How the Lady Charmed the Marquess

by Laura A. Barnes

  Charlotte stretched, feeling the tenderness between her thighs when she moved. Which only brought forth another smile. She would endure a million more of those aches to have Jasper make love to her again.

  “You bother, because you love me.” Charlie opened her eyes to find Evelyn standing over her, agitated, glancing over her shoulder at the door.

  Evelyn waved her hand in annoyance and rushed to the door, looking along the hallway. She closed the door quietly, came back to the bed, and yanked the covers away from Charlie. Evelyn tugged Charlie off the bed, shoving a dress in her arms. She motioned for Charlie to get behind the dressing screen.

  “Hurry,” Evelyn ordered.

  Charlie frowned at Evelyn’s odd behavior, but followed her command. Charlie stepped behind the screen and pulled off her nightgown. Lying on the bench were a chemise and stockings. With Evelyn’s rush to see Charlie dressed, she wouldn’t have time for a corset. Which was fine with Charlie, because she detested the things. Charlie slipped on her clothing. She would have loved a bath to soothe her aching body, or at least a washcloth to freshen herself. However, Charlie knew her sister wouldn’t allow those luxuries with her demanding nature this morning.

  “What is the hurry, Evelyn?” Charlie asked.

  Charlotte’s head was bent, coming out from behind the screen, tying the ribbon in the front of her dress. When she raised her head, Charlie watched Evelyn playing servant and making Charlie’s bed. Once Evelyn put the bed to rights, she bustled behind Charlotte and played lady’s maid, buttoning her dress. Then Evelyn shoved Charlie in a chair and yanked the brush through Charlie’s hair. The entire time Evelyn kept muttering to herself, but not loud enough for Charlie to understand her rantings. Evelyn tied a ribbon in Charlie’s hair, then dragged Charlie to the chaise against the window, forcing her down. Evelyn opened a book and placed it in Charlie’s hand. Her sister went to open the door, returning to sit in the chair next to the chaise. Evelyn picked up her sewing and pointed to the book.

  “Read aloud.”

  Charlotte sat confused from the whirlwind activity. She had barely woken from her stimulating dream before Evelyn forced her to get ready for the day. Not to mention, Charlie was starving. Her stomach rumbled its discomfort. Evelyn’s behavior was most confusing. Charlie would play along for now, but she really wanted to eat. She hoped Cook sent up some berry pastries with the hot chocolate. Charlie desired something sweet for breakfast.

  A pounding of loud footsteps started coming down the hallway. She listened to Jacqueline urging Aunt Susanna not to bother Charlie. The voices of Gemma and Abigail agreed with Jacqueline. Charlie also heard Selina Pemberton’s snide remarks, degrading Charlie’s character. Finally, Aunt Susanna stopped right before the door and announced for the ladies to be silent.

  “Evelyn, what is the fuss this morning?” Charlie whispered.

  “Oh, Charlotte. ‘Tis not morning, but two in the afternoon. Just follow my lead. Now read aloud to me.”

  Charlotte now understood the full impact of Evelyn’s odd behavior. She had never slept so late before. Was there more to this, though? Had somebody seen Jasper and her passionate exchange last night? The tone of Evelyn’s voice spoke her disappointment. Charlie’s selfish actions put Evelyn’s happiness in jeopardy. Charlie reached out to grab Evelyn’s hand. She squeezed it and mouthed I am sorry. Evelyn nodded in understanding, squeezing her hand to show her forgiveness.

  The repercussions of Charlie’s actions slammed in her gut. She started reading, her voice barely above a whisper. With the lateness of her lie-in, no corset, and the stage Evelyn set of Charlie laying on the chaise, reading a book, Evelyn must have pleaded sickness for Charlie’s absence from today’s activities. Charlie wouldn’t prove Evelyn false, she would keep up the pretense long enough to appease Jacqueline and Aunt Susanna. However, Charlie knew they didn’t fool Jacqueline. Her older sister realized something was afoot, and once they pacified Aunt Susanna, Jacqueline would demand the truth.

  “Ladies, please return to the parlor. I do not wish for any of you to catch Charlotte’s illness. I will appraise you of her recovery shortly,” said Aunt Susanna.

  The footsteps retreated down the hallway before Aunt Susanna swept into the room, making her way to Charlotte’s side. She rested on the seat in front of Charlie, placing a hand on Charlie’s forehead.

