An Inconvenient Trilogy - Three Regency Romances: Inconvenient Ward, Wife, Companion - all published separately on Kindle and paperback

by Audrey Harrison

  “As you wish,” Michael responded amused. Pride would not let Stephen act in any other way than he was used to people seeing, but Michael had seen a glimpse of the man underneath, and was no longer worried about his young guest.

  Chapter 22

  Stephen hid himself in the billiard room. He needed to mull over Michael’s words and try to come to terms with his own feelings. He was not necessarily ready to declare his undying love to Charlotte, or to even recognise that love was what he was feeling. He was aware though that he had never had before, the feelings he experienced while being with Charlotte. No other woman he had ever met previously moved him in the way she had. He had only kissed her twice, but both kisses were burned into his memory, unlike the hundreds, possibly thousands of kisses he had experienced prior to meeting Charlotte.

  He had no idea why his feelings had developed. He had met far more sophisticated women in his time, who could banter with him enough to have him roar with laughter. He had experienced women who were expert in satisfying him in bed. Innocence had always bored him, it was too much like hard work to show them his preferred way of doing things, and he had therefore never dallied with someone as innocent as Charlotte. There was also the risk of being forced into a marriage he did not want if he dallied with an innocent, another reason why he should have avoided Charlotte.

  He slammed the ball into the opposite corner pocket. Perhaps he was turning into the type of low character that was attracted to Baron Kersal’s more immoral schemes. He snorted with disgust, he might have a colourful background, but he would never sink so low as forcing himself on an innocent.

  Forcing himself on an innocent. He could not stop the smile spreading across his face when he thought of the first words that Charlotte had uttered to him. He had never been begged for a kiss in such a way before. He had had women throw themselves at him, but that had never stirred anything in him apart from contempt for the marital state, because they were usually married. No, Charlotte had been different from the start. Her unique mix of innocence, fire, and helplessness had been a mix he had been unable to resist.

  Another ball was slammed into the pocket, it was not just that. She had looked to him for help and had been sure he was capable of giving it to her. She had trusted him and had been confident in his ability. Her courage had remained steady while she was in his company, and it had been because of his ability that she had felt that way. No one had ever relied on him before; no one had ever wanted his protection in such a way. No one had ever rejected him because although she cared for him, she had believed that he did not care enough about her, and was not going to settle for his indifference.

  He still smarted from her rejection of the marriage proposal. Her uncle had been quite rightly over the moon at the proposal, but not Charlotte. Oh no, she had wanted his love not his proposal. Another ball was rocketed into the waiting pocket. She had turned down the most eligible offer she was ever likely to get, and yet he could not condemn her for it. She had principles and even at her young age, had the courage to stand by them.

  “Should I warn Lord Dunham that he may need to purchase a new billiard table?” Charlotte asked from the doorway. “I’m not sure that his current one can take such harsh play.” She smiled with amusement at Stephen’s startled expression. She had watched him for a few moments before speaking, unable to take her eyes off his face.

  “Are you following me, Miss Webster?” Stephen asked, overcoming his surprise quickly and returning to his usual uninterested manner.

  “Perish the thought that such an action would have on my reputation, if the company suspected such behaviour,” Charlotte responded easily. “I was merely attracted to the sound of a billiard table in pain.”

  Stephen smiled slightly, “I wasn’t aware billiard tables were susceptible to pain. I would have been less brutal if I had realised.”

  “I would have expected no less; you are not a cruel man,” Charlotte replied, entering the room. “Now, are you going to teach me the rules, or am I going to have to stand and watch you play alone all day?”

  Stephen’s eyes narrowed. “Billiards isn’t a pastime for a respectable young lady,” he said shortly, wary of what Charlotte was trying to achieve.

  “I have a feeling that my respectability has been hanging in the balance for some time now,” Charlotte responded with a shrug. She entered the room fully and picked up a cue, weighing it in her hands. “I feel that one game of billiards isn’t going to affect it one way or another.”

