by Jenni James
The mama and her daughter had been whispering and plotting something, but never would Charity have thought their plan was to attempt to bamboozle Lord Atten as they had. Stepping in and offering assistance was clearly the only option. That, and Charity would finally have an opportunity to speak with the dashing gentleman.
She released a silent sigh, pushed off the cold marble, and stepped into the ballroom once more. Not that it mattered one whit how charming or attractive he was. The horrid man had to be none other than the dreaded Earl of Cheswick, and that would be that. No sense in attempting to inquire about him. Everyone she’d ask would do their best to snuff the conversation or change the subject. It was a moot point to even assume curiosity.
Charity’s father had been double-crossed and treated extremely horrendously by Lord Atten’s father years ago. It was not her place to question what happened—it was only understood that the late earl had treated her father abominably, and it caused a great scandal.
The first song of the night began to play. Lord Hamson led Lady Romney to the middle of the dance floor. Several other couples followed them out. Including all of the newly presented young misses. Charity thought of her empty dance card, and for a small moment, she felt sad that she made no effort to join them. But it was a fleeting emotion. No sense in getting caught up in the silliness of the season if it was always going to be the same dull people doing the same dull things.
She whipped open her fan and began to cool herself. Though she was not overly warm, it allowed her to do something without looking lonely. Slowly, she made her way around the stuffed ballroom and observed the dancers. Thankfully, there was no sighting of the ridiculous mother and daughter duo who had attempted to compromise the earl—er, damsel himself.
She grinned at her impertinent thought, and then with a glance toward her still-chattering mama, she slipped out of the ballroom altogether and onto the connecting balcony. The night was balmy and unseasonably warm for a March evening. Without thinking, she slowly made her way down the balcony steps and out into the impressive gardens of the Hamson estate.
She weaved around several hedges, and when a breeze caught her, she began to wish she hadn’t snuck away. It suddenly felt very much like March once more. And yet the music was playing and the soft hum of the guests floated down to her. Despite the sudden chill, it was such a perfect evening for a stroll, it was silly to wish she was anywhere else. Another turn and Charity found a bench nestled by a high hedge which blocked most of the nightly breeze. It was warmer there.
As she sat down, she wondered what to do next. Now that she’d achieved ultimate freedom, what good was it to her if she was alone?
“Do you mind if I join you?”
She turned her head and was greatly stunned to see the Earl of Cheswick grinning down at her.
CHAPTER FOUR:
“However did you find me?” It was like the gods had sent him to her. “You are actually standing before me, are you not?”
He chuckled, flipped his new clean suit tails over the bench, and sat down next to her. “No, I’m sitting.”
“And mighty proud of yourself.” She could not help but smirk in reply to his smug grin.
“Ingeniously so.” He leaned back and placed one foot on his knee. “Would you not be, had you just tossed conventions aside and broken every rule to find the most delightful female at the ball?”
Her foolish heart began to flutter. “Delightful? You like to be put in your place, then?”
His grin grew. “Apparently. I could think of nothing else. Now, tell me, Miss Waite. Why are you ignoring every one of society’s rules to meet me here?”
She could not help her jaw dropping. “I most definitely am not.”
His eyes sparkled as they searched her face. “Of course you are. You were hoping to find me alone in the garden, and here I am.”
“And what put such a preposterous idea in your head?”
“Because the garden is the only place where we can speak freely.”
She inhaled sharply, and suddenly, her fluttery heart seemed to explode. He was correct. There was nothing she had hoped for more, but didn’t realize it until that moment. “And yet—”
The earl shook his head. “No, do not argue with me. It will damper my whole evening if you do. I’ve thought of nothing but you since we met nearly an hour ago.”
She snapped her fan in an effort to appear more in control of this nonsense than she was. “You are extremely forward.”
“Do you not like it? I assumed that if you were willing to insult me to my face, you must be one who preferred frankness to the trivial flirtatious banter other men hide behind.”
She glanced toward the sound of the ball. “I really should leave now.”
“But you won’t.”
She met his gaze. “No.”
He took one hand into his, and she marveled at how it tingled through her gloves. “What is your Christian name? Since we are throwing all the rules overboard anyway.”
She studied the bold creature for a moment or two before braving convention and saying, “Charity.”
He nodded. “It suits you. You were quick to show me charity earlier when you rescued me.”
“Yes, and then I belittled you to your face. Which was not full of charity at all.”
“You speak nothing but the truth.”
“Except when I’m lying to claim you as my dance partner.”
“Ah.” He grinned. “The real reason you are here with me instead of in the ballroom. You have already claimed your partner, and he was sadly lacking.”
She shook her head. “Honestly, I have no one written on my dance card.”
“Not one young man?” He looked astounded. “Who must I flog?”
Charity laughed. “It was my own doing from the first moment I stepped into the ballroom tonight. No one is to blame but me for not having dancing partners.”
“How intriguing.” He turned more fully toward her. “And why would one of the brightest stars not wish to shine?”
