“You are glaring again.”
“I am merely observing our surroundings.” Charlotte followed his gaze toward a cluster of young gentlemen nearby and immediately hid a smile. “Ah,” she said softly.
Victor narrowed his eyes slightly. “What does ah mean?”
“Nothing at all, Your Grace.” She was absolutely teasing him now.
Victor leaned slightly closer as they began walking toward the gardens together. “Careful, Duchess.”
“Or what?” she asked innocently.
“Or I may decide this carriage experiment deserves a reward.”
Charlotte nearly stumbled on the gravel path at that. Victor caught her arm immediately, deeply pleased by the sudden color flooding her cheeks.
“You are insufferable,” she whispered.
“And yet you continue blushing whenever I speak.”
“Because you say outrageous things in public.”
Victor bent closer still, lowering his voice near her ear. “Would you rather I save them for private?”
Charlotte shot him a scandalized look while trying very hard not to smile. Victor chuckled quietly under his breath as he guided her further into the gardens.
The fear and tension from the carriage ride had not vanished entirely; he could still feel the old shadows lingering unpleasantly inside him.
But Charlotte’s hand rested warmly upon his arm now.
And somehow, for the first time in years, Victor felt as though perhaps the ghosts of his past no longer held quite as much power over him as they once had.
But then Victor realized he was no longer frightened merely of losing someone.
I'm frightened because I finally have someone… I'm scared of losing.
CHAPTER 24
“Your Grace, how delighted you are that you have graced us with your company,” Lord and Lady Holmby greeted them as they entered the party.
“Thank you for the invitation,” Victor said.
“I believe your mother and sisters are already here, Duchess,” Lady Holmby said.
“How delightful,” Charlotte said.
Just then, Joan approached the pair as boisterous as ever.
“There you are, Charlotte, oh my, you are flushed,” Joan said.
Charlotte felt mortified. “It is the heat of the sun, of course. I should get some refreshment.”
Victor cleared his throat beside her. “I'm sure that is all it is. Should I get us some punch?”
“Oh, never mind that. Charlotte must come to mother immediately for she has the most urgent news,” Joan said.
Charlotte looked at Victor.
“Of course, go on ahead. I see a few colleagues I would like to speak with,” Victor said.