  Stephen laughed, despite his reservations. This was the girl with spirit that he had seen in the beginning. “In that case Miss Webster, allow me to show you.”

  Charlotte smiled at the sight of Stephen relaxing. She had sought him out, but it was for her benefit as well as his. She remembered things when she was near him, so she needed to be near him. “Prepare to be beaten, Stephen.”

  Stephen ignored the change, from the formality of his title which she had used since the accident, to his given name. She was remembering, but perhaps he should enjoy her company until she remembered everything. He indicated that she should join him at the table and started to explain the rules of the game.

  *

  Elizabeth was attracted to the billiard room by the laughter coming from within it. She recognised that it was Charlotte’s laughter and was curious and troubled that her friend was in the room. When she entered, the surprise at the sight before her was clearly written on her face. Charlotte was fully participating in a game of billiards with Stephen. The pair were fooling around, obviously not taking the game seriously, hence Charlotte’s laughter.

  The pair stopped their antics as soon as they noticed Elizabeth’s entrance, Charlotte flushing a little, and Stephen scowling at Elizabeth. “Elizabeth,” he bowed slightly at her appearance.

  “Stephen. Charlotte,” Elizabeth responded, not quite coolly, but enough to express her displeasure at such a scene. She did not want to see her friend hurt by Stephen again.

  “Stephen has been teaching me the fine art of billiards,” Charlotte said lightly, but her blush was evidence that she was aware of Elizabeth’s disapproval.

  “I was hoping that you would accompany me on a visit to some tenants,” Elizabeth explained to her friend.

  “Of course,” Charlotte responded, immediately putting the cue down. “I shall fetch my pelisse and bonnet and meet you in the hallway in a few moments,” she said quickly, dipping a quick curtsey to Stephen, before turning her back to him and hurrying out the door.

  Elizabeth turned back to Stephen when they were alone. “Do you think it is wise being unchaperoned with Charlotte for such a long time? I could hear her laughter before I reached the doorway.”

  “We were having a game of billiards, with the door open. It may be a sign that I may be getting old, but it’s not the most ideal location for anything untoward to happen,” Stephen drawled.

  Elizabeth ignored the mocking tone that Stephen had used. “I think highly of you Stephen, but I hope you are not going to hurt Charlotte again,” she said in her usual direct way.

  Stephen bristled, “I seem to recall that I offered her marriage, and I was the one who was refused. Perhaps she is the one that would hurt me?”

  “Yes, but you offered marriage without love!” Elizabeth responded quietly. She knew Stephen’s cynicism where feelings of love were concerned.

  “Do you know Elizabeth, I have considered you one of my friends in this fickle world we live in, but it appears I may have been mistaken. Your husband has more faith in me than you do.”

  “Michael? What has he said?” Elizabeth asked.

  “He suggested that I court Charlotte, that I don’t let the past hinder what we could have in the future. I seriously considered it for a moment, but with friends like you around, I haven’t got a chance, have I? You will always be the spectre of the past, reminding me what I strove to be, never allowing any of us, particularly Charlotte, to forget what a monster I was. You are in danger of sounding like
the bitter, spiteful dames who frequent society all too often!” Stephen moved around the billiard table and approached the doorway.

  “I think you should stop pretending to be my friend Elizabeth. If I offended you so much by my foolish marriage proposal to you that it has coloured your opinion of me, just be honest enough to say it. I don’t want to continue presuming you are my ally, when in reality you so obviously dislike me,” he finished bitterly.

  Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, but Stephen had moved past her and left the room. A movement from behind the doorway caught Elizabeth’s eye and she was mortified to see Charlotte’s pale face emerge.

  “Charlotte...” Elizabeth started.

  “Are you jealous that Lord Halkyn likes me?” Charlotte asked quietly.

  “Jealous? No!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I don’t want him to hurt you, that’s all.”

