Charlotte paused, her lips twisting into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Perhaps. The gentlemen at the ball were... fine, but none seemed to quite fit." She turned her gaze to the mirror, her reflection offering no answers. "But the season has just begun. There's another ball tonight, isn't there? I'm sure I'll find someone who suits my tastes there."
Jasper raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "So, you'll wait for the next event hoping to find your match?" he asked, his voice laced with an amused edge.
Charlotte nodded, though her heart wasn't in it. She wasn't really sure who she was waiting for anymore. She'd expected Philip to realize he was madly in love with her when he saw her at her debutante ball, that he would demand to court her right after and make all the effort she'd made for her debut season feel worth it. But instead, all she felt was disappointment andfrustration. Philip obviously was playing hard to get. But she was a Duke's sister, after all. And that meant that she should be able to snare the gentleman that met her fancy.
"Well," Jasper said, straightening up, "I believe that tonight's ball will be quite exciting. I've asked Lady Abigail Browning to accompany me as my guest. She's quite excited about it." He then quietly added, "I know Abigail has been your friend since childhood, but I hope that my courting her does not make you feel uncomfortable. You must understand that my intentions with her are quite serious."
Charlotte's eyes flickered toward her brother. "Abigail?" Her voice softened, though there was something almost tight in her chest. "I see."
"Yes." Jasper continued, seemingly unaware of her sudden shift in mood. "And Philip Browning will be there with Lady Sophia Marlow, I hear."
Charlotte's heart gave an unexpected jolt at the mention of Philip. She forced herself to look casual, though the thought of him attending the ball with Lady Sophia Marlow made her feel distinctly uncomfortable.
"Lady Sophia, yes," Charlotte murmured, "I'm sure they'll look lovely together." She caught herself before her tone became too sharp.
Jasper, who hadn't missed her quick change in expression, narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing. "Well, then," he said, his voice easy. "I shall leave you to prepare, sister. But remember, you are the catch of the season. No need to settle for anyone who doesn't excite you."
Charlotte forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind, Jasper. Don't worry."
As her brother departed, Charlotte turned her gaze back to her reflection, her thoughts swirling. She would not allow things to remain as they were. With Abigail's delicate beautyand quiet grace now drawing Jasper's attention, and Lady Sophia capturing Philip's focus, Charlotte found herself left in the shadows. But surely she could still catch Philip's attention. After all, she had known him since childhood and had fancied him for as long as she could remember. She wasn't about to be overlooked. Not when she was the Duke's sister. There had to be a way to capture Philip's attention—she simply would not consider any suitor other than him.
Tonight's ball would be her opportunity to turn the tide, to reclaim her place at the top of the ton—whatever it took.
Chapter Three
At the ball, the atmosphere was alive with music and laughter, the sounds of the evening weaving together in a harmonious blend. Charlotte moved through the crowd, her gaze flickering across the dancers, her heart betraying her composed exterior. Every invitation to dance was accepted with practiced grace, her smile never faltering, though her thoughts remained elsewhere. She performed a quadrille with flawless posture and precise steps, her mind ...hoping the rhythm of the dance might summon the moment she so desperately craved—a fleeting glance from Philip, some small, silent acknowledgment of her presence.
Jasper, meanwhile, was in the midst of a waltz with Lady Abigail Browning, their movements effortlessly in sync. Charlotte couldn't help but notice how deeply he seemed to have fallen for her—the way his gaze lingered on Abigail's face, the tenderness in every step. It made her stomach twist, but she hid her discomfort behind polite smiles and fluid movements, turning her attention to the next gentleman who stepped forward.
Philip was elsewhere in the room, engaged in conversation with Lady Sophia Marlow. Sophia's beauty was undeniable—her poise and charm seemed to captivate everyone she encountered—and Charlotte could see how fully absorbed Philip was. Hisattention, fixed solely on Sophia, and Charlotte felt the sting of that exclusivity, though not a flicker of it showed on her face.
As the next set began—a lively country dance—Charlotte took her place on the floor. She laughed lightly with her partner, moving with practiced ease, but inwardly her thoughts drifted. What would it be like if Philip looked at her the way he did Sophia? She swiftly pushed the thought away. No one must suspect her feelings—not her brother, not the other ladies, certainly not Philip. She would not allow herself to appear desperate, not with the way the evening was unfolding.
Jasper, ever perceptive, caught Charlotte's eye as he passed with Abigail on his arm. His expression was light, his voice teasing. "A bit of a whirlwind evening for you, Charlotte," he said, raising a brow. "Trying to keep up with every gentleman on the dance floor?"
Charlotte's smile was cool and effortless. "One must stay busy," she replied airily, though her heart wasn't in the banter. She had danced with nearly every eligible man in the room, but none of them mattered. None had ever mattered the way Philip did.
In a quiet moment, Charlotte found herself seated beside Abigail as the music swirled gently through the air. Jasper had gone to fetch refreshments, leaving the two ladies alone. Ever warm and good-natured, Abigail offered a friendly smile. "Are you enjoying yourself this evening, Lady Charlotte? Have any of your partners managed to capture your fancy?"
Charlotte turned to her with a polished smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, dearest Abigail, how kind of you to ask. It must be difficult to notice such things, I imagine—when one's own attention is already quite... occupied. But then, I suppose when a lady's charms are subtle, she must cling tightly to any gentleman who takes an interest."
Though the words were spoken sweetly, they landed with unmistakable weight. Abigail blinked, her smile faltering as shelooked down for a moment, caught off guard. Silence lingered between them until Jasper returned, oblivious to the quiet strain that now hummed beneath their smiles.
Charlotte glanced once more toward Philip, a flicker of longing tightening her chest, but she quickly looked away. No one could know. No one could suspect the quiet desperation that simmered beneath her carefully composed surface. She would wait. She would be patient. After all, she had known Philip since childhood, and surely, in time, he would see her—truly see her.
A waltz began, and Charlotte was swept once more into another gentleman's arms. She moved with practiced elegance, but each spin and turn felt hollow. Her eyes, unbidden, drifted toward Philip again—only to find him sharing a quiet laugh with Lady Sophia.
Her breath caught. She forced herself to focus. There had to be a way. She would find it. She would not—could not—be left behind. But no one could suspect the truth. She would be the picture of poise and composure, even as her heart ached with silent longing.
***
Jasper was utterly captivated by Abigail—by her gentle heart, her quiet strength, and the grace that seemed to radiate from her effortlessly. She possessed the qualities of a Duchess not only in manner but in spirit. The more time he spent in her presence, the more certain he became that she was meant to be his partner in life. It surprised him, this slow but steady deepening of feeling, especially for someone he had known since childhood. But as he reflected on old memories through the lens of the woman she had become, it was clear. Now that she had come of age and stepped fully into society, he could no longer deny it: Abigail was the one.
***
Philip smiled softly at Lady Sophia. Though he had long imagined the comforts of his own household, he had never truly envisioned the woman who might stand beside him. Yet Sophia—with her easy laughter, natural beauty, and genuine kindness—was beginning to fill that space in his mind. He found himself drawn to her warmth, her intelligent conversation, the poised way she carried herself in any room. She seemed to belong effortlessly to the future he envisioned. And so, with quiet resolve, Philip determined to continue courting her through the Season—to learn whether what he felt now might grow into something lasting and true.
Chapter Four
