She wandered to the entry and glanced out, and he knew that she looked for Charlotte, before she strode back to him.
He could have told Maria that Charlotte was already gone because he watched her climb the stairs, worried that it may be too difficult for her.
“Really Victor, haven’t you taught your wife anything?” Maria stated in an exasperated tone.
“What would you have me teach her, Maria?” Victor returned, irritation laced in his tone.
“Dinner for one. When guests are present, you simply don’t serve three courses. Doesn’t she know that at least six are required? Even if there are only three, there should be more choices for those sitting down at the meal.”
“Had you been invited, or at least expected, dinner would have been a more elaborate affair. As you showed up on the doorstep just two hours before it was served, you cannot expect the household to be prepared.”
“Are you telling me that is how you eat at all your meals?”
“When it is the two of us, yes,” Victor acknowledged. “Neither Charlotte nor I see the necessity of setting an elaborate table. It is a waste.”
Maria’s eyes narrowed. “You are just defending her, as you always have.”
“I will always defend my wife. Unlike my family, she has my best interest at heart.” Victor straightened and looked hard at his sister. “Even though you don’t deserve, nor require an explanation, I will have you know that my first meals in this house would have put those in Mother’s home to shame. It is I who called a halt to them because they were clearly because I was in the household.”
Maria chuckled. “Kind to a fault, as always, where Charlotte is concerned. When will you get over feeling like you owe her your life and that she somehow saved you?”
“Because she did you ungrateful...”
“Ah, ah,” Kingsley interrupted. “It is late, and you both are obviously exhausted. Why don’t we all retire and forget this conversation occurred?”
Victor glared at his sister before speaking in a calmer tone. “I will say this one more time Maria. Charlotte is my wife. If you cannot show her, and treat her with, respect, you will leave in the morning. Am I understood?”
“Yes,” she finally answered.
“Why are you really here, Maria?”
She blinked up at him. “For the reasons I stated. To meet your wife.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” Victor glanced over to note that Charlotte stood on the stairs. He could not be certain how long she had been there. A moment later, she returned to them.
“Polly is waiting to assist you, Maria.”
“Thank you, Charlotte. You are too kind,” Maria answered as she took her husband’s arm and glided out of the room.
Victor crossed to the sideboard and poured them both a glass of brandy.
“How much did you hear?” he asked quietly.
Charlotte glanced up at him, worry in her blue eyes. “What do you mean?”
He smiled slightly. “From my angle in this room, I could see your skirts on the stairs. My sister and her husband could not however.”
Charlotte walked away from him. “I am sorry to have embarrassed you.”
He laughed. “Charlotte, you are not an embarrassment. Never! My sister, on the other hand, is very much so.”
He took her glass from her. “Let us finish these upstairs. You might enjoy it while you bathe.” He leaned closer. “I hear the clink of a glass when you bathe each night. What is your beverage of choice?”
Crimson spread across her cheeks. “Whisky or brandy. Sometimes wine.”
“I will keep that in mind.” He kissed her cheek near her ear. “Now come along. You need to rest your hip and I’m anxious to hold you in our bed.”
There were only two things that kept Victor’s passion in check when Charlotte emerged from her bath. One, that her hip pained her, and intimacy would probably add to her discomfort. The second, because his blasted sister was here.