She shrugged and did not meet his eye. “It is all the same, and one can get quite tired of all the same.”
“Are you certain you weren’t jilted by someone? You speak as if you were.”
“Of all the things to say! No, I was not jilted.” In a quick attempt to change the subject, she said, “And what is your Christian name? I’ve revealed mine, and you—”
“Forgive me! I am Everett. Everett Atten, though many people call me Cheswick. I think it makes me sound like my father, so Atten or Everett is what I prefer most.”
A flash of irritation flew through her at the mention of the very man her father hated so much. “Do you miss him?”
“Every single day. He was an incredible man.”
She glanced away and closed her eyes as the irritation inside her grew.
“He taught me everything. We were close. And he was a rare man—took his son with him on trips, and taught me simple life skills like fishing and riding a horse. Things most men leave to the servants to teach. Not my father.”
She rubbed her lips together and wondered if he was attempting to rile her.
He must have seen her frustrations, for he said, “Forgive me. I only just this moment realized how awkward this must be for us both. And yet, I am such a nodcock that I had no notion at all that I was creating havoc with my chatter.”
“This really will not do.”
“What?”
She sighed. “You know perfectly well what.”
“Oh, you mean us?” He glanced around them and then grinned. “Possibly not. But aren’t you a little curious to see if it does?”
“Work?”
“Of course.”
She blinked and attempted to make sense of him. “Lord Atten, are you mad?”
He folded his arms and then looked at her for a little longer than was comfortable. She began to wonder if she’d offended him when he finally spoke.
“I must be.” He suddenly stood up and gave a
quick bow. “Forgive me—you’re correct. Even if we could get past the quarrel our fathers had, I’m afraid our own views on life and family and all the rest would greatly hinder whatever bit of happiness we had found.”
Her heart began to race. “You speak as though we will one day wed!”
“Well, isn’t that what all females do? See a man and begin to assess him immediately to see if he would make a suitable match?”
“Lord Atten!” She’d never been more shocked in her life.
“What?” He grinned mischievously down at her and then offered his hand. “Come. Let us head back in before you catch cold. Besides, I have a half mind to create a scandal tonight. Would you like to join me?”
“A scandal at Aunt Catherine’s ball? Certainly not. I wouldn’t dream of ruining her night.”
He looked a little chagrinned. “Quite so. I did not think of that. Aunt Catherine, eh?” Still, he held out his arm. “Very well. Let us vow to create a scandal another night.”
She finally slipped her fingers into his. “And by scandal, just what are you thinking?”
“Oh! Well, nothing too harmful. Perhaps dance with you for a few sets—enough to get the excitement going and give the gabblemongers reason to gabble.”
Suddenly, she began to laugh. “You are the most surprising man I’ve ever known.”
“Really?” He grinned. “Then I must be doing something well.”
CHAPTER FIVE:
Lord Atten brought Charity all the way back to the balconies before bending down and kissing the top of her gloved hand. Unexpectedly, she did not want this night to end.
“Well, despite the blunders, I do believe tonight was a success.” He smiled. “Though, I fear I must leave you here. Will you be all right on your own?”
“I will be perfectly fine—but just a moment. Where did you…? I mean, how did you find me in the gardens?”
“Just as I came into the ballroom, I watched you head onto the balcony and decided to follow you. Took a moment or two before I found the hedge you were hiding behind, but I didn’t appear out of nowhere, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“It certainly seemed so.”
“Then perhaps I shall have to pop up again sometime.”
Her heart really shouldn’t have been beating as excitedly as it was. “Perhaps so.”
His smile dropped, and in all seriousness, his gaze captured hers. “Am I a fool to wish to know more of you?”
“I don’t know. Possibly.”
“And was it foolish of me to hurry home to change so I would be back here again with you—even when I told myself a thousand times not to return?”
“Definitely.”
He gave a short nod and let out a breath of air. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
“This will not be easy.”
He glanced toward the closed doors and the people dancing beyond. “No, I don’t suppose so.”
This was ridiculous. All of it was. To even entertain the idea of seeing him again—preposterous! And if he wasn’t going to be the responsible one, then she would. Heaven knew one of them needed to wake up and end the charade before it began. She decided to be frank. “Everett, I don’t think this—”
“You said my name.”
“Yes. I know. Now listen, please.”
“Do I have to?”
She gave a frustrated sigh. “Yes. Goodness, one of us has to remain sane.”
“Very well, I will allow it to be you. I can’t abide saneness.”
She chuckled. “Halt!”
“I am halting.”
It was that consistent twinkle in his eye. So aggravating and so adorable as well. “This is done. It is over. I know, I know we are in the midst of folly right now and the music is swelling and the moon is high and the garden is beautiful…”
“But it will not do?”
“No. Not at all. Not one whit.”
“Very well.” He gave a rueful grin. “I promise I will behave and leave you be. And not attempt to surprise you, or banter with you, or call you Charity loudly the next time I see you in the book shop.”
