“How marvelous for us. We thought we’d be snatching up one new release and instead there are two.” Blayne gave his attention back to Charlotte, only to have the joy knocked out of him when he noticed her pallor. Concerned, he dipped his head and whispered near her ear. “What’s the matter?”
“I… I don’t understand.” She sounded more than a little confused. Clearly something had upset her greatly.
“I’ll be over there by the counter in case you need me,” Mr. Lee said. He’d apparently picked up on the increased tension and the need to offer some privacy.
“Thank ye.” Blayne waited until he’d moved away before turning back to Charlotte. “What don’t ye understand?”
“It’s not possible.” She stared down at the book she held between her hands –The Marquess’s Unsolved Mysteries– and slowly shook her head. “It just can’t be.”
“Would ye like to sit down for a wee bit, lass? Ye’re not looking so well.” Indeed, she seemed to be on the verge of tears. Troubled by her sudden shift in mood, Blayne eased her away from the table and toward a comfortable looking armchair. “I’ll just fetch Daisy for ye. It willnae take a moment.”
Hurrying over to where the books on sewing, knitting, and needlepoint were kept, he located the maid. “There’s something wrong with Charlotte. I think she needs yer help.”
Without hesitation Daisy handed him the book she’d been leafing through and rushed to Charlotte’s side. Blayne watched from a distance while she attempted to ease her mistress’s troubles. It bothered him that he couldn’t discern the cause behind Charlotte’s sudden distress. It also vexed him that she wouldn’t explain it.
“She’d like to go home,” Daisy came to inform him a few seconds later. “Immediately.”
“What happened?” When Daisy made to turn away without providing an answer, he stayed her with his hand. “Tell me.”
“I can’t,” Daisy said with a pained look in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Not good enough.
He cared too much about Charlotte and her well-being to let her or her maid brush him off when she clearly required assistance. Hell, she’d hired him to protect her. And now… Well, now there were all sorts of confusing feelings whirling around inside him. They’d kissed, damn it. Twice. That had to mean he was more to her than a passing fancy.
Without second guessing himself even once, he stormed past Daisy and sank into a crouching position in front of Charlotte. “Ye ken ye can trust me.”
Her gaze seemed to focus on his. She blinked, and finally nodded.
Good.
He reached for her hand and gently held it. “Tell me what this is about.”
Instead of confiding as he had hoped, she gave her head a small shake and closed her eyes.
“Please,” he begged. “Whatever it is, let me help ye sort it out.”
She bit her lip and indecision filled her eyes. She wanted to confide in him but something was holding her back.
He squeezed her hand and spoke the only words that mattered. “Ye must realize by now that ye’re more to me than a mere employer.” The truth might end things between them sooner than he would have liked. But if it didn’t – if she stayed with him and faced what they were becoming instead of running away – it might give her the courage to open up and be completely honest. “I want ye to forget the agreement we made and the money ye offered to pay me.”
“But—”
“No, just listen. This is no longer a job to me, lass. It’s a hell of a lot more. And right now, seeing ye like this is killing me inside. Do ye understand what I’m saying?”
“I think so.”
“Right.” He held her gaze a while longer, then carefully retrieved the Cunningham book from between her fingers. No sense in pressing her further. “I’ll purchase this along with the other two books, then we’ll find a hackney so ye can go home.”
“I’d like to stop by Temple Gardens first,” Charlotte said when Blayne gave the driver instructions a short while later. The small park was on their way but more importantly, it was never very crowded. “It’s a warm day. Perfect for a walk if you’re able to spare the time.”
“Of course I can,” he said as he handed her up.
Swallowing, Charlotte lowered herself to the forward facing bench. Daisy climbed in immediately after and sat down beside her while Blayne chose the opposite seat. His steady gaze never left Charlotte’s. It stayed on her for the duration of the ride, reminding her of his friendship and support, as well as theso much morethat still filled her heart to overflowing.
He mattered to her as well, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to face the extent of her feelings for him just yet. Besides, there were other things for them to discuss. Something of greater importance right now than the recent shift in their relationship.
The carriage slowed and came to a halt. Charlotte waited until Blayne had stepped down before she turned to Daisy. “I wish to speak with him alone. Can you wait for us here, please?”
