Charity stared into the dark for a moment, but her heart was still beating too fast.
Still, there was one change. Her mind now felt safer.
Was it him? It is him.Maybe her husband-to-be wasn’t such a monster after all.
CHAPTER 6
“Before we go in,” Charity said, “I need you to remember what we agreed.”
They had finally arrived in York and were minutes away from the estate. Even though it had not been long since Charity had left, it felt as though she was coming back a changed person.
Duncan slowed his horse without comment, the leather creaking softly as he drew up beside her. He didn’t look at her straight away and scanned the front of the house with the same watchful focus he used on the road.
You want to speak first,” he said.
“Yes,” she replied, “As we had discussed. I want him to hear the words from my mouth, in my own home, with my sisters watching, so there is no confusion.”
“Mhm,” Duncan’s gaze finally moved to her face. “You’ve been careful not to look at me much since the inn.”
Charity felt the familiar warmth threaten her cheeks, but she didn’t let it make her flustered.
“I’ve been tired,” she said, “and I’ve been trying to keep my thoughts where they belong, which is on Augusta and Matilda. But I am looking at you now.”
Duncan held her gaze for a long moment, and Charity disliked that a part of her wanted to look away first, as if doing so would be safer.
She didn’t, though.
“When we step inside,” she said, “I will address my uncle and explain that I was taken without my consent, that I was found and brought to safety, and that I am returning to collect my sisters. You will stand with me, so he understands I am not alone, but you will let me finish unless he interrupts or tries to prevent me from leaving with Augusta and Matilda.”
“Fine,” he said, though there was a slight hint of annoyance on his features. Charity’s shoulders eased by a fraction, though her nerves didn’t.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Duncan didn’t respond to the thanks; he only nodded once, then rode forward again. The lane curved, and the estate came fully into view. “It’s deteriorating,” he said as he took in the view.
“It’s no wonder he is after your inheritance,” Duncan made a face, glancing at the dilapidated state of the estate around him. The steps had visible cracks running through them, and the garden had seen better days. It was an obvious sign of neglect, and one that no respectable gentleman would ever let his estate get to.
Charity nodded, understanding what he had meant, and then began to frown. “It will become even clearer to you as you meet him. Duplicitous and materialistic is the word I would use to describe him.”
Duncan shrugged his shoulders. The Duke of Blackstone was infamous for being somewhat of a recluse, but he had met his fair share of people throughout his life. He liked to think that his discernment was sharp, and he had great confidence in his ability to deal with people. As they approached the entrance, Duncan kept a sharp eye on Charity.
She likes to feel that she is in charge,Duncan had realized about her. It was not something that he had an issue with, as the idea of a perfect damsel in distress had never appealed to him to begin with. But still, his protective guard was up. They hadn’t even reached the front steps when someone moved quickly around the side of the house and stopped dead in the yard.
“That’s Robert,” Charity shifted close to him, her frown deepening. Duncan looked back at the man with more scrutiny, having found out his identity. He had a smaller frame than himself and a hunched posture that did not give the appearance of confidence.
It was not a competition, surely. But Duncan thought to himself that he would be the clear winner if it were. The thought brought him a strange and petty sense of relief.
“I don’t think he’s noticed us coming in,” Charity continued to whisper to him. At that moment, Robert finally noticed them and got startled.
His face showed shock so plainly it was almost childish, and mouth dropped open.
“He’s looking at you as though he’s seen a ghost,” Duncan remarked under his breath, one of his fists tightening in response. Robert’s eyes moved to Duncan, widening even more.
“Charity.. you… I… we thought you were….”
“Dead?” Charity asked evenly.
“No. I didn’t mean that,” Robert’s face flushed as he tried to cover up his statement, “you had disappeared without a trace, and we were only assuming…”
