He studied her for a few moments.
“Do you honestly believe that?” he asked, his eye twitching.
“Yes,” she replied. She didn’t really, at least not entirely, but she wanted him to react. However, instead of getting angry with her, he sighed and moved a few paces away. He ran his fingers along his chin and looked into the distance. As yet, he hadn’t made any effort to catch up with Alfred and Mary.
“Alfred is my younger brother. I raised him. I have shaped him. It was my responsibility to make sure he grew into an honorable man. I’m sure you can appreciate that cultivating a strong plant requires the right conditions. So too is it with men.”
“And plants also require space to grow, otherwise they will become stunted.”
Nathaniel laughed.
“Do either I or Alfred appear stunted to you?” he asked.
Charlotte arched her eyebrows and looked to the side, which only made Nathaniel’s face redden and his voice grow more intense.
“I have been responsible for doing things right for both of us. You wouldn’t understand that weight because it’s not something you have ever had to do. You can afford to be lax.”
Charlotte’s head dropped at this because, in fact, she knew about this kind of responsibility all too well.
“You presume much, Your Grace,” she said quietly. Curiosity flashed across his mind, but before he could inquire as to her meaning, Charlotte spoke again. She lifted her gaze and looked deeply into his eyes.
“Perhaps I would understand you if you opened up a little. I’d like to because I cannot understand this slavish devotion to propriety, even when it interferes with your family’s happiness. Is there no room at all for any flexibility in your life?”
She almost asked in vain because Nathaniel had not proven himself to be open to sharing his innermost thoughts. But she asked anyway, and Nathaniel did not dismiss it immediately.
He took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice adopted the same thoughtfulness as when they had discussed classical literature.
“Being proper isn’t just about duty. It’s about holding ourselves to a high ideal so that we might strive to be the best versions of ourselves. And it’s also a shield to protect Alfred. I have seen many men fall, many families ruined by scandal. I will not be complacent. I must be vigilant. It is the only way to secure our future.”
“And who protects you, Your Grace?”
The tender words slipped between her lips. The concern and curiosity were earnest. Nathaniel carried the weight of his family on his shoulders. Although Charlotte wasn’t the eldest, she did think of herself as the most responsible. For the first time, she began to think that she and Nathaniel were not so different after all.
Nathaniel did not reply at first. He paused, a wave of uncertainty clouding his face. The streets were deserted around them. They were standing beside a small shelter. The open entrance was directly behind Charlotte. Charlotte could imagine him marching away, but she found herself genuinely interested in the answer to the question.
“I only ask because?—”
Charlotte’s words were interrupted as he stepped forward, pushing her back into the shelter. Suddenly, the shadows swirled around her, and she was hidden from the world. This part of town was quiet anyway, and the thunder of unexpected excitement crashed through her mind.
Before she could do anything, Nathaniel’s hands were cupping her cheeks, pulling her in, and his lips were upon her once again. Charlotte’s murmurs were swallowed by his mouth. She melted into him, the heat of his kiss making her feel like a candle.
Their breath was one. The second kiss was even more exhilarating than the first. She thought it would go on forever.
And then it was over.
Nathaniel pulled away. A shadow of heat lingered on her lips. She studied Nathaniel’s eyes, searching for any hint of meaning, but they were vague and mysterious. Breath caught in her throat, and it took a moment for her to exhale deeply.
His lips parted. Whether he intended to kiss her for a third time or say something that would shatter her world, she would never know. He clamped his lips shut and then tore his gaze away. He stepped back. It was only one step, but there might as well have been a chasm between them.
“I apologize, Lady Charlotte. I forgot myself. Please forgive this impropriety. I…” His voice trailed away, and then he turned on his heels. Charlotte was so stunned by the kiss that she couldn’t move. She thrust out a hand to steady herself.
After their first kiss, she had been filled with guilt and was utterly wretched with fear. Now, she was confused.
Why would Nathaniel kiss her now, of all times?
Why would he risk the scandal?
Why would he go against all the principles he held so dear?
