A Lesson in Pride (19 page)

Hope chuckled. “You must have been thinking very hard, Ally. You barely acknowledged us.” Looking back at her sister, Hope waved her away. “Lottie, you should prepare for your outing with Mr. Pierce. I will sit with Ally and try to draw out of her what she was thinking so intently about.”

“Very well,” Charlotte said, wishing that she could stay and learn what had happened in their absence.

As she wandered up to her room, Charlotte considered begging off. Ally was, after all, family, and if she was hurt or sad, it was her concern to make things right. Except that it was usually Ally who did that for her and Hope and all the rest of the sisters. Though Charlotte was slightly older, Ally was years ahead of her in experience. At times, it was like dealing with a dowager, the way Ally commanded everyone and everything around her.

Charlotte had grown to depend on her stepmother for almost anything, which was why she would have preferred speaking to her before going on this ride with Mr. Pierce. Not that Charlotte feared for her person, but she feared leading a perfectly respectable man along. He was so clearly not the right man for her, and it was cruel to make him think otherwise.

Having never been courted before, Charlotte didn't even know if that was what Mr. Pierce was doing. He showed interest in her, but maybe she reminded him of a close family member or friend. Had she led him to believe that she was very interested in agriculture? She liked a fine garden, but that was certainly different than his chosen profession.

With the help of her maid, Charlotte was changed in no time. She would go on this ride with Mr. Pierce, but she would let him know that their relationship could go no further. She had very specific plans for her life, which did not include handsome agriculturalists with no fortunes and the wrong hair color.

As Charlotte descended the stairs, she saw that Mr. Pierce had already arrived. Standing in the entryway was Alysanne, speaking to the young man. Charlotte couldn't hear their conversation, but it looked as if Mr. Pierce were being lectured to. He stood, his head looking down at her stepmother's face, hat in his hands. The serious look on his face spoke volumes, as well as the fact that he never said a word.

Charlotte approached and heard the last of her stepmother's words.

“Charlotte will need to be back in an hour, sir, as we have plans for the evening.”

“Of course, my lady. I had planned only on a ride around the park. We should return in plenty of time.”

Alysanne turned and smiled at Charlotte. “I was just getting to know Mr. Pierce a little better. I'm sure you two will have a nice time.”

“Thank you, my lady,” Braydon said before turning to bow to Charlotte. “If you are ready, Miss Drake.”

Before Charlotte could respond, Alysanne spoke up quickly. “Mr. Pierce, would you be so kind as to wait outside for a moment? I need to speak to Charlotte.”

“Of course, my lady,” he said before turning and walking out the door.

Charlotte donned her pelisse and gloves, waiting to see what Ally wanted. Her stepmother remained quiet until she was ready to go. Then Ally opened the door as if she should go without a word.

“What did you want to say, Ally?” Charlotte whispered as she stood at the entrance.

Ally smiled and kissed her cheek lightly. Whispering back, she said, “Give him a chance, Charlotte. Give him a chance.” Without any further explanation, Ally pushed her out the door and closed it.

Charlotte blinked her confusion for a few seconds before looking down her steps at the man who waited patiently for her by his curricle.
Give him a chance,
she'd said. A shiver went down Charlotte's spine as she thought about how intuitive Ally could be sometimes. Charlotte had never mentioned Mr. Pierce other than to speak of him to her sister. At the time, she had thought to fob him off on Hope. Was that what Ally meant? That Charlotte should consider him as a suitor for herself?

With a brittle smile on her face, Charlotte accepted Braydon's assistance into his vehicle. Once she was seated, he made his way around the cart and climbed in beside her. He then took the reins from a boy he hired to hold them, flipped him a coin, and clicked lightly to get his horses moving.

“I thought we would drive through Hyde Park. That should get you back in time to prepare for this evening.”

“That sounds delightful.” Actually, it didn't. It sounded tedious, but that was what young men and young ladies did on drives. After delivering her champagne after their first dance, Charlotte had expected him to do something more daring.

“No, it doesn't,” he said, mimicking her thoughts exactly. “But, alas, we have no time for anything else.” Though he didn't turn to look at her, Charlotte could see his devilish smile.

Feeling a bit daring at that moment herself, Charlotte asked, “And if we had the time, Mr. Pierce, what would you suggest we do?”

His smile grew bigger, giving him a decidedly boyish look. “I was thinking we should become pirates. I would happily split my ill-gotten booty with you.”

Laughing, Charlotte accused, “What would an agriculturalist know of the high seas, sir?”

“You may be right. We could conquer the continent instead. That short French fellow had a good run at it. I might be as smart as he.”

“You are neither short nor French, but I do believe you would have a better chance at that than being a pirate.”

Braydon turned his head and nodded. “I thank you, madam. It is too much a shame that we have only an hour then.”

“Indeed.”

Braydon turned into the park and slowed his pace. So Charlotte was not opposed to a bit of adventure. He wondered if she would wish to travel with him after their marriage. It sounded like his confidence was taking over once again, but Braydon had always held that if you wanted something badly enough, you needed to move forward and get it.

“What exactly are you doing for Lord Westly?”

Her question took him by surprise, as he wasn't expecting something so mundane. They had only just met, so he would humor her. “Two of his estates were not producing as they should. He requested my assistance in trying to discover the cause.”

“And did you?” she asked, looking toward the lake.

