“Thank you,” Marcus said. “I appreciate that.”
The rest of the dinner progressed with talk of Charlotte’s and Blayne’s decision to delay their wedding, which somehow morphed into a most peculiar debate about fabric and shoes.
“Are you sure postponing is wise?” Guthrie asked Blayne later that evening when they were alone.
The hour was getting late. Marcus had already retired a short while ago, and Blayne himself was beginning to think about heading home. His intention was to go find Charlotte so he could bid her farewell before taking his leave.
He met Guthrie’s gaze head on. “I dinnae ken.”
Guthrie nodded with pensive slowness. “Have you told her of your fear?”
“Nae.”
“Maybe you should.”
“For what purpose?” Blayne shook his head. “What can telling her possibly accomplish at this point? We have to marry in order to safeguard her reputation.”
“And if your uncle decides to put in an appearance?”
“Then I’ll figure something out.” He took a long sip of his drink and prayed he’d know what to do if Seamus showed up, because at the moment, he’d no bloody clue.
17
When Charlotte set off from home five days later, she did so with purpose. Since returning to Russell House, her days had been impossibly busy, filled with back and forth conversations regarding wedding-related topics. At least today, she would get to see Blayne again.
After sending him a note the previous afternoon, he’d agreed to visit for tea. Considering how much time they’d spent in each other’s company prior to their real engagement, she missed him dreadfully. To Charlotte’s relief, her mother had agreed to give her a reprieve from planning the wedding, which probably had more to do with the viscountess’s own prior engagements than anything else.
So with only a couple of hours to spare before Blayne arrived, Charlotte made her way along the fashionable side-streets immediately behind Oxford Street with Daisy in tow. As they approached Bond Street, a gentleman exited a shop up ahead and stepped onto the pavement.
“Mr. Cooper?” Charlotte quickened her step. She’d been hoping to meet him again before he left England, but with her own daily schedule now packed to the brim, she’d not known if it were possible.
He halted in response to his name and turned. “Miss Russell. How perfectly serendipitous that I should find you here. I’ve been meaning to call – or at the very least send a note – to congratulate you on your recent engagement. I saw the announcement in the paper a few days ago but I must confess, I’ve been a bit busy, what with my wedding tomorrow and the ensuing journey back to New York. Please forgive me.”
“Of course.” Charlotte drew closer, until he was able to fall into step beside her. “I’ve been meaning to call on you for similar reasons, but have been unable to spare the time. This is my first day off from all the wedding frenzy.”
“And I’m sure you’ve only been allowed it because your mother had other plans.”
“I believe there was a charity meeting she could not possibly miss.” Charlotte allowed a brief moment of silence to settle between them before she said, “You’ve made an excellent match for yourself and I just want to tell you that I wish you every happiness.”
“No hard feelings?”
“None at all.” Charlotte smiled. “Considering what you came here for, I’d say Lady Fiona is much better suited to be your wife than I ever was. She’ll make an excellent Society hostess without going off-script, as it were, whereas I’m a lot more unpredictable.”
“So I learned,” he said, dropping a glance in her direction. “I’m still impressed by your negotiating skills.”
“And I am immensely grateful to you for agreeing to make a new deal with me.”
“I never pass on a good opportunity, Miss Russell, and in the end I did snag myself a better wife. If you’ll excuse me for saying so.”
“You also offered Papa compensation.” Having almost reached the end of the street, Charlotte drew to a halt and waited for Mr. Cooper to do the same. “Had you not done so, my father would still be in financial trouble and not nearly as forgiving of me as he has been. And since you had no need to do so, I feel I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”
Mr. Cooper frowned. He took a deep breath, expelled it, and Charlotte realized he looked extremely uncomfortable all of a sudden – like his clothes were starting to itch.
He cleared his throat. “I did promise Mr. MacNeil I wouldn’t say anything, but I’ve never been one to take credit for something I haven’t done. It feels wrong – deceitful – even if I’ve been asked to do so.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t offer compensation to your father. To do so would have gone against my principles since you were the one who broke the initial agreement.”
