The Christmas Heiress (20 page)

Lord Reginald cleared his throat. "The tea is hot,
the whiskey warm. Please join us, Worthington."

"I am sure the earl is much too busy," the countess interrupted.

The earl refrained from commenting, but his eyes
narrowed and the hesitation he exhibited earlier disappeared. "I should very much enjoy sharing a
glass of whiskey with you, Lord Reginald," he declared, though he entered the room with all the enthusiasm of a man being sent to the gallows.

"Oh, goodness, I fear this will make things rather
awkward and uncomfortable for poor Miss Aldridge."
The countess shook her head sadly and leaned closer
to Charlotte. "In fact, this is as good a time as any to
apologize to you for the earl's presence at Farmin-
ton Manor. I never would have extended the invitation to spend Christmas with us if I knew he was
going to be here."

Charlotte raised her eyebrow and took a moment
to focus her gaze on the countess. "Where else would
the earl be at Christmas time than with his family?"
she asked, feeling a great indignity on his behalf at
being treated so shabbily by his own mother.

"There is no need for you to be so brave. Really,
I cannot understand why you, of all people, would
defend him," the countess continued, as if the earl
were not in the room, hearing every word. "Not
after the disgraceful way he treated you."

Charlotte blinked, then folded her hands together. "I am certain I do not know what you are referring to, my lady."

The countess paused and gave her a sympathetic
look. "We all know that you were heartbroken, and
rightfully so, when my son failed in his duty to ask
you to marry him all those years ago. It was what
everyone expected, what everyone wanted."

Horrified by the countess's indelicate comments,
Charlotte froze. She lifted her chin and looked
toward the earl. He stood still as a statue, his arms
folded over his chest, his expression unreadable.

"I do not know what you were told of the events,
but the earl did not break any promises to me. He
did not deceive me in any way." Charlotte gazed
pointedly at the countess.

The countess pressed her lips together and
looked to Lord Reginald. He squirmed uncomfortably. "You refused the earl's proposal?" the countess asked.

"As you very well know, I did not make Miss
Aldridge an offer of marriage," the earl said. Color
had crept into his face, but his tone was remorseless.

Charlotte waited for the sour twinge of bitterness
to hit her at his stark truth, but it did not come. She
raised her chin. "Exactly. I was never jilted because
there was no formal proposal."

"He led you on! He kissed you!" The countess's
thin nostrils flared. "It was despicable, dishonorable
behavior."

Charlotte felt a flash of sympathy for the earl. How
awful that your own mother believed the very worst
of you. Was it not a parent's role to defend, not condemn, their children, especially in front of others?

"The earl and I did share akiss, but he did not
lead me on. I can assure you, my lady, that I hardly
expect an offer of marriage from every gentleman
I kiss."

The countess squinted at her. "Perhaps now that
you are older, your views have become more
worldly, but those many years ago you did believe
a kiss meant a marriage would be forthcoming."

"There is some truth to that way of thinking,
but you must understand that any assumptions
concerning a marriage between myself and the
earl were only that-assumptions. And they were made on my part, due to my naivete." Charlotte's
voice was surprisingly calm, considering her inner
fury. "It appears you would like very much to hold
your son accountable for any misunderstanding
between the two of us, but in this case, he is
blameless."

"You are so courageous, acting like a true lady
even in the face of adversity," the countess said with
a petulant twist of her mouth. "I would expect no
less from a woman of your breeding."

"And yet sadly I expect far more from a woman of
your background, my lady." Charlotte stood, her
eyes flaming, and walked to the door. But before
she left, she turned around and made her final
point. "I only hope your son can find it in his heart
to forgive you, but alas if he cannot, I know that
no one of good conscience would blame him."

As scenes go, it wasn't one of his mother's better efforts. When Charlotte left the room, the countess remained seated, her back rigid, a cloud of righteous
indignation cloaking her anger. But she said nothing.

Edward decided it might be prudent to depart
before she once again found her voice. With a nod of
sympathy in Lord Reginald's direction and a stiff bow
of farewell to the countess, the earl left the salon.

Happily, he spied Charlotte at the end of the corridor. With long, quick strides he was soon beside
her, reaching out and grabbing her elbow as she
was about to ascend the staircase and disappear to
the sanctity of her bedchamber.

"I beg just a moment of your time, Miss Aldridge."

She raised an eyebrow. "Has there not been
enough drama for one afternoon, my lord?"

Edward ignored her sarcasm, opened the door to
his private study and waited for her to join him.

"We need to keep this conversation very brief,"
she said, walking across the room away from him. "If
we are discovered alone I fear your mother might insist that I have been irrevocably compromised and
demand that you marry me."

Edward, watching her back, smiled. "I suppose
anything is possible, especially when my mother is
in such a snit. She did not appear to appreciate your
comments."

Charlotte bent her head. "I honestly did not set
out to provoke her."

"I believe you. One never intends to do battle, yet
it takes little effort for my mother to get under one's
skin."

Charlotte grimaced. "She does seem to have a
particular talent for it."

Edward could not contain a small smile. "I apologize if she distressed you."

She gave herself a little shake. "No apology is necessary. I was not the one being attacked."

"My mother takes a perverse pleasure in baiting
others, especially when she knows they will not fight
back." He stared at her for a few brief seconds. "She
knew I could offer little in the way of defense, but
she never anticipated I would have a champion in
you. I thank you for defending me, yet I must ask
why. Why did you do it?"

"I was merely stating the truth," Charlotte said with
quiet satisfaction. "It seems that the countess had
been misinformed about the state of our relationship. I could hardly allow the opportunity to set her
to rights slip away without saying anything, could I?"

"We both know 'tis more complicated."

"Perhaps it might have seemed so at the time, but
now it is an unfortunate misunderstanding from
our past and should be forgotten."