  “Mmm, you are not warm. Are you ill?” Aunt Susanna asked.

  “No, Aunty. I am over-tired from the daily activities and the full evening entertainments. I am sorry for causing worry, I only wished to rest for the day.”

  “Pshh.” Jacqueline muttered, glaring at Charlie. Her older sister always saw through her lies.

  Aunt Susanna patted Charlie’s hand in understanding. “Yes, yes. I understand, dear. This week has been out of the norm for you girls. You especially, Charlotte, with the way Lord Sinclair and Lord Worthington have favored their attentions your way. Why, who would have guessed that not one but two of London’s most eligible bachelors would have pursued you? Not that you are not worthy of such treatment. I understand how you view the entire business of courtship. So, have you made a choice, my dear? It would not be proper to lead the gentlemen on, if you were not interested. No matter how tempting of an offer your uncle dangled for them to win your heart.”

  “What has Uncle Theo done?”

  “Nothing, nothing. Just the ramblings of an old lady who is throwing a successful house party. Now, shall we expect you at dinner? Or do you need to rest longer?”

  “I am well rested for dinner.”

  “Fabulous. Now, who shall I sit you by? Worthington or Sinclair?”

  Sinclair was on the tip of Charlie’s tongue, but Evelyn mouthed for Charlie to answer Worthington. Since Evelyn had covered for her, it was the least she could do. Not that she wouldn’t get to sit by Jasper. She must convince Aunt Susanna to place Evelyn next to Jasper.

  “Lord Worthington.”

  “Strange, I thought you would have said Lord Sinclair. But the heart knows what the heart wants. What is even more strange now that I think about it, Lord Sinclair must have had a late night too, since he did not rise until noon. Am I overdoing the entertainments?”

  They reassured Aunt Susanna that she'd paced the activities out evenly. Her sisters however turned questioning looks upon Charlie. She saw them come to the same conclusion. Would the guests also make the connection? If Selina did, the rumor mill would begin. Selina would take great pleasure on proving Charlie and Jasper were in a scandalous relationship.

  “Perhaps you could sit Evelyn next to Lord Sinclair?” Charlie suggested.

  “No, I cannot do that. It will only confuse the gentleman if he has feelings for you. That would not be fair to Evelyn. I shall sit Evelyn between Lord Ralston and Lord Kincaid for this evening. Will that be acceptable, Evelyn?”

  “Yes,” answered Evelyn.

  Charlotte inwardly sighed. Of course, it would be all right for Evelyn. The man who Evelyn most desired would be her dinner partner. Charlie’s evening was destined for boredom. Neither of the gentlemen was one she wished to keep company. Lord Kincaid was one of Lucas’s best mates. Too serious, never finding Charlie’s hijinks amusing. Kincaid always tried to discipline her. Then there was Lord Ralston, a more unscrupulous, womanizing, arrogant rake if there ever was one. He had only secured an invitation to the house party because Lord Ralston’s father was Uncle Theo’s friend. There were rumors Uncle Theo held Lord Ralston’s markers. It was a well-known fact that Lord Ralston gambled and lost quite heavily. So Charlie would have to endure dinner caught between a stick in the mud and a scoundrel, when she only wanted to sit next to Jasper. What one would sacrifice for their sister’s happiness.

  “Now I shall order a bath for you to relax in. Pamper yourself for the afternoon, so you are fresh for dinner. Please stay away from the stables. If you want to draw Lord Worthington’s attention, smelling like horses is not the way to entice a man to fall in love. Even if his love of horses matches yo
urs.”

  As quickly as Aunt Susanna had bustled in, she left in the same manner. Which left Charlie alone with Evelyn and Jaqueline. Her sisters would want answers. Answers Charlie wasn’t ready to confess. She wanted to keep the secret of Jasper to herself for a while longer. At least until she knew his intentions. After they'd made love, they hadn’t discussed the future. Jasper made her no promises. Before her sisters questioned Charlie, Gemma and Abigail slipped in the room, closing the door behind them. They crawled on Charlie’s bed, waiting. All of them waited for Charlie to explain her absence. It would appear that she wouldn’t get to keep her secrets to herself after all.

  “Please tell me there is no relation to Sinclair’s lateness of rising and yours,” said Jacqueline.

