Charlotte stared at the butler. Arabella’s eyes widened while Margaret looked moments away from fainting entirely.
“The duke?” Charlotte repeated weakly.
“Yes, miss,” the butler replied calmly.
Arabella made a strangled sound suspiciously close to laughter. “Oh, this grows better and better,” she whispered. “Please bring him to us.”
Charlotte shot her a murderous look just as the butler stepped away to escort Victor into the room.
Unfortunately, the man had the audacity to look devastatingly handsome.
Charlotte stood at attention automatically with her cousins, though inwardly she resented every inch of him on principle. Tall and broad-shouldered, dressed immaculately in dark tailoring that only emphasised his imposing frame, he entered the room with the sort of confidence that suggested the world rearranged itself for his convenience. His black hair was slightly windswept from travel, his green eyes sharp and assessing as they settled upon her, and Charlotte hated herself a little for noticing any of it.
“Your Grace,” Arabella said smoothly, recovering first with an elegant curtsy.
Margaret nearly tangled herself in her skirts while curtsying. “Your Grace,” she murmured shyly.
Victor inclined his head politely. “Ladies, please excuse my intrusion on your afternoon tea.”
Victor offered her a surprisingly gentle nod before turning his attention fully to Charlotte. “Miss Brown.”
“Your Grace,” Charlotte replied stiffly.
For one dreadful moment, nobody spoke.
Then Charlotte remembered her manners. “May I present my cousins,” she said quickly, “The Duchess of Albury and her sister, Lady Margaret Marriot.”
“A pleasure,” Victor said smoothly.
Arabella smiled far too brightly. “The pleasure is entirely ours, for we were just speaking of you, were we not, Charlotte?”
Charlotte wanted to throttle her.
Victor’s gaze returned to Charlotte almost immediately. “I have come to speak with you,” he said. “Privately, if possible.”
Charlotte instantly noticed the way Arabella and Margaret exchanged scandalised little looks. Arabella’s expression positively glowed with interest.
Absolutely not. Do not leave me alone with him.
Charlotte forced a polite smile. “Whatever you have to say may surely be said before my cousins,” she replied.
Victor’s brow lifted slightly. “I would prefer privacy.”
“And I would prefer not to be murdered by gossip,” Charlotte returned sweetly.
Arabella made another suspicious choking sound.
Victor looked entirely unbothered. “I assure you my intentions are respectable.”
Charlotte almost laughed aloud at that.
Oh I've seen what you call respectable time alone with a lady.
Before she could object further, Arabella moved. “Margaret,” she said brightly, “I believe we ought to inspect the garden.”
Margaret blinked in alarm. “Ought we?”
“We absolutely ought,” Arabella declared.
