“Mr. Cooper,” Charlotte said. “Since we are being honest with one another, I must inform you that I have no intention of wedding anyone.”
His eyes narrowed ever so briefly, just enough to convey his frustration. But then he smiled and offered his arm. “Come, Miss Russell. Some fresh air will do us both good. And besides, there’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you in private.”
He watched her with the same degree of focus she imagined him giving a business contract. And then his gaze dropped, ever so fleetingly to her breasts, and whatever appreciation she’d felt in response to the levity he’d displayed a moment ago was swept away by aversion. Mr. Cooper could be pleasant, jovial even, but the idea of letting him touch her in all those places a husband would have every right to made her recoil.
“I really don’t think—”
“Miss Russell.” A smooth voice near her left shoulder rumbled through her in low tones.
Charlotte sucked in a breath and turned. Every tightly strung nerve within her relaxed while a rush of heat bathed her skin. “Mr. Wright.”
He bowed, his warm gaze snaring hers until it was almost as though they’d been swept away to some private corner where only the two of them existed. Her heart beat with frantic anticipation as he raised her hand to his lips for a kiss. His mouth pressed down over the back of her white satin glove, completely destroying the one inch distance etiquette deemed appropriate. Charlotte’s stomach became a jumbled chaos that nearly erupted into a blaze of fire the moment she felt his teeth scrape against her.
It was over before she could fully comprehend what had happened. To anyone watching it would have looked like nothing more than a thoughtless show of interest on his part, but to her, it had been like a lightning bolt to every sensitive part of her body.
“Mr. Cooper,” Mr. MacNeil said as if he’d not just turned her legs to jelly. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Mr. Cooper said with a forced smile suggesting he didn’t agree with what he was saying. “We were just talking about you. I was ready to bet you wouldn’t show.”
“And yet,” Mr. MacNeil said while meeting the other man’s gaze head on. “Here I am.”
“So you are,” Mr. Cooper murmured while taking a sip from the champagne he’d just snatched off a passing tray. “What a relief.”
“I actually think you might believe it is in a moment,” Mr. MacNeil said. “You see, I’ve just learned there are talks of building a cast-iron arch bridge across the river Severn in Gloucestershire. The tender will be announced next week, but I was thinking you might want to—”
“Who’s in charge of the project?”
“You’ll want to speak with Mr. Hugh Lewis. Are you familiar with him?”
“We’ve met.” Mr. Cooper glanced about. “In fact, I saw him only an hour ago when I arrived, but then…”
To his credit, he stopped himself from suggesting Charlotte had gotten in the way of what could be a lucrative deal for him. Not that she cared. If she had to choose between writing her next novel and spending time with Mr. Cooper, she would choose work as well. With Mr. MacNeil however, the decision wasn’t as easy to make. In fact, she was starting to fear he might have the power to lure her away from the one thing that filled her with purpose and joy. He might even be able to make her forget that the only reason he was here right now was because she was paying him to attend.
And yet, she was more than eager to lose herself in the pretense if only for a night. The future she had planned would not include him or any other man for that matter. Her chance to savor this feeling of being desired was fleeting. Even if it was just an illusion, Charlotte had no wish to squander a single second.
With this in mind, she addressed Mr. Cooper. “Perhaps you would like to go find him?”
“I probably shouldn’t leave you alone.”
With Mr. MacNeil.
The unspoken words were implied by the uncertain look he sent the large Scotsman.
“It’s all right,” Charlotte said. “There are plenty of other guests about and my cousins did say they would find me as soon as they’d spoken with some of their friends.”
Mr. Cooper gave her a pensive look. Eventually he nodded. “Please don’t go anywhere. I won’t be long and when I return I’d like to escort you to supper.”
“Of course.” Charlotte added a sweet smile and waited.
Mr. Cooper turned to Mr. MacNeil. “I’m still hoping you’ll find time to show me your company. Perhaps we can agree on a day and time later this evening?”
Mr. MacNeil answered with a tight smile. “Of course.”
Seemingly satisfied with this response, Mr. Cooper turned and walked away with a clipped stride. Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief.
“I thought he’d never leave,” Mr. MacNeil said, echoing her unspoken thoughts.
She glanced at him. “I was starting to doubt you would show. After all, you’ve always been punctual before.”