  Even if Charlie were to deny Jacqueline’s accusation, the blush spreading across her cheeks would speak the truth. Charlie lowered her head, pretending interest in the book. Her fingers ran back and forth across the edges of the spine. She felt their eyes on her. If she raised her head, she would encounter looks of amusement, disappointment, sympathy, excitement, and most of all acceptance. That was why she loved her family so much. They might call her foolish or reprimand her, but none of them would hold a low opinion or judge her actions.

  “Oh Charlie, how romantic,” Gemma sighed.

  “But no great surprise,” murmured Abigail.

  “What do you mean, no great surprise?” asked Charlie.

  “It has been more than obvious this last year,” answered Abigail.

  “Obvious how?”

  Abigail glanced around the bedroom. “Am I the only one who has noticed?”

  Everyone but Charlie answered no.

  “Noticed what?” Charlie held no clue what the others had seen that she hadn’t.

  Jacqueline sighed, sitting on Evelyn’s bed. “The attraction building between Sinclair and you.”

  “What nonsense. There has been no sign of attraction until the day we played pall-mall and he first kissed me.”

  “Do you mean the day that you and Evelyn first switched identities?” Jacqueline asked.

  “You knew?” Evelyn and Charlie asked at the same time.

  Jacqueline shook her head at them. “Did you two believe that you have fooled anyone with your game?”

  “Yes,” they answered.

  Gemma and Abigail shook their heads too.

  “Well, maybe not you three, but we have fooled everyone else,” said Charlie.

  “Perhaps the other guests. Maybe even Lucas. I am sure your Uncle Theo has figured it out,” said Abigail.

  “Aunt Susanna?” asked Evelyn.

  “Oh yes, definitely, Aunt Susanna has,” laughed Gemma.

  “Then why did she ...” started Charlie.

  “Ask who you wished to sit by? Why, to convince you she is ignorant of your switch. She sides with Uncle Theo on this matchmaking attempt. Aunt Susanna would like each of us to settle with a gentleman from this party. She does not wish to play chaperone in London, but if she has to, she does not want to debut five ladies at once,” explained Jacqueline.

  “Four,” said Abigail.

  “Five,” answered Gemma firmly.

  “That still does not answer my questions.”

  “Which question was that?” asked Jacqueline.

  “All of them,” answered Charlie.

  “Will you answer my question?” asked Jacqueline.

  Charlie nodded. For her to understand what they had told her, she would need to be honest with them. No matter what the consequences held.

  “Where you alone with Jasper Sinclair last night?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did he take advantage of you?”

  “No.”

  “When does he plan to make an offer for you?”

  “That did not come up for discussion.”

  “He does plan to?” asked Abigail.

  Charlie shrugged, she held no clue on Jasper’s intentions. While her heart knew he would, she couldn’t speak for him.

  “Oh, Charlotte,” said Jacqueline.

  “He will, Jasper Sinclair is an honest gentleman. He would not have ruined Charlie with no plans to do right by her.” Evelyn came to Sinclair’s defense.

  Charlie smiled at her sister’s declaration of faith. She didn’t doubt Jasper either. It felt nice that her sister believed in him too.

  “Can you explain how all of you knew about the attraction between Jasper and I, when I did not?”

  “When no one is looking, Jasper’s eyes follow you around the room. His attention never strays from you. His eyes devour you,” Gemma sighed. Always the romantic.

  “Do not forget his jealousy when other men take interest in Charlie. Whenever Charlie talks to another man, he joins the conversation,” said Abigail.

  “That is only because we share similar interests,” objected Charlie.

  “If you were not around, he would inquire to your health or your whereabouts. Once he was told, he would seek you out,” Evelyn piped in.

  “To be candid, the air crackles with the attraction between you two,” said Jacqueline.

  Charlie sat silently, listening to her family’s opinion. When she thought about the last few months, their comments rang true. There had been a shift in their relationship. They were so minor that Charlie hadn’t noticed. Since Jasper had been a constant in her life for as long as she could remember, she didn’t realize her feelings for him had grown stronger.

  “If you say Aunt Susanna knows that Evelyn and I are switching identities, then she must know that we will tonight and it will be Evelyn sitting next to Worthington. Why does she refuse to sit me next to Jasper at dinner?”

