He nodded to the earl. “And good hunting.”
CHAPTER 28
“Charlotte!” cried Cordelia as Sheffield, too, stopped short on seeing her rise from her chair. “Oh, thank God you are safe!”
“M’lady!” Raven dashed past both of them.
In the first burst of excitement, Kurlansky slipped away without being noticed.
Raven nearly tripped as he tangled in Charlotte’s skirts while trying to catch her in a hug. Wrexford kept both of them upright and raised his voice to be heard above the shouts and questions as everyone began talking at once.
“If you will all quiet down, I will endeavor to explain.”
The noise immediately subsided, though Raven remained glued to Charlotte’s side. She gathered him close and ruffled his hair. “Before you begin, Wrex, please pour yourself a brandy.” A glance showed that Sheffield was also looking distressed. “And one for Kit as well.”
The earl didn’t argue. Fear and fatigue had deepened the lines of worry and hollows on their friend’s face.
“Sorry it took me so long to return,” piped up Raven. “Mr. Sheffield wasn’t home, so I decided to check with the porter at White’s to see if he was there.”
Sheffield cleared his throat with a cough. “M’lady doesn’t need a long-winded explanation—”
Raven, however, went on in a rush. “But as he wasn’t there I decided to give up and go on to Lady Cordelia’s residence. And by a stroke of good fortune, it turned out that he was there, too.”
A flush rose to Cordelia’s cheeks. “We had some important matters to discuss.”
“At midnight? In your night-rail?” replied Raven.
Sheffield was suddenly looking a little green around the gills. “I—I,” he stammered, then simply fell silent.
“It’s time for you to head up to the eyrie and join the others, sweeting,” said Charlotte. “Wrex and I need to have a private discussion with our friends.”
“But—”
“We have determined that Aunt Alison is being held hostage,” she continued. “We need to confer with Kit and Cordelia before we make final plans.”
Raven surrendered with an unhappy sigh and grudgingly left the room.
Charlotte smiled at the embarrassed couple once the boy was out of earshot. “Good heavens, did you really think that I, of all people, would be shocked at the idea of you two anticipating your marriage vows?”
Wrexford hastened to pour two brandies and brought them over to his flustered friends. “It’s about time the two of you stopped shilly-shallying over pledging your troth. Bloody hell, if you are waiting for the perfect moment—the stars and the planets aligning, a chorus of angels singing assurances that a problem will never shadow the glow of nuptial bliss—then you are perfect idiots.”
“I might have phrased it a little more diplomatically,” said Charlotte. “But the essence of what Wrex said is true.”
“But I’ve been such an arse,” mumbled Sheffield. “We argued about something serious, and I was too stubborn to listen.” He stared into his drink. “How can I now ask Cordelia to trust my judgment?”
“Kit—” began Cordelia.
“Ye heavens, arguments are natural—and both of you will take turns being the arse,” replied Charlotte. “You will sort them out, because your strengths are far greater than your weaknesses.” At that moment, all the fears squeezing at her heart gave way to a smile. “And because you love each other.”
Wrexford fetched a glass of brandy for Charlotte and himself before adding, “I suggest that you don’t argue with Charlotte over the power of Love. It’s a dispute you will never win.”
Cordelia took hold of Sheffield’s hand. Their eyes met as their fingers twined together.
“Though only the devil knows why Cordelia is completely blinded by Love,” drawled the earl on seeing the look that passed between them.
“Arse,” shot back Sheffield.
Somehow the music of their ensuing laughter helped steel Charlotte’s resolve. “You know, Alison has been very disappointed that there have been no wedding plans in which to meddle,” she announced. “When we rescue her—”
