by Jenni James
The furthest thing from Everett’s mind was new pistols. “George, I blame you entirely for this madness, I’ll have you know.”
“Me?” George looked at the pistols, then up at Everett, and then back at the pistols again. “Whatever do you mean?”
“No. Not for the weapons. I blame you for this tangled web of a mess I find myself in with Miss Waite.”
Compton laughed. “Be strong, man. You cannot come into the Percevals’ home and set George to task before he’s even begun to comprehend what he’s done.”
Everett let out a whoosh of air. “It is all very fine for you to stand there admiring some silly artifact, but it is not your life being meddled with.”
George gave him an odd look and then asked, “So, it is true that you are courting Miss Waite to get back at her father and cause havoc in the Waite home, ensuring that your father’s legacy continues?”
“I—what?” Everett sputtered. “What nonsense is this? And no, despite my best intentions, I emphatically am not courting anyone right now!”
Alistair Compton had the audacity to continue to laugh. “And what has any of this to do with George?” He clapped his hand on that astonished man’s shoulder. “Do not tell me you’ve placed a wager at White’s over the lovesick fool. I thought we learned our lesson when I did that.”
George went to answer, but Everett was having none of it. “Leave off. Of course he’s more rational than that.” Everett pointed at each of them. “In fact, no one here is wagering anything on the outcome of this. No one.”
“The outcome of what?” George asked, still clearly confused.
“Of me and Miss Waite!”
“Just a moment.” Lord Hamson shook his head and grinned. “So then, the rumors are true?”
Everett walked over to a case that held several more weapons, mostly swords and daggers and the like. He folded his arms and willed the whole of everything away. “I am not attempting to harm anyone—neither is Miss Waite. Which is why, even though we may have shared a kiss or two, much cooler heads are prevailing and we are allowing our strange attachment to be considered nothing at the moment. And for now, we are going our separate ways.” He turned around and faced them. “Except everywhere we attempt to go, we find ourselves together again! I may have to leave London altogether so that we can get some peace.”
George tilted his head and shared a look with Alistair. Everett knew that look well.
“Out with it, both of you. What do you know that I do not?” Everett asked.
“Well, several things, clearly.” George laughed. “But that is neither here nor there. However, perhaps you should have a seat for a moment.”
Everett’s heart began to pound. “Why?”
Alistair chuckled. “Look at you! You appear as if you are going to be ill.”
“I just might be. Now, what is happening that I do not know?” He glanced at George. “Simply share, old man. Tell me.”
“I am not old. We have gone over this a hundred times, and I—”
“For all the pearls in China, tell me!”
“I am quite certain I have never seen you so out of sorts, Atten. Why are you allowing so much to get under your skin?” Alistair walked over to one of the four large overstuffed chairs nestled together and sat down in it.
Everett, in a heap of frustration, joined him on a chair across. “I am merely attempting to stay afloat in a sea of chaos. I’ve never felt this way about someone before, and it’s deuced awkward having to pretend I don’t feel anything at all! And to make matters worse, I have no idea whether I am up or down.”
“Let me help you.” Hamson smirked and then sat down on his own chair between the two of them. “You are sitting right now. So it would seem you are ‘down.’ There. Are you not glad someone is here to set you straight?”
Alistair laughed.
Everett could not help himself. He grinned at the fools. “Thank you, George. That was so gracious of you.”
“I thought so!” Hamson beamed. Then he looked at his trousers and flicked a speck of dirt off his knee. “I am curious as to what you are referring to when you say everywhere you go, you and Miss Waite find each other together again.”
“Just last night, I had to leave a ball when I saw that Charity had arrived. And a few nights before that, she had been set at my table for the game of speculation. I had no notion she was even at the Chuffingtons’ card party—such a crush it was—until Mrs. Chuffington herself brought her to sit down next to me.”
“And what was your reaction to such scheming?” Alistair asked.
“I simply nodded my head once at Miss Waite and removed myself immediately from her presence, since I knew that was exactly what she wished of me. Then I left the house altogether.”
George’s jaw dropped. “In the wake of such blatant gossip and matchmaking, you left the poor young lady to fend for herself?”
“I—eh, did.” Everett squirmed. “I did not think of it in that way.”
“Clearly not!” Alistair seemed appalled. “Why, I have never known you to act less than gentlemanly.”
“Well, I thought I was! I knew she wished to be anywhere in the room than with me, so I granted her that possibility.”
“Meanwhile throwing off the whole speculation table and allowing no one to play the game because of the missing member.”
“What? Bosh! I doubt they lingered long bereft of my company. I am more than certain someone else sat down in my stead.”
“Yes, and forced Miss Waite to feel the brunt of the knowing looks and sympathetic smiles of the Ton.” Alistair leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.
“Which brings us to a very hard question.” George also folded his arms, his smirk turned down slightly.
“And what is that?” Atten asked.
“Are you going to leave Miss Waite in a sea of gossip once you realize Lady Perceval has placed her as your dinner partner?”