“I did. But you are not truly interested in hearing my conclusions, are you? If left to my own devices, Miss Drake, I could speak about crops and soil for hours on end.”

Charlotte looked at him sharply. “Mr. Pierce, I can assure you that if you begin to bore me, I will cut you off. But I would like to hear what you do with your time.”

Braydon's eyes lit up at her spunk. For the next fifteen minutes, he spoke of his work, not only for Westly, but for many other clients. He went on about his university classes as well. There was no doubt that Braydon loved what he did for a living and his enthusiasm was contagious.

“I should ask you about my roses. They suffer so much under my care.” Charlotte just wanted to keep him talking. If she were honest, she didn't want the afternoon to end. All good things come to an end though and the hour was over too soon for her liking.

“Roses are a tricky flower. I would be happy to come tomorrow and look at them with you.”

Before she could stop herself, Charlotte agreed. “Oh, that would be very good of you, Mr. Pierce. As recompense, I will have the cook make some very special treats at tea.”

“Shall I come by about three o'clock then?”

“Of course.” Charlotte didn't know the girl who was speaking, but it couldn't have been her. Hadn't she already decided to discourage Mr. Pierce? He was hardworking but he could never take on her and four of her sisters if it came to that. Not if they were to have children of their own.

Children? Where were these errant thoughts coming from? A deep blush rose to Charlotte's cheeks, causing her to turn in her seat to keep Braydon from seeing her. What would he think then?

Before she could get herself under control, they pulled up in front of the Drake townhouse. The curricle dipped as Braydon jumped down. In only a couple of seconds he would be there to assist her, which made her cheeks burn brighter. Then he was there, looking up at her, smile on his face, and Charlotte began to burn in other places as well. Stunned by the feeling, she didn't move, just stared down at his hand reaching up to her.

“Miss Drake, are you well?” he asked with a half-smile on his face as if he knew exactly what was affecting her.

“Perfectly, Mr. Pierce,” Charlotte stated, rallying herself as she took his hand.

He walked her to the door just as the Mr. Frommer opened it for her. She turned as she entered, nodding her head, but otherwise remaining quiet.

“Until tomorrow, Miss Drake.”

Without another word, Braydon walked back to his curricle, more certain than ever in his decision. Charlotte Drake would be his wife and he would spend every moment of his life making her happy.

Chapter 27

Ginny could barely keep her eyes open. As if most of London knew her circumstances, she was treated like the dowager countess she was. None of the young men asked her to dance, knowing that she had nothing to offer them. The only time a gentleman approached her, it was to see if she were interested in anything other than marriage. She wasn't a virgin, which meant she should be available for sport. After a few rebuttals to some indecent proposals, most of the men now avoided her.

As she took a turn around the room, watching her stepdaughters dance, it occurred to Ginny that she wasn't opposed to some fun. Alysanne had made it impossible for her to be with anyone other than Grant. With Grant no longer a possibility, maybe she should discreetly look for some company. There was a word for men like that. Not gigolo, but something French. She was racking her mind to remember what it was. She'd heard the word in a few of the novels she'd read on that ill-fated vacation to Jamaica. Sissy something? Shaking her head, she knew it would never come to her.

With her mind engaged elsewhere, she never noticed that she was about to walk into a wall. She would have, if not for a strong hand on her arm that pulled her delicately to the side. Ginny lifted her face to see how close she'd come to humiliating herself, then turned to see to whom she was indebted.

Her gaze followed the strong hand up the arm, to the broad shoulder, further up the neck to find a fine-looking man staring down at her. Thick, brown hair, peppered with white covered a square face, with a straight jaw. Sky-blue eyes, surrounded by thick lashes. A straight nose and straight teeth finished off the canvas. Ginny smiled stupidly.

“I beg your pardon, my lady. I worried that you had not noticed your predicament.”

Adding to his charms was a deep, baritone voice. God, Ginny didn't think she'd met anyone so amazing looking since Miles. Both men oozed a sensuality that made her want to melt. Add to that his voice and Ginny wouldn't need much coaxing to get into his bed.

“Thank you, sir. Apparently my woolgathering almost caused me quite an embarrassment.”

“Once I almost fell into a fountain because I was so distracted. May I ask what had your mind so occupied?”

Should she tell him? She thought not. What kind of chase would there be if she blurted out how she was just thinking about taking a lover. Oh, and by the way gorgeous man whose name she hadn't learned, would you mind being said lover? Even the predictable plot lines of a romance novel would never withstand such a breach.

“I was thinking of how I could get my stepdaughters married off,” she prevaricated. When she saw his smile dip, Ginny raised an eyebrow. Surely, this gentleman would never call her on her bullshit.

“Madam, you could not have even stepdaughters old enough to marry. I would never want to point out a lady's inconsistencies, but I am afraid I must.”

Ginny was starting to really like this guy and only part of it was because he was so delectable. “I married a much older man just last year, sir.”

“I am overwhelmingly jealous. Who is the bounder that has snared your hand?”

Ginny could listen to his voice all night. “He
was
the earl of Essex. He passed away last year.”

“I have been away from England too long. Were you married long?”

“You have been away, because it caused quite the stir. I was married for less than twelve hours.”

Ginny watched as the man's eyes widened in surprise. She amused herself as the man looked as if he was about to speak, but then stopped himself. After a few seconds of watching him suffer