She shook her head. “You’vehad too trying a day. But we are doing this together. That’s all there is to it.”
He stared down at her, this love of his life. A woman he had lost once. Had almost lost twice and this time permanently. He nodded, taking her hand, and they moved to the milling group of newcomers to face whatever would come together.
Chapter Twenty
Charlotte closed her eyes as her mother ran the brush through her hair to finish out the hundred strokes. The Duchess of Sheffield had dismissed the maid and been the one to help Charlotte into her night rail and make her preparations for bed. It felt a little like she was eight again, though she didn’t complain, especially when she smiled up at her and saw her mother’s lingering fear. After this day, she understood it and the duchess’s need to be a little closer.
Once they had arrived home, it had been that way with everyone. They’d shared a quiet coming together of a loving family, counting its blessings in recognition of what they could have so easily lost.
“I’m perfectly fine, Mama,” she reassured her with a squeeze of her hand. “I promise you.”
Her mother traced the mark of a bruise that marred Charlotte’s cheek, and her frown deepened. “We were so close to losing you. You and Ewan both. I cannot imagine how afraid you must have been. I should have known something was wrong, I should have—”
“Oh, Mama,” Charlotte soothed as she got to her feet and embraced her mother. “There is nothing you could have done. Josiah was a troubled man. At least he is at peace now.”
Her mother’s face twisted. “Peace he does not deserve. And I cannot believe Ewan consented to have his other brother released from responsibility for this near-tragedy.”
Charlotte sighed. “That wasmyidea, Mama. Roger could have killed me, but in the end he turned against all that hate and did the right thing. He and the Duchess of Donburrow will face enough censure as this story circulates. They will suffer for whatever their roles were.”
“You are too good,” her mother said. She walked with Charlotte to her bed and smoothed the covers back. Charlotte smiled at the gesture and climbed into the cool covers her mother tucked her in like she had when she was as child.
“Should I stay with you tonight?” she asked.
Charlotte touched her mother’s cheek gently. “Thank you, Mama, but no. I promise you I’ll be fine.”
She sighed. “Very well. Goodnight, my love.” She leaned in to kiss Charlotte’s cheek and then turned to go. When she reached the door, she stopped. “I’d forgotten.”
Charlotte wrinkled her brow. “Forgotten what, Mama?”
Her mother returned, digging around in her pocket. She withdrew an item wrapped in tissue. “After Ewan left Mr. Griffin’s shop and before Matthew took me away, that nasty, horrid man gave me this.”
Charlotte took the parcel and unwrapped it. It was the silver notebook she had purchased for Ewan the day before. “He didn’t engrave it,” she murmured as she traced the smooth back. “Of course he didn’t. He knew all along it would be used as bait to get me and Ewan to his shop for Josiah’s plans.”
“He’ll never show his face in this village again,” the duchess said with a sniff. “And I will work to ensure he never works in a good shop again. Will you give it to Ewan?”
Charlotte turned the item over and looked at the beautifully carved front. “I think so, yes,” she said. “Not right now.”
Right now she wasn’t sure where she stood with him. They’d remained side by side, facing the consequences of all that had happened that day. He’d stayed close to her at supper and afterward. But there was something about the way he watched her…she wasn’t certain what it meant.
And all her bravado about facing his rejection now felt flat. She’d been through too much to have him tell her he wouldn’t allow her love once again. Perhaps she would do it later. When she didn’t feel so…raw.
Her mother kissed her forehead this time and then moved to the door. She said her goodnights one last time and closed the door behind her, leaving Charlotte alone.
She lay in the bed for a moment, just staring at the notebook. She was about to lean over and blow out her candle when there was a knock at her door. She pursed her lips. She appreciated her mother’s care, but in this moment, she really wanted to be alone.
She pushed out of the bed and moved to the door. As she flung it open, she said, “Did you forget something, Mama?”
But the person she revealed on the other side was not her mother. It was Ewan. Ewan with his shirt undone, his boots long gone. Ewan staring down at her, his dark eyes sliding over her like he wasn’t certain she was real.
Ewan, so beautiful and perfect and here and hers.
“I thought she’d never leave,” he signed as he pushed into the room, gathering her into his arms.
She clung to him, lifting into his kiss as he kicked the door shut behind him. She didn’t say a word as he backed her to the bed, lay her down on the pillows, stripped off his shirt before he joined her.
His mouth was hungry on hers. It was possessive in a way that went far deeper than any time he’d claimed her before. It was desperate. But she was equally so. After all, she had watched as Ewan was threatened. Even knowing Josiah’s gun had no ammunition hadn’t quelled her fear. Anything could have happened. She could have lost him.
So she pushed aside her doubt now. Pushed aside her questions and her fears and she surrendered to this man she loved as his hands began to roam over her body. He touched every inch of her exposed skin, his fingertips dancing over her with tenderness and care.
