"That's neither here nor there." Charity pulled her hand away, straightened her narrow shoulders. "Have the Hartefords and your Mama written back?"
"No, and I sent the missive over three weeks ago. What if it got lost?"
"It could be that their reply got delayed," Charity said, her brow furrowed. "Perhaps you should write them again."
Percy nodded. She sipped her chocolate, letting the creamy sweetness soothe her.
Looking left and right, Charity leaned over the table and whispered, "In the meanwhile, how did things go at your second meeting with Mr. Hunt?"
Up until this point, Percy hadn't been completely truthful with her friend. She'd omitted all the debauched details, saying only that she'd garnered a victory against Hunt at Vauxhall. Now she set her cup down in its saucer, chewing on her lip.
"It went... well," she hedged.
Charity looked relieved. "Perhaps this wager won't be a disaster after all."
Percy could have let it rest at that—but she realized she was tired of lying. Of hiding who she was. Her last encounter with Gavin had given her a taste of true freedom... and she yearned to live the rest of her life as authentically, as fearlessly, as she had during those moments with him.
Drawing a breath for courage, she said, "Hunt, um, kissed me." Actually, he'd done rather more than that. But she decided to start with the smaller sins and work her way up. "What is more... I liked it."
"What?" Charity gasped.
Percy darted a glance around. Luckily, the other customers were too engrossed in conversations to pay the two of them any mind. "You heard me, Charity. I think... I think I may be falling for Hunt."
"Youcannotmean that. What about your brother's future?" Charity said in a furious whisper. "Not to mention your own!"
Percy had spent the bulk of the week mulling over the conundrum. "What if Hunt and I can come to an agreement about Paul?"
"You think Hunt will release you brother because of his feelings for you?"
She didn't know. She did believe, however, that Hunt was not as merciless as he made himself out to be. Giving Charity a brief summary of his work with urchins and the way he'd protected her at Vauxhall, she concluded, "He's a complex man, Charity, and I'm just beginning to understand him. His world is... different from ours. He has survived much, I think, and all on his own merit. Is it any wonder that he wants to collect what is rightfully his?"
Her friend's eyes narrowed. "You cannot be taking Hunt's side against your brother's."
"I am not taking anyone's side. But I know Hunt is not the evil scoundrel everyone says he is." Thinking of his scar, what he had said about people hurting one another, Percy said, "Having fought for everything in his life, is it any surprise that compassion does not come naturally for him?"
"So you'll stand by and let him ruin your brother."
"I didn't say that," Percy protested. "Perhaps with time I can convince him to forgive Paul's debt. Or I'll win the wager and free Paul that way."
Charity shook her head. "As your closest friend, Percy, I must be honest. Your judgment is clouded. Not long ago, you thought you were in love with Portland. Now you think it's Hunt. Hunt, who has the power to destroy yourfamily."
Self-doubt gnawed at her. "I didn't say I was in love with Hunt," she said in a small voice. "Just that Imightbe."
"Have you thought about the consequences? Forget for the moment that your brother will be ruined. And that your mama will never recover from this. And that Hunt is wildly inappropriate in every way. Does the man intend to wed you—is he even the marrying kind?"
The cracks in her self-confidence spread. Gavin had never mentioned anything about marriage. She had no idea what he wished for in a wife. With a sinking feeling, she imagined he'd want someone worldly and level-headed... a woman capable of helping him in his world.But he said I was beautiful. Courageous and honest. Surely that must count for something...
"We haven't reached that bridge yet," Percy said in faltering tones.
"You may never," Charity said bluntly. "Are you willing to risk the rest of your life over this man?"
"I... I don't know. I need time to figure things out." During the truce with Gavin, surely she could discover what his intentions were. If he cared about her. And if her own feelings for him were true.
"I'd tell you to stay away from him," the other girl sighed, "but I know I'd be wasting my breath."
"I appreciate your advice, Charity. Truly, I do," Percy said, taking her friend's hand.
"Then you'll heed it." Charity returned the squeeze. "And you must also take care to end things well with Portland. Something tells me the viscount is not used to being set aside."
