“No matter; just do your best to keep up.”
“Yes, miss.”
As soon as she’d taken lunch, Charlotte went with Margaret toward the south woods. She took off in a canter with Penny and turned down the lane that led to the tree house. The sight of Alex’s worn-out horse tied to the tree caused her insides to thrill with anticipation.
“Hello, up there,” she called.
Two brown-haired heads, one older than the other, popped out of the glassless window.
“Go away,” Walter called. “No girls allowed.”
Alex stifled a grin and gave an apologetic tilt of his head. “Yes, no, um... girls. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, I wasn’t planning to enter,” Charlotte said nonchalantly, though Alex’s smiling face drew her in. “I just wanted you to know I was headed into town, not to return for an hour or so.”
“Then, get going,” Walter said. “What do we care? We are busy.” Three worms sat perched on the banister of the tree house, and Walter returned to his intense concentration.
Alex, however, offered a purposeful wink. Charlotte hoped that meant he’d be free in the woods by the time she returned so they could have another conversation.
She turned toward the main road, grateful Margaret had caught up to her.
They went directly to the vicarage and collected Rebekah Laurence for their visit to town. “How are you, my dear friend? It’s been too long.” Charlotte smiled down at her friend’s growing belly. “I can finally tell you are expecting! How do you feel?”
“A little tired, but the excitement outweighs it.”
“How good to hear.” They discussed the coming baby a little longer, and then Charlotte turned the conversation a different direction. “Now for the musicians. Have you compiled a list of names?”
“Yes,” Rebekah said. “I asked a few members of our congregation for referrals.”
“Perfect.”
They spent the next half hour making rounds to the addresses Rebekah had compiled. Charlotte asked each musician to play a short sample from their repertoire and invited the best to join them in a week’s time at the ball. She tried to overlook the barren rooms and faded curtains of the meager dwellings, and the pots of thin soup that hung over their scanty fires. Each one of these people could use extra coin, and she was glad her mother had allowed for local musicians. Charlotte wished she could have invited every single one of them to come play.
Once finished, she and Margaret escorted Rebekah home and again mounted their horses. Margaret rubbed her back as her horse plodded along the main road that bordered the Roylance family’s property. When they were within sight of both the castle and the tree house, Charlotte slowed. “Go on ahead, Margaret,” she said. “I am longing to give Penny her head. It’s been too long since I’ve had the opportunity for a good ride. I’m in sight of the castle, and you have done your duty well; you can go back to the stables, if you wish.”
Margaret nodded gratefully.
Another pang of guilt hit Charlotte. She tried to justify her lies. There wasn’t a good alternative. Alex had listened to her more than anyone, and he too had been forthcoming about his past and the wounds of his heart. That kind of genuine relationship deserved to be fostered.
She felt Alex needed a friend just as much as she did. He was also terribly handsome and understanding and inviting, but those were secondary to his good nature. If her family couldn’t see why he was upstanding, that was their problem, and she’d go on meeting with him for as long as she must until they accepted him. They had both committed to taking risks, and the memory of his hand grasping hers and his eyes meeting her gaze firmed her resolve.
Veering to the left, Charlotte galloped until she pulled into a small hunting path a hundred yards away from the tree house. She slowed Penny to a stop just as Alex approached her on his mount.
“Good afternoon, Charlotte,” he said, tipping his hat.
Her heart skittered. Would she ever become accustomed to the feeling that accompanied even a few of his words and her name from his lips? “Good day to you, Alex.”
“I hope you know that even though the worms and the birds were intriguing, I much prefer speaking with you in the woods.” His roguish smile did her in.
“Even if those discussions sometimes involve pudding?”
“Absolutely.” His tone was smug and confident, reminding her of the self-assured boy she’d always admired.
“Well, since my maid Margaret went on ahead, and Walter is still in the tree house with his wildlife, there will be rules since our chaperone isn’t aware of his duty.”
Alex smiled and inclined his head. “I have always known you as a female of principle. I would expect nothing less. What are your terms?”
She smiled at his easy tone. It was one of the things she loved best about him. “First, we must always be in view of the castle.”