“What?” Everett stood. “Even here amongst friends, we are betrayed?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
Charity walked into the dinner party with a bit of trepidation. She thought she had seen the Earl of Cheswick through a window speaking to someone. The evening was dark and allowed her to see several of the guests through the large glass panes as the coach drove past. However, she was prone to seeing him when he wasn’t there. Perhaps it was wishful thinking.
She gathered her skirts and walked into the large home and scolded herself on wishing to see him again. Why would she? He would only go running the moment she came in the room. And thankfully, he did! Or it would have to be her to get up the gumption to do so.
Heaven help her! There had been a nonstop stream of callers to inquire if she and Lord Atten were courting, each one attempting to collect the same smattering of gossip in their own ways. All of them were extremely intrusive. It was as if the whole of London saw them share a kiss. Was nothing private anymore?
Charity sighed as she walked into the room and did not see Lord Atten anywhere. Aunt Catherine had made sure Charity was included on the guest list long before these rumors arose. Hopefully, it would be an uneventful night. The men rose as she came nearer to the small grouping around the sofas. Instantly, a seat was made available to her.
“Miss Waite, please allow me.” Lord Compton quickly moved away so she could sit next Lady Lamb.
That particular lady was all smiles as she moved the skirt of her beautiful lilac gown aside on the large settee. “Yes, please come and sit with me.” She smiled. “I have much I wish to speak with you about. It will be a perfect time to have a little coze, you and I.”
Charity’s heart dropped. The last thing she was hoping for was a group of women who wanted to obtain information from her, yet she didn’t know how to remove herself from the situation without seeming rude. “Thank you.” She grinned warily and then sat down next to the lady.
Lady Lamb laughed as she glanced her way. “Oh, do not let me frighten you! I promise to behave myself and not
say anything about you and Lord Atten.”
“Well, that is a relief. It appears as though that is all anyone wishes to know.”
The beautiful woman smiled. “Now, don’t get me confused with a saint. I am most curious. Yet, I also know the horrendous reality of attempting to deal with things privately while the beau monde believes every detail should be made public.”
Charity looked up as her aunt came in the room. “Aunt Catherine!” She stood and embraced her and then made way for all three to share the same settee.
“We are having a coze, Lady Romney. So glad you could join us.” Lady Lamb smiled.
“Are you?” Catherine patted Charity’s hand. “And has my niece shared any juicy tidbits?”
“Aunt Catherine!” Charity attempted to seem shocked, but all she could do was chuckle. “You are just as horrendous as all the rest.”
“Yes, but this is most exciting.”
“Only because it isn’t your mother and father who have been thrown to the wolves over it all!”
“Not my mama, but my brother married your father’s sister, and it is almost the same thing.”
Charity glanced at the other guests milling about. “It is a terrible mess.” She looked at both of the ladies next to her. “Between us, I have no notion as to what to do.”
Lady Lamb grinned. “The worst thing you could do is resist it.”
“Oh, I agree!” Charity turned toward her. “Why, both Everett and I have chosen to have nothing to do with each other. It is too difficult for our parents now, so we must simply step away from one another.”
Her smile slipped. “I—er, that is not what I meant.”
Catherine leaned over and placed a fan against her mouth. “No, dear, Lacey is stating that you and Lord Atten should not pull against the attraction you feel toward each other. It is useless to fight against it. You will end up together in the end.”
Charity’s heart began to beat excitedly at the prospect, but she tamped it down. “But what of our parents? What of the scandal?”
“Trust me on this—scandals die. True love does not.” Lady Lamb placed a hand over hers. “He is a fine man. One of the best in London. It is no surprise to any that you have fallen head over heels for him.”
Charity’s jaw dropped. They could not be insinuating that she and Everett were in love. “We barely know each other. How could either of us think of the possibility of love, let alone true love? The idea seems preposterous.”
“And yet you kissed in Hyde Park.”
“It was only a goodbye gesture.”
“Ahem.” Catherine coughed daintily behind her fan. “Would you care to repeat that without the fib? One does not kiss a man in public unless they are courting, and even then, it is not done.”
“But he kissed me! I had no notion it was about to happen, and then he leaned over and—”
“You are blushing. And do not overly worry about it. We are not judging you in the least. Lord Compton over there could not help himself when it came to stealing kisses from me. It is certainly exciting to finally see…” She trailed off and then spoke with more softness, “…the earl enamored with someone.”
“Yet we have chosen not to be smitten with each other at all. This is not anything to be contemplating or accepting or even speaking of, as I have absolutely no desire to be kissed by the gentleman again.”
“Which is a deuced sad statement,” Lord Atten said behind her. “I have thought of little else except your perfect lips for the past fortnight at least.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
Charity’s cheeks burst into flames. They must have because she had never felt so hot or flushed before in her life. She turned around and glared at the smug earl. “Kindly keep your voice down! Or we will never be able to quell the rumors.”
He clutched his chest and gave her devilish smirk. “But it is true.”
Her heart began to beat strangely within her. “You, sir, are a rogue and a despicable human being.”
