He appeared, Lady Gardner swore, to be nearly panic-stricken as he cradled Lady Charlotte’s limp body in one arm and cupped her jaw with the other.
Eventually, Lady Montain produced some smelling salts, and Lady Charlotte was revived.
But not before all and sundry witnessed Dr. Whitaker clutching Lady Charlotte briefly to his bosom, as tenderly as any lover.
24
You will never speak with him again.” Frank jabbed a finger at Lottie. “Never!”
“Gracious. What a display ofl’outrage.” Grandmère murmured, calmly stitching. “And ourpauvreCharlotte, she has scarcely had a chance to recover.”
“Grandmère,” Margaret said repressively, her presence a buffer between her husband and her family. She shot Lottie a troubled look. “I should have remembered your tendency to faint when overwrought.”
Lottie sat on a sofa before the fireplace at Ferndown House, morning light filtering in through the windows.
The events of the evening before were all a blur. Like her come-out ball years before, she had fainted. A surfeit of nerves.
Vividly, she could still see Alex’s stricken face right before the world went dark. The terror and horror in his gaze as her eyelids shuttered.
The affair was as embarrassing as it was shocking.
It had simply been . . . too much. The stuffy room. The weight of so many eyes. Her empty stomach and dizzy head.
And then seeing Alex again and knowing the sheer impossibility ofthem.
Love had washed over her, as visceral as it was horrific.
She loved this man.
Lady Charlotte loved Dr. Alex Whitaker.
She hadn’t even dared voice such a thought to herself. Because the last time she thought she loved someone, she had committed to marrying him.
And she couldn’t marry Alex. Not if she wanted to remain true to the promise she had given her father. Not if she wanted Freddie to have a bright future.
But in that moment, she could no longer deny it—
She loved him.
And the realization had caused her knees to lock and her chest to seize and blackness to swamp her vision.
Her world had gone dark.
“Father is out and about this morning to see what can be salvaged.” Frank was pacing now. “Lords is already leaning so strongly towardthat man’sclaim. And now Charlotte has packed their cannons with even more fodder to decide against our Freddie.”
“Lady Gardner witnessed the entire affair with an almost unholy glee.” Margaret clenched and unclenched one fist. “She is already making morning visits to spread the scandal.”
“This is an utter disaster.” Frank snorted. “Charlotte must be seen driving out with other gentlemen. Perhaps we should drop subtle hints that she is soon to be engaged to another.”
“I am sure Nettlesby will be amenable to assist us,” Margaret said.
Lottie’s stomach dropped.
“Yes, he’s a good sort.” Frank paced. “But most importantly, Charlotte must give Dr. Whitaker the cut direct when next we see him. That is imperative!”
Frank continued his back and forth in front of the fire, venting his ire.
Lottie studied her hands, allowing her brother-in-law’s words to wash over her.
