Mrs. Wilson reached across the table to put her hand on Charlotte’s arm. “I always have kindness in my heart for you. I could take you on as a governess for the children. Lord knows they need lessons and discipline that I alone cannot provide.”
Charlotte smiled at Mrs. Wilson. “I will help you any way I can.” She could sleep in the garden shed, which was warm and sturdy.
“Charlotte, I know this is not what you want.” Mrs. Wilson gave her a compassionate look. “Let us call this a temporary solution. I do not think you should give up completely.”
Charlotte nodded. She had to agree, what else could she do? Mrs. Wilson might not truly understand the state of the scandal she found herself currently embroiled in, but Charlotte certainly did.
The very thought of marriage was a mirage to Charlotte. She knew that no man would marry a tainted woman. Lord Easterly certainly had no obligation to uphold that dowry he had granted her after how she had behaved.
The thought of Lord Easterly brought other emotions that Charlotte could not afford at present. She pushed them away and settled her heart on her current fate. She would make the best of this.
Mrs. Wilson was up once again working at the household chores as Charlotte went to say hello to the children. They were happy to see her, but it only afforded her a few minutes of peace before they began to scream for their tea.
Josh offered, “Can I help?”
“That would be grand,” Charlotte agreed as she scooped up two-year-old Dot and plopped the child on her hip.
“That’s a fancy-dress,” Rachel the other daughter of the Wilson brood said as she fingered the hem of Charlotte’s dress.
Charlotte laughed. “I suppose it is a bit fancy for play.” Charlotte made a note that she needed to see about getting her other clothes from Berwick Manor, even if she had no desire to go to the place herself. Perhaps she could send a letter to Lord Easterly.
Josh and Charlotte got the tea ready for the younger children. Charlotte set them up near the swing in the backyard. Dot insisted that Charlotte pushed her on the swing instead of eating, and Charlotte did not really mind.
Her promising future seemed far off now. What was it Mrs. Lennox had told her? She had a good chance of finding a worthy match? That was not the case now. Mrs. Lennox would probably not even acknowledge Charlotte with the scandal so abounding. She would not retain any of her London acquaintances for such behaviour.
It was right and better that they protect their own reputations. It was one of the reasons she was here throwing herself on the mercy of the vicar’s wife. Charlotte could not stand the thought of staining Lord Easterly with any more scandal.
He had not asked for her to kiss him unbidden. She swung back and forth under the oak with Dot wrapped around her. This was her life now and her once hopeful outlook had become one of resignation.
There was nothing left but to make do. Charlotte was used to that. She might have been spoiled with a soft bed and fancy-dresses, but she knew how to survive and she would survive this too.
She spent some time trying to get the children to bathe before giving in and cleaning out the shed. Mrs. Wilson found her still working on tidying up the shed as the light began to fade.
“Are you insistent that you are going to sleep here?” Mrs. Wilson gave the shed a doubtful look.
Charlotte nodded. “It will give me a place to come and think, to find solace. It will also not take up any space in your home, which is already full.”
“I understand your reasoning. I just do not want you to feel you have to put yourself out.” Mrs. Wilson swiped down a cobweb with the handkerchief she kept in her apron.
Charlotte put her hand on the woman’s shoulder. “I have always liked this shed. I used to come and read here as a child, and still visited often once I was grown. I shall be fine.”
“If you are certain then I shall not try to dissuade you. I came out here to tell you that if you want any food, you might want to hurry,” Mrs. Wilson said with a smile.
Chapter 9
Graham returned home to the news that Miss Browne had left for the vicarage the day before. It was midday and although the road had left him weary, he was determined to get things sorted out. He left on horseback, going to the vicarage as Edward directed the boys to unpack the carriages.
He wasted no time knocking on the door impatiently. When the door opened, he was surprised to see Miss Browne, even though he knew she was there. So, she answers the door here?
“Miss Browne,” he said before she had a chance to greet him. “I arrived home a while ago to discover that you had gone visiting but had yet to return.”
Miss Browne shook her head. “I am so sorry that you have ridden all this way for nothing, I am not visiting. I have taken a position here watching the vicar’s children.”
“What do you mean you shall not return?” Graham rubbed his face. “What is this about?”
Miss Browne put her hand on his chest to force him backward as she stepped outside the front door and closed it behind her. “I do not wish the children to hear.”
Graham frowned. “Hear what?”
“I know about the scandal, Lord Easterly. It was in the papers long before you arrived here.” Miss Browne clasped her hands together and frowned. “I have made my decision. Can you not respect that?”