“’Tis good to see you as well.” His eyes captured hers as he made his way around the settee.
She glanced away briefly and caught the interested looks of the women next to her. And decided it was time to take control of the situation. “You are here. I thought I saw you, but then believed I was mistaken.”
His smirk turned into a smug look as he stepped toward her. “Do you mistakenly see me in many people, then?”
“Lord Atten,” Lady Lamb half gasped, half chuckled. “You are very fortunate to be standing where you are because if I were in Miss Waite’s shoes, you’d be throttled by now.”
“Oh, he will get a good thumping, to be sure!” Charity clarified.
“You would not dare ruin such perfection as this.” He pointed to himself, and the whole small area erupted into laughter.
“Toad,” Charity whispered as he held his hand out for her. “Why would you expect me to accept your hand?” she asked as she did just that.
Lord Atten helped her up and then pulled her a little closer than necessary. “It would seem you and I are partnered for dinner tonight.”
“Are we?” She could think of nothing more enjoyable. “Such a pity.”
“I know. I was going to cry off, but then realized that Lady Perceval would have me hung by my toenails if I did so. For the sake of saving face, would you do me the honor of eating with me?”
This really was not a good situation for either of them to find themselves in. Truly, it would not do. Already, Lady Lamb’s and Aunt Catherine’s words were beginning to wear on her. She gently led him away from the curious onlookers and over to another side of the room to speak more privately. “Do you think you could sit next to me and resist…” Her voice softened. How pretentious she must sound! Of course he could resist her. He was the Earl of Cheswick, no less. The man could have any lady he chose.
“No.” Those eyes met hers again.
“No?”
“Definitely not.” He looked away. “I know I am supposed to say just the opposite, but why?”
“Goodness!” She could scarcely breathe in that moment. “It is merely supper. Nothing too exciting could happen, could it?”
“What if your arm brushed against mine?”
Charity laughed, and several of the guests looked over.
“Careful.” He grinned. “With us talking so, they will all believe we are smitten as it is. See how they are watching us just now? Everyone hoping we will cause a delicious scandal?”
“But why? Why will they not leave us alone to be separated in peace?”
“My dear, if I understood that, I would not have such a difficult time comprehending why I find you so intriguing when you most certainly should not be.”
“There is nothing remotely interesting about me at all. So, simply cram that thought into your head and keep it there!”
Everett grinned and kissed the top of her gloved hand, his soft lips leaving a definite tingle there.
“Will you stop?”
“What? Kissing your hand? And why is that?” He flipped her hand over and studied the small circle of white that exposed her wrist. Then he kissed that very delicate spot. His lips lingered a little longer the second time, and her preposterous mouth actually trembled as if it wished… Suddenly, the corner of the room they were in was becoming increasingly distant from everything and everyone.
“Forgive me, Miss Waite.” His gaze was tormented as he looked down at her. “I should leave, should I not? I am playing the fool and acting the fool and making you look extremely foolish in the process.”
She couldn’t meet his eye. “It is not me, remember? You do not make me silly in the least. It is our parents. This hurts them.”
He pressed her hand into his. “Why must something that hurts them so incredibly tempt me as it does? Do I have no honor? Do I have no shame?”
This really was doing neither of them any favors. There must be a way they could remain close, yet not become so overburdened by the pressures of everyone else. �
�Everett?” She touched his arm with her other hand. “Let us go to supper together. Mayhap after you have spent another evening with me, you will see all of the irritations that I am and would be to you.”
“And I you. I am a complete nuisance most of the time.”
“Are you?” She grinned.
One corner of his mouth matched hers. “I should try to be much more, shouldn’t I?”
“It could help.” Her smile dropped. “Let us just remind ourselves often that we are among friends here in this house. Tonight does not matter as other nights might. And we can enjoy each other, yes?”
He nodded, yet his eyes twinkled mischievously. “We can be old friends stuck in the middle of scandal.”
She chuckled softly. “Precisely. Nothing more than friends.”
“Good friends.”
“The best of friends.”
“Careful…” He smirked.
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. Perhaps it was a little too coy, but sometimes she could not help herself. “Can we not be the best of friends?”
“Can a cherished friend kiss on the cheek?”
“The cheek!” She laughed, breaking all pretense of being timid. “What lunacy is this?” They were certainly standing close enough to kiss.
Everett looked shocked. “Have you never had a dear friend buzz your cheek before? I do not mean as an elderly grandfather would kiss his granddaughter, but rather, the kiss of a man who thinks the world of you.”
He leaned in, keeping her gaze until the last moment when his nose gently caressed her cheek. Charity gasped as her eyes fluttered closed. The delightful scent of sandalwood and cinnamon overtook her senses. The tender contact left myriad sparks all over the side of her face before Everett turned his head slightly and his warm, soft lips lingered against her skin.
She felt as though she was tumbling down a long, dark hole and gripped his hands in a futile attempt to remain upright. This was much more intimate than even the kisses they’d shared. It was the most entrancing feeling she had ever experienced, as though she was caught in his web.