  “Why would he hurt me?” Charlotte asked, her demeanour stiff and aloof.

  “He did once before,” Elizabeth said gently. “His views are......we spoke about it in the past.”

  “Of which I cannot remember, but I am remembering feelings and I know he would not intentionally hurt me,” Charlotte replied.

  “I hope your confidence in him is not misplaced,” Elizabeth responded, a little defensively.

  “It isn’t,” Charlotte replied firmly.

  Chapter 23

  Elizabeth sought out her husband when her duties to her tenants had been completed. She had felt like the spiteful dame that Stephen had compared her to, but was sure she was right to be cautious for her friend. That did not ease the tension which had remained between Charlotte and herself all through the visits they had undertaken.

  She explained to Michael what had occurred and her heart sank further as he shook his head at her words. “I was only trying to act in Charlotte’s best interests,” she finished defensively.

  “You should have left them alone. Now Charlotte is aware of some of Halkyn’s past and it may influence her, as it did before,” Michael replied calmly, but it was obvious that he was disappointed with Elizabeth’s actions.

  “Surely she needs to know the truth?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief. Her husband was so committed to doing what was right in every area of his life; she could not believe that he was suggesting that she should lie.

  “We all change Elizabeth. You must have seen the changes in Halkyn from the first moment that he introduced Charlotte to us. He is not the man who offered for you!” Michael responded, unable to stop his teeth grinding a little at his last words.

  Elizabeth moved to her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck. “My feelings have never changed since I first fell in love with you. I could never have been tempted into marriage with Stephen,” she said, reaching up to kiss him.

  Michael returned the kiss, but pulled away after a moment. “Just remember how you reacted when you realised there were difficulties in the way of our happiness. You fought against them, and perhaps Charlotte is doing the same,” he offered, smiling at his headstrong wife.

  “But Stephen’s view on marriage....” Elizabeth started.

  “He told me he was afraid that if they married he would hurt her,” Michael interrupted. “Those are not the words of someone who is untouched by love.”

  Elizabeth groaned and put her head on her husband’s shoulder. “I am a fool. I may have damaged my friendship with them both.”

  “Leave them be and they will work it out and forgive you along the way,” Michael said reassuringly, hoping that his words held enough conviction.

  *

  Charlotte had mixed feelings about the conversation that she had overheard. She had returned to ask Elizabeth a question about the possibility of donating a quilt to the tenants that was in her bedroom, but had not uttered a sound once she had realised the conversation had been about herself and Stephen.

  Herself and Stephen. It seemed her feelings were correct; they did have some sort of history. It had not sounded as if the situation had been destined for a happy ending. It was so frustrating to not be able to remember everything yet, although memories were coming back, more than she was admitting to anyone else. Her feelings for Stephen were strong, she had the suspicion that she would always feel safe while he was around and she also felt loved by him, which was in direct contradiction to what Elizabeth had hinted at.

  Elizabeth was obviously questioning Stephen’s commitment. Charlotte did not seriously think that Elizabeth was jealous, anyone seeing her with Lord Dunham could see she was besotted with her husband, but there was obviously a reason why she thought Stephen would hurt her. She puzzled over it during the following evening. There was no sign of Stephen during the evening, which made the meal overly long in Charlotte’s view. She was so used to his presence, to know that every time she looked up, his eyes would meet hers, that she felt quite miserable without him.

  Then Violet and Edward announced that it was time they were returning to London. “I miss my social whirl,” Violet explained with a smile. “I had hoped we could still take Charlotte with us, but I think a little longer here would be of more benefit.”

  “I was to come to London?” Charlotte asked. “I don’t think I have ever been there before.”

  “You spent a night there some time ago,” Elizabeth supplied. “But there was no time for socialising; you were collected from just outside of London and the morning after brought to visit us.”

  “Really?” Charlotte responded, clearly distracted by the new information.