Graham looked up at the sky, but saw nothing there to give him guidance. “I do not even understand it. How can I respect it?”
“My scandal will inevitably taint your household more if we are seen together. It is for the best that I stay here and you there.” Miss Browne’s eyes were wet with what Graham had to assume were tears, but the woman stood her ground firmly. “I would ask that you send my clothing and items here at your convenience, if you would not mind?”
Graham stared at her for a long moment before he nodded dully. “Of course,” he mumbled. “I will send them straight away.”
“Thank you,” Miss Browne said with a fleeting smile. “I had better go before the children notice I am gone and sneak away from their lessons.”
Graham gave her a bow. “Before I go, I want you to know that I do not hold you at fault for this.”
“That is very kind of you, Lord Easterly, but you have always been kind to me.” Miss Browne curtseyed, her eyes going to the ground. She peered at him shyly through her lashes. “Godspeed, Lord Easterly.”
Graham stood there as she went back into the house. Only when the door snapped shut did he move back to his horse. She was not returning. The very thought of that caused him to feel hollow.
He shook himself out of his foolish misery. He could not change Miss Browne’s mind it would seem, at least not yet. Graham was left with no choice but to respect what she had told him.
When he returned home he was greeted by a most unwelcome sight. A carriage pulled in just behind him. Lord Stanhope’s voice carried out of the body of the carriage. “Lord Easterly, just the man I wanted to see!”
Graham did away keep himself from groaning. This day seemed to be getting continuously worse. Graham dismounted as Lord Stanhope stepped down out of his carriage.
“I do hope that I am not inconveniencing you.” Lord Stanhope said as he waved his hand at the horse.
Graham straightened his jacket. “Not at all. I was just returning from a visit. What was it that you sought me out here for? We are a long way from London, Lord Stanhope.”
“Quite true,” Lord Stanhope said with a smile. “May we talk over some brandy, perhaps?”
Graham could not really protest that request. For one thing, he could use a brandy himself. “That sounds like a very good idea,” Graham said as he turned toward the house.
Once they were in the study, Graham poured two brandies and passed one to Lord Stanhope, who took a sip and sighed in exaggerated relief. “That is more like it. The liquor selection at the inn on the way here was dismal.”
Graham did not even acknowledge his words. It could have been the man trying to bait him abo
ut the current scandal, or it could have been an innocent observation. Graham wagered it was the former, but he had no inclination to find out which for sure.
Sipping his brandy, Graham eyed the younger man. Lord Stanhope was one of those beastly dandies that had returned from the war with little more than borrowed stories and a scratch that they proclaimed a battle scar. Men like that rubbed Graham the wrong way.
The fact that he was involved with both Miss Browne and his sister did nothing to soften Graham’s opinion of him. Lord Stanhope’s own past seemed to hold more than a few sins, if Graham’s enquiries were true. “What is it you wanted to speak of so urgently that it could not be contained in a letter, Lord Stanhope?”
“Marriage,” Lord Stanhope proclaimed the word grandly. “I have come to humbly bow before you Lord Easterly and ask your permission to marry your sister.”
Graham stared at him. He took a sip of his brandy. His life may be out of control at the moment, but Graham had no intention of having Lord Stanhope for a brother-in-law. The very idea sickened him.
He swirled the brandy over his tongue as he eyed Lord Stanhope. The man looked to be getting nervous the longer Graham took in answering. Finally, Graham said, “My apologies for your wasted trip, Lord Stanhope, but I have decided that my sister should wait before seeking marriage to anyone.”
“May I ask why?” Lord Stanhope seemed incensed.
Graham nodded. “You may ask, but I am not obliged to answer. She is my charge and I do what is best for her. If you also see what is best for her out of love and caring, then I should think that waiting a while would be acceptable to you.”
The look on Lord Stanhope’s face was all the reward Graham needed. He sat back in his chair and eyed the younger man. Lord Stanhope finally bobbed his head up and down. “Of course! What is a wait to marry such a beauty?”
Graham inclined his head. “Then we are in agreement.”
“Yes,” Lord Stanhope said hastily. “In agreement about?”
“That my sister shall not wed yet,” Graham said with amusement.
Lord Stanhope ventured, “But when she is ready, shall I be given every consideration before other suitors?”
“If you are still interested, then we shall talk then,” Graham said with a nod. He hoped fervently that he lost interest. Amanda seemed to have set her hat to have the man, but Graham thought it would be a disastrous match.
Lord Stanhope finished his brandy and sighed. “I shall see about getting a room at the local inn to rest for my journey home.”