He was so very shocking. “Well, I would hope not! Especially the Charity part.”
“Yes, it would be dreadful, wouldn’t it?”
“Lord Atten—”
“Yes, you are correct. Even my teasing now is horrendous and not like me at all.”
She paused. “It isn’t?”
“Oh, no.”
“Then why do you do it?”
“Maybe because you called me a damsel in distress?”
She closed her eyes and attempted to keep her smile from forming. “Tonight never happened. We are complete strangers and will always be.”
He took her hands into his, and her eyes flew open.
“Tonight never happened? None of it?” he asked.
“No. None of this.”
“Good.” He pulled her closer. “Then if it didn’t happen, may I steal a kiss?”
“What?” She had to remind herself to breathe.
“A kiss. Where my set of lips touches your set of lips.”
“I know what a kiss is.”
“Just one. I . . . forgive me. I promise to leave you alone afterward, but for right this moment, I would love to know what it would feel like if we weren’t the Earl of Cheswick and Miss Waite. And instead, just a young lord, meeting a young miss at a ball. If we’re never going to see each other again, certainly one kiss would be nothing. Especially if this night never happened.”
She pulled him into a shadowed portion of the balcony. “Very well, but only if you stop this preposterous chatter.”
He kissed her right then. He didn’t wait another moment. Didn’t speak another word. He simply wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. Soft, tender, perfect. And then he pulled back.
His eyes captured hers. And for a fraction of a second, it was as if the whole world was motionless.
“Farewell,” he whispered.
Her heart twisted at bit, already missing him. “Please take care of yourself.”
“And you. I wish you insurmountable joy. And may you find a devil of a man to keep up with you. You need one, you know.”
She grinned and glanced down at her feet. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
His smile slipped, and he brought his hand up to cup her cheek. “I guess this is where I open the door and allow you to walk in without me.”
For no reason at all, she felt like crying. As if her heart was begging her to reconsider. “Yes.”
He inhaled slowly and then dropped his hand. “Charity.”
It was the oddest, most intensely gripping moment she’d ever had in her life. So much emotion. So much tension between their invisible heartstrings. It was doomed from the beginning, and yet—all of this pulling seemed only to make everything more dramatic and difficult. “Truly, it is goodbye.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Neither of us can live with such emotional strain.”
“You’re quite right. I’m sure it’d be excessively draining.”
“Exactly,” she said.
“Much better off finding someone who doesn’t create such havoc.”
“Yes!”
He bowed. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow? Perhaps take you driving?”
Her heart suddenly sprouted wings and she said without missing a beat, “Of course. I would expect nothing less.”
He grinned. “Heaven help us.”
“I fear it will take a lot more than heaven to help us now!” She laughed.
And then he kissed her again.
CHAPTER SIX:
Earlier than usual, Charity approached her mother’s chambers and knocked lightly upon the door. She had tossed and turned most of the night, deliberating how best to broach the subject of the earl coming to call. She finally decided that bluntness would be her best approach.
“Yes?”
“It is I, Charity. May I speak with you a moment?”
“Of cou
rse, dear. Come in.”
Charity opened the door to the lavender-colored room and found her mother still abed with her frilly nightcap on. She was leaning against the headboard and sipping a steaming cup of tea. “You’re up and about quite early this morning!” Lady Waite exclaimed with a smile. “Warms my heart to see it. Now, to what do I owe this honor?”
Charity walked toward the large bed and then sat upon a small armchair next to it. “I have something to say, and I fear you will not be pleased.”
Lady Waite’s brow furrowed a bit, and she patted the bed. “Come up here, child, and tell me all. The longer this is between us, the more concerned I’ll become. Best get it all out now. What has happened? Is it something dreadful?”
Charity sighed as she got up from the chair, removed her slippers, and crawled like a little girl onto her mother’s bed. “Most likely you will find it so, but I cannot lie. I’m overcome with curiosity and nerves and excitement at the thought of it.”
“The thought of what?”
She tucked her stockinged feet under her gown and sat near her mother. After a brief hesitation, she announced, “Lord Atten, the new Earl of Cheswick, is calling today and hopes to take me driving.”
Lady Waite’s eyes widened considerably. “I beg your pardon?”
“I am not attempting to insult anyone, especially you or Papa. However, I met him last evening at the Hamsons’ ball and we—he and I—well, I quite enjoyed the man before I knew who he was.”
Her mother placed her hand upon her bosom. “You spoke to the Earl of Cheswick, and you did not mention a thing to me during the whole of the ball?”
“I am mentioning it now.”
“Only because the man has the gall to come calling upon you!” She shook her head. “Good heavens, do you have any idea what you’ve done? Just who you have invited to this home?”
Charity took a deep breath and twiddled with the white duvet. “I know Father feels he is an enemy.”
“For good reason!” Lady Waite leaned over and set her teacup down upon the small table near the bed.
She hesitated until her mother had returned to a full sitting position before finally asking, “And what is that reason? Why will no one speak of it? And was the new earl involved in any way?”