Edward leaned on his desk, cupping the hard edge with both hands. Charlotte had surprised him
greatly with her actions. She had told him last week
that she accepted his apology and she had just
proven how much she meant it. He was suddenly
very interested in learning more about her.

"Forgive me for asking a most impertinent question, but marriage is the preferred state for most females. Why have you never married?"

Her brow furrowed and he was relieved she did
not appear shocked or outwardly offended by his
question.

"Marriage is a serious consideration. Women of
our class marry for social and financial security,"
she replied, perching on the armrest of a large,
overstuffed chair. "I am indeed fortunate to already
possess both in abundance."

"And emotions? Are they not a contributing
factor?"

"I have observed some marriages that are fraught
with emotion. Which, I must say, can ultimately be
damaging, especially if the union is not entered into
with thoughtful and due consideration by both individuals." She paused and gathered her thoughts. "I
am lucky to be afforded the chance to take my time
searching for a man who will best please me. A man
who has nothing in his past or his personality that
would prevent him from giving and accepting love
with ease."

Edward could not help but smile. So love was important to her. For some reason, the notion pleased
him greatly, even though his own opinion on the
subject was not nearly as emphatic.

"I'll own I do not spend as much time among society as others of my rank, but surely there are some
men who are worthy of your love," Edward pressed.

"I certainly hope so." She cleared her throat, but
said no more.

"But they have remained unfound?" An odd
thought suddenly struck him. "Are you searching
hard enough?"

"I am searching very selectively." She glanced at
him curiously. "When a woman marries, she gives
her body, her independence and her worldly goods
to her husband. I find that I treasure the first two
far too much to make that decision lightly."

He bit back a smile. "Are you a romantic, Charlotte? Are you waiting for your one true love?"

She raised her eyebrow at his familiar use of her
first name, yet considering the intimacy of their conversation he doubted she would insist on formality.

She stood up and paced a meandering course
toward the windows at the back of the room. "Some
people believe in keeping passion entirely separate
from marriage. I suppose I could see the wisdom in
that sort of thinking, but it would make for a very
dull life."

"Would not a friendship between husband and
wife make the love they share more lasting and
durable?" he ventured.

"Oh, I want the friendship too, my lord. I want it
all." She turned from the window and resumed her
pacing. "Some people grow tired of searching for
what has been elusive in their life and decide that
they can only find happiness if they accept life the
way it is, if they let go of their stubborn desire for
something more." She took a deep breath. "I am not
one of those people."

Their eyes met and he was surprised to see the
depth of honesty and emotion reflected back at
him. Surprised too to recognize a similar desire
within himself. He never compromised when it
came to matters of business, yet in his personal life,
specifically his romantic life, he had been willing to
accept a marriage to the daughter of a business associate because it made financial sense.

For the first time since his former fiancee walked
out on him, Edward felt a sense of relief. He had
been spared such a marriage without even realizing
he would have never been happy, would have eventually come to hate it.

"Do you ever worry that it is an impossible quest?"
he asked. "To find and keep this love?"

Charlotte hesitated a moment. "There is a small
element of fear that perhaps I am wasting my life
grasping at straws, searching for something that
does not exist. But then I remember the stories my
grandfather told me about my parents and the love
that they shared, and I see how content and happy
a couple such as Lord and Lady Haddon are with
each other, so I know that it is possible." Charlotte
blinked back a sudden tear. "In the end, for me, the
heart will know what is best."

Her faith had a naive innocence he found
charming. Could it really be that simple?

"How will you know when you meet this elusive
man?"

"An excellent question." She smiled warmly at
him. "I am not exactly certain, yet I continually hope
and pray that I shall recognize him when I find him."

Could it be me? His voice caught in his throat. She
was smiling at him with the timeless mystery of a desirable female. A flicker of need stole through
him. Her lips were luscious, dark red and plump as
fresh raspberries, but it was the expression of vulnerability on her lovely face that flew straight to his
heart.

A discreet knock sounded at the door and Harris
stepped into the study. "Beg pardon, my lord, but
there is a problem below stairs that needs attention."

Edward turned absentmindedly toward the butler.
"Did you inform my mother?"

"I did. The countess instructed me to speak with
you about it," Harris said with a distinct note of disapproval in his voice.

Edward held back a retort of annoyance. It was
hardly the butler's fault that his mother had picked
a most inconvenient time to be difficult.

Charlotte moved forward, avoiding his eyes. "I
shall see you at dinner this evening, my lord."

"I look forward to it, Miss Aldridge."

Though Harris held himself off at a discreet distance, there was no opportunity for further conversation. Edward caught a faint whiff of her delicate
perfume as she breezed out of the room. The scent
seemed to awaken a primal need within him, and
his throat became very tight.

He turned to his butler, yet the earl had great difficulty concentrating on anything the servant said
to him.

Miss Dunaway laid a hand lightly on the earl's
arm and leaned closer to whisper something in his
ear. She was in especially good looks tonight and
Charlotte had to concede that most men would find Miss Dunaway's dark, nearly black hair, porcelain skin and clear blue eyes very attractive.

Apparently the earl was one of them. A startled
expression crossed his face and he laughed at Miss
Dunaway's next whispered comment. She, in turn,
favored him with an inviting smile as she noticeably
tightened her fingers on his arm.

Charlotte narrowed her gaze. It was ridiculous, of
course, to feel such a sharp stab of jealousy. She
had no specific claim on him, yet the notion that
some other woman might felt very wrong.

As if sensing her regard, the earl halted his conversation with Miss Dunaway and turned and looked
Charlotte's way. His gaze gripped her with its usual
mesmerizing force and Charlotte's body grew warm.
He gave her a slow, lazy smile that shone from his eyes.