wood panel of the wall by his body.
A whimpered moan escaped Charlotte at the pleasure that coursed through her. She wantedmore.Moreof his lips and hisbody against hers. His hands upon her, and her name from his mouth.
Except it wouldn’t be. It would be Amelia...
The spell was suddenly broken. She kicked his shins and then darted under his reach to the other side of the room.
Seth yelped, hopping as he clutched at his bruised shin.
“Your Grace, I am quite horrified at your display of how you would behave towards a woman you had only just met!” Charlotte gasped heavily, backing into the doorway so that she might close the door on him if he were to advance towards her.
“What the hell!” Seth barked, “And I thought we had agreed that you would address me as Seth? I cannot abide honorifics.”
“Very well,Seth. You cannot be angry with me, surely. I behaved entirely properly,” Charlotte stated, raising her chin.
“For a nun, yes.Entirely proper,” he retorted, scrunching his nose.
Aunt Phyllis followed with a series of rapid taps at the door. Lady Phyllis Willoughby of Prescott was a mouse of a woman. Her forehead was high, and her auburn hair receded. Her skin was pale, which, combined with her bony frame, made her seem overly fragile. She smiled thinly at both Charlotte and Seth as though seeing nothing amiss in the two being alone in the room.
“Ah, there you are, Your Grace. I was told that you had arrived, but did not see you in the reception room as I would usually expect.”
“Forgive me, my lady, I wished to speak to my fiancée and could not wait,” Seth said with a charming smile.
“Of course, of course. Ah, young love. It is most gratifying to see. We shall be ready to take the carriages to Hyde Park momentarily for our promenade if the two of you would like to join us.”
Seth gave her a courteous bow and then headed out of the room. Charlotte hesitated, wondering if he would stop to offer his arm. But he did not.
He shows undue attention, implies rakish behavior, and is now downright rude. What manner of betrothal is this?
Aunt Phyllis waited for Charlotte.
