But whatever story he wanted to tell, it would have to wait.
“Ah, Chester! I thought I saw you back there!” Miss Theodosia Ashbrooke, a formidable matchmaker, advanced on them. “You thought you could hide from me, then? Not a chance, my dear boy—no, I have just the person for you, and there is no running from me this time!”
Charlotte could not help but laugh at the haunted look on Josiah’s face as he resigned himself to a conversation with Miss Ashbrooke, someone most of the landed gentry and titled nobility attempted to avoid.
But she could think no longer on Josiah, not with so many guests to greet. It was over an hour later when she noticed her husband raise an eyebrow and jerk his head over to the house.
With bows all around and a rare smile from Lady Romeril, who stood nearby, Charlotte walked arm in arm with Will back to the house.
“What?” she whispered once they were out of sight of their guests. “What was so important we had to leave?”
Her mouth was stopped by a passionate kiss. It was fortunate they were truly alone, for it would have been most unseemly for their guests to see the new Duchess of Mercia grasp at her husband in such a manner.
“Do you think we can get away with making love in this hallway?”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow at her husband’s suggestion, scandalized but already imagining it.
“No,” she said finally. “But Stonehaven Lacey has over twenty bedrooms. Choose one.”
Laughing together and almost stumbling on the staircase as they rushed upstairs, Charlotte knew no one would ever mistake her for a chaperone again.
About Emily E K Murdoch
If you love falling in love, then you’ve come to the right place.
I am a historian and writer and have a varied career to date: from examining medieval manuscripts to designing museum exhibitions, to working as a researcher for the BBC to working for the National Trust.
My books range from England 1050 to Texas 1848, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with my heroes and heroines!
Follow me on twitter and instagram @emilyekmurdoch, find me on facebook at facebook.com/theemilyekmurdoch, and read my blog at www.emilyekmurdoch.com.
Always the Chaperone Page 18