  “Because she enjoys the drama of watching Jasper Sinclair unhinge over you. Sinclair is a confident gentleman who is always a charmer. However, since this party started, his behavior is erratic where you are concerned. I believe she wishes to keep the party lively with Sinclair and you as entertainment. You should have seen the glee that lit her face at your greeting toward Duncan yesterday and Sinclair’s jealous reaction. No, she will not sit you next to him. She will take pleasure when Sinclair stews over the attention Kincaid and Ralston will pay you,” said Jacqueline.

  “Kincaid will not pay attention to me and I do not think I am Ralston’s type. There will be nothing to see.”

  “Lord Ralston will flirt with anything within his eyesight. Well, that is everyone except me,” muttered Gemma.

  Charlie had been about to ask Gemma if she wished for Lord Ralston to flirt with her, but decided now was not the time. She would not embarrass Gemma or cause her discomfort, just because she wanted to distract them from her follies. When Charlie found some time to be alone with Gemma, she would ask her cousin if she harbored feelings for the rake. If she did, then she would help Gemma, the same as she helped Evelyn. Charlie now understood that she had fallen in love with Jasper long before this house party had begun. Now she wanted her entire family to find the same love.

  “Charlotte, men are strange creatures. Even more so after they have been intimate with a woman. Believe me, Sinclair will become very possessive of you from here on out. And watching Ralston flirt with you while he cannot intervene will be a sight,” explained Jacqueline.

  “What should I do?”

  “You should flirt with Ralston. Force Sinclair to ask for your hand, before Lucas discovers the truth. Selina is determined to ruin you. If she catches even a whiff of any scandal surrounding you, she will smear your name amongst the ton,” said Abigail.

  “No, I will not force Jasper’s hand. I do not want anyone to pressure him, when I know in my heart he will ask me on his own terms. I am not afraid of Selina and her schemes.”

  Everyone, including Charlie, knew that she should be. Selina had been on the warpath towards Charlie ever since the party started. It didn’t help the prank she'd pulled on Selina when she arrived. Charlie didn’t tell the other girls about what she had done, since Selina never made a scene about it. But Charlie realized
that Selina discovered that it was her who had replaced her hairbrush with a horse brush from the stable. It may have been petty, but Charlie wanted to seek revenge against Selina after she was so cruel to Abigail at their morning ritual. While their manners were impolite in not inviting her, they remedied that the following day by inviting all the female guests to join them for hot chocolate. However, Selina never came, and instead she mocked the other guests, alienating herself more. Charlie held no sympathy for Selina.

  “Now that we understand your newfound romance with Sinclair, shall we discuss the matter of Evelyn and Worthington? Please explain why the two of you needed to switch identities where that gentleman is concerned,” asked Jacqueline.

  Charlie shared a look with Evelyn, encouraging her to confide her secret. When this first began, they foolishly believed they could handle the deception. However, the longer it continued, their plan created more trouble. They were in over their heads and nowhere nearer to having Worthington fall in love with Evelyn. There were only a couple of days left before the ball. After that, Worthington would head to London to find a bride before returning home to his estate. Evelyn would arrive too late to pursue him during the season. No, it must be this week. If not, Uncle Theo would marry her off to another gentleman, one that Evelyn didn’t love.

  “Over the Christmas holidays when Worthington was a guest, we shared a few kisses in the library.”

  “Oh Evelyn,” Jacqueline sighed.

  “Only Worthington thought he had kissed Charlie,” continued Evelyn.

  All eyes swiveled to Jacqueline, waiting for her to voice her disappointment and for her to reprimand them. When she rose from the chaise and paced across the rug, four sets of eyes tracked her. Waiting. The air in the room grew thick with dread. Evelyn and Charlotte looked to Jacqueline for guidance in life and never wanted for Jacqueline to be ashamed of them.

  “While I do not approve of your actions, I cannot scold you for them either. Your behavior reminds me of when we were young, before mama and papa died. The two of you would constantly cause mischief when you pretended to be each other. Papa would have to rescue you from your scrapes. Mama would scold you, then her laughter would ring through the house of the amusement you caused. This past week has reminded me of those times, and that is why I have not put a halt to your antics. Even when Sinclair urged me to do so, I refused. After our parents death, I have had to watch the two of you close yourselves off into your shells. When they died, part of us died too. All of us lost a part of ourselves that dreadful day. Evelyn, you retreated from life, too afraid to live, to allow yourself to grow close to another. While Charlie, you acted out with one ridiculous escapade after another. Each time you pushed your limits closer and closer to danger.”