“Bed?” Augusta shot her sister a look. “But it’s only evening.”
“Yes, but I think that it would be a good idea if you were to retire early today,” Charity said. The two did not protest further, and Maria escorted them out.
Charity let out a sigh when her sisters had finally left and allowed herself a moment of honesty.
“I just wish for their sake that Edward does not return to our lives,” she said. Temperance and Alethea were by her side. “Even though he is gone now, who is to say that by some twist of fate, he should not return? I will forever be at risk if I am to be by myself.”
“Yes, that is why the match with Duncan is suitable,” Alethea said. “You would need protection.”
“What you say is rational,” Charity sighed, “and I am not denying that I will get certain protections from my marriage to the duke. But I think that things have changed for me now, and now it is no longer merely a marriage of convenience.”
Temperance and Alethea exchanged looks, shocked at first and then joyous.
“Oh, how lovely,” Alethea clapped her hands together. “Are you saying that you have begun to feel for him?”
“Rather intensely,” Charity said, her heart beating fast even as she said the words, “I believe… well, I believe that I might even love him.”
“Our Charity in love,” Temperance was grinning ear to ear. “Never thought I would live to see the day, but I am glad that I have.”
CHAPTER 21
“Charity, do you have a moment?”
Duncan approached Charity the next day, startling her. She looked at him, flushed.
“At this moment?” she said. She had been thinking about him all morning, but now that he was here in the flesh, she felt her nerves return.
“Yes,” Duncan nodded. “If you can spare a moment, I know you’ve been busy with your guests.”
“No, it’s fine,” Charity nodded and followed him outside the estate. Duncan had done a wonderful job of accommodating all of her friends, giving them all a place to stay and the highest level of hospitality.
Neither of them spoke until they had reached the garden. Charity could sense a nervous energy emanating from, which was rare. In turn, it made her nervous as well.
What does he want to say?
“I hope that you have been well,” Duncan began, not meeting her gaze. It felt impersonal, as though he was meeting her for the first time.
“Why are you being so formal?” Charity asked, confused. “Has something happened, Your Grace? Have you heard any word from my uncle?”
“You do not need to worry about him,” Duncan assured. “I have spoken to the constable since, and he has told me that he will be locked for the foreseeable future. There will be a trial in the next month, but he does not have any legal recourse that will work in his favor.”
Charity nodded, and then knotted her hands in front of her.
“Then why is it that you look so concerned?”
“You don’t have to marry me,” Duncan blurted out, taking Charity entirely off guard.
“What?” Charity did not know what else could be said to such a statement; it had taken her entirely off guard.
“You’re free now,” Duncan said, carefully. “Your uncle Edward has been removed now, and there is no way that he will return. The law will work on your behalf, as we have witnesses and letters.”
“Yes.. but…” Charity forced herself to look at him directly, even though there was a tremble in her chest now. “I do not understand what that has to do with… our marriage?”
She had the word with almost a dull shame. Had he decided that he did not wish to marry her anymore? It activated her worst insecurities, and he had seen something in her that made him change his mind.
“You’re no longer trapped as you had been before,” he replied without a trace of emotion in his voice.
“But what gave you the impression that I felt trapped?” she said, her voice shaking now. If he noticed, then he did not let it show.