  Elizabeth was relieved that Charlotte did not ask any more questions. She could not lie to her friend, but at this point did not want to start explaining the history of her arrival with them.

  *

  The following morning Violet and Edward left Dunham House. Charlotte had waved them off and then returned to her bed chamber, she was still mulling over the information obtained from the previous evening. Her thoughts were disturbed when she was sent a message that she had a visitor. She hurried to the morning room, wondering who would visit, as she knew very few people in the area.

  Elizabeth greeted her as she entered and introduced her to Mr O’Hara. He was a pleasant looking young man, who stood and gave a low bow at Charlotte’s entrance. He smiled in welcome to Charlotte and explained that he had lately been out of the area and had only just returned to hear about her accident.

  “I took the opportunity of riding over immediately to see for myself that you were well,” he said, fixing her with a wide smile.

  Charlotte smiled at the visitor, she had a definite feeling that she had met him before. “I am well thank you, as you can see. The scar will be easily hidden under my curls,” she said.

  “You were very lucky,” Mr O’Hara murmured, a sympathetic expression on his face.

  “I have been very well looked after,” Charlotte responded. “You will have to forgive me Mr O’Hara, I know we have met previously, but my memory has not returned fully. I’m afraid I cannot remember our previous acquaintance.”

  Mr O’Hara flushed slightly. “It is of no matter, we were excellent dance partners and I am sure in the future we will have the opportunity to be so once more.”

  Charlotte had frowned at Mr. O’Hara’s flush. She seemed distracted for a few moments as she tried to recall her previous meetings with him. Mr O’Hara chatted about his recent visit to London and the ladies responded politely.

  They were interrupted by the entrance of Lord Halkyn. He looked at Mr O’Hara with mild interest, before bowing to the ladies and taking a seat near the window. His entrance stilled the conversation for a few moments, but then Mr O’Hara continued.

  “Is Lord Dunham at home this morning?” he asked Elizabeth.

  “He is, would you like me to ask him to join us?” Elizabeth responded.

  “Ah, no,” Mr O’Hara replied, again flushing. “I would like to have a private word with him if it is possible.”

  “I’m sure it is. Would you like to follow me?” Elizabeth rose and led the
way out of the room, with Mr O’Hara close on her heels.

  “Is that one of your conquests?” Stephen asked mockingly when they were alone in the room.

  “You tell me,” Charlotte responded tartly.

  “He looks like he would moon over you,” came the scornful reply.

  “He obviously has good taste then,” Charlotte responded, making Stephen laugh loudly.

  Elizabeth returned to the room and raised her eyebrows at Stephen. “You sound happy,” she said.

  “I shall stop it immediately,” Stephen responded, a little coolly. He still had not completely forgiven for her lack of faith in him.

  Elizabeth and Charlotte made small talk, expecting Mr O’Hara to rejoin them when he had finished speaking to Lord Dunham. Both were surprised when fifteen minutes later Lord Dunham entered the room alone.

  “Has Mr O’Hara left us?” Elizabeth asked her husband.

  “Yes, he thought he would leave it to me to pass on his message,” Michael said, sitting opposite Charlotte.

  “All of a sudden this morning has become interesting,” Stephen responded, but managing to still sound bored, but he did sit a little forward on his seat.

  Michael flicked a look at Stephen, but ignored his comment. “Charlotte, you will not remember, but Mr O’Hara asked for your hand in marriage before the accident happened.”

  Charlotte flushed, but the three occupants were more distracted by the sound of Stephen sucking in a deep breath. He did not say anything, so Charlotte turned back to Michael. “Did he?” she asked hesitantly. She was terrified of the thought that she may have accepted him and now be tied to an engagement.

  “Yes he did. He has asked today if he could renew his addresses to you, asking for my blessing for him to speak to you about the subject again,” Michael said, aware of Stephen in the background clenching his fists.

  “So, I hadn’t agreed to anything?” Charlotte asked, almost sagging with relief.