Page 37 of The Duke’s Christmas Redemption

Tomorrow, she thought as she drifted towards sleep. Tomorrow they would speak of partnership, and perhaps... perhaps they might find their way towards something deeper than mere duty after all.

Through her window, she saw the moon emerge from behind the storm clouds, casting silver light across Alverton’s rain-washed grounds. Just a few rooms away, William too would be preparing for rest, perhaps thinking of their conversation, of promises unspoken but growing stronger with each passing day. Perhaps, one day soon, when this crisis was past, he would come to her, as a husband came to his wife…

It was, Charlotte decided as sleep claimed her, rather like the early spring flowers pushing through frozen ground – this slow, careful warming between them. And like those first blooms, it required patience, nurturing, and above all, hope.

*****

Mid-September 1817

The morning room at Alverton Grange was bathed in autumn sunlight as William reviewed his correspondence. Charlotte, seated near the window with her own letters, found her attention repeatedly drawn to him. The past week had seen a subtle shift in their relationship – nothing that could be precisely named, but a warming that showed itself in a hundred small ways.

This morning, his cravat was tied with his usual precision, his coat fitting his broad shoulders perfectly, yet something in his bearing had softened. He looked up occasionally from his reading to share a quiet observation or seek her opinion on estate matters, each small inclusion making her heart flutter – with hope, and something more.

“The harvest reports are promising,” he remarked, setting aside one letter. “It seems that our efforts during the influenza outbreak prevented any serious delay.”

Charlotte smiled, remembering how they had worked together to maintain the estate’s productivity while caring for the sick.

“The tenants showed remarkable resilience. And having you personally oversee the arrangements meant a great deal to them.”

A ghost of a smile touched William’s lips – those small expressions that had once been so rare now appeared with increasing frequency.

“I had an excellent example to follow,” he said quietly. “Your dedication to their welfare taught me much about the true meaning of duty.”

Heat rose in Charlotte’s cheeks at the unexpected praise. Before she could respond, however, Phillips appeared in the doorway, his usual composure somewhat ruffled.

“Your Grace,” he addressed William, “Sir Geoffrey Caldwell has arrived. He... insists upon speaking with you immediately.”

Charlotte saw William’s expression shift, the warmth vanishing behind a mask of ducal authority.

“Caldwell? He was not expected.”

“No, Your Grace. He claims that the matter cannot wait.”

William rose, his movements precise and controlled.

“Show him to my study. I shall attend him shortly.”

As Phillips withdrew, Charlotte studied her husband’s face. Something in his rigid posture spoke of more than mere annoyance at an unexpected visitor.

“William?” She kept her voice soft, using the intimacy of his given name that had become more natural to her now. “Is all well?”

He turned to her, and for a moment she glimpsed something like concern in his grey eyes before his expression smoothed.

“Merely a minor business matter, I’m sure. Pray do not let it disturb your morning.”

But as he strode from the room, Charlotte could not shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. William’s carefully maintained control had slipped just enough to reveal genuine disquiet beneath.

What business could Sir Geoffrey Caldwell have that would disturb her usually unshakeable husband so deeply?

The morning passed with excruciating slowness. Charlotte attempted to focus on her correspondence, but her mind kept straying to William’s study. The sounds of the household continued their usual rhythm – maids and footmen moving quietly about their tasks, Mrs Walden’s measured tread in the corridor – yet beneath it all lay an undercurrent of tension she could not ignore.

Twice she heard raised voices from the direction of the study, though the thick walls muffled the words. Each time, her hand tightened on her pen, leaving spots of ink on her half-finished letters. This was not like William, whose control rarely slipped enough to allow his voice to carry beyond a closed door.

“More tea, Your Grace?”

Mrs Walden’s quiet inquiry made Charlotte start. She had not heard the Housekeeper enter.

“Thank you, yes.” Charlotte forced her hands to remain steady as she set aside her ruined letter. “Has His Grace... that is, do you know if Sir Geoffrey plans to stay for luncheon?”