If he had been fishing for an invitation to stay at Berwick Manor, Graham acted oblivious and did nothing but nod. “The inn here in Dallington is quite lovely.”
Lord Stanhope tipped his hat to Graham and Graham inclined his head before the young lord was out of the room in a flurry of ruffles and pomp. Graham pinched his nose and rang the bell. When a maid popped into the room he sighed, “Bring me some lemon tea.”
*
James left Berwick Manor and went to the inn that Lord Easterly had proclaimed lovely. It was quaint, at best, James judged. The innkeeper was a stubby, fat man who eyed James as if he might not be good for a pence.
When he finally had his room key in hand, James enquired, “Do you know a Miss Browne?”
“Why you want to know?” The innkeeper’s lip rolled up and James wondered if the man was trying to be intimidating or merely disturbing.
James sighed and handed the man a gold coin. “I am a friend of hers from London.”
“I’ll say ye are,” the innkeeper said. He rubbed the coin on his dirty shirt as if the filth there might clean the coin somehow. “She used to stay at the vicarage. Can’t say she is there though. Thanks for the coin.” The man gave James a broad grin before he went into the back room.
James ground his teeth together. He left and thought he might as well check this vicarage out. It was his only lead.
A sinner in a vicarage was the thought that amused James as he got into the carriage. “Vicarage,” James called to the driver.
It took them little time to find it, as the locals were all too eager to help. James peered out of the carriage window at the house. “Appalling,” he whispered. He stepped down out of the carriage. “I, hopefully, will not be long.”
“Right, Sir,” the driver said with a nod of his head.
James went to the door and gave it a sharp tap with the cane he carried. A moment later the door opened, and James’ eyes lowered at the boy who answered. “Tell Miss Browne that Lord Stanhope is here to see her, Boy,” he said with visible disgust.
The boy took off, letting the door swing shut. James rolled his eyes at being kept waiting outside by a child. When the door opened again, Miss Browne gave him an apologetic smile. “I am so sorry that you were left out here. Please come in,” Miss Browne pushed the door open wider and allowed him entrance.
Upon seeing the inside, James’ first instinct was to decline the invitation, but that would do nothing to ingratiate himself with his hostess. He stepped in with a smile. “When I realised that you had left London, I came to find you,” he said, fully expecting her to exclaim over his grand gesture, yet Miss Browne just turned to look at him in surprise.
“Find me?”
“Yes, well,” Lord Stanhope began, then stopped short as a chubby toddler ran between them. “Is there somewhere we can talk that is more private?”
Miss Browne frowned. “Their mother is out shopping, but I suppose Josh can watch them for a moment.” The boy who had answered the door nodded. “We can step outside the back door.”
Lord Stanhope followed her to the back door and stepped out onto a wooden porch. “Quaint,” he said before he turned to Miss Browne. “I promise I will not take long.”
Miss Browne frowned. “What is it that you want, Lord Stanhope?”
“I was hoping that you would consent to return to London,” he said with a charming smile. He watched Miss Browne and knew the woman found him attractive.
She had consented to go alone with him to a backyard. Her reputation was quite clear, and James was counting on it being absolutely true. “Hear me out,” James said as the woman opened her mouth to reply. “I want to marry you.”
That stopped Miss Browne in her tracks. Her mouth fell open. “You want to marry me?”
“Yes,” James said with a smile. “I adore you. You must know that.”
Miss Browne shook her head. “I do not know that. After all that has happened, why would you choose to marry me?”
“Do you mean that little thing at the tea party?” James waved his hand. “It is true that I was heartbroken to learn of your falsehood, but I want to give you the chance to make that right.”
Miss Browne shook her head. “Your offer is very generous, but I am afraid that I cannot.”
“Of course you can,” James said as he looped his arm around her waist. Miss Browne’s eyes went so wide that James wondered at how she was so good at that innocent act. He crushed his mouth against hers but she was pushing against him, hitting him. James released her and spat, “Stop the innocent act, Miss Browne. We both know exactly what you are.”
Miss Browne stared at him. “No matter what lies you believe, Lord Stanhope. I do not deserve this.”
“Just like every other harlot in London,” he quipped. “Come now, do you really think you will get another offer?”
Miss Browne’s eyes flashed, and James grinned. Miss Browne turned and went back inside with James right behind her. “This is not over. I made you a perfectly respectable offer, Miss Browne. Maybe marriage is not what you want. That could be arranged too.”
Under the Seductive Lady's Charm: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 18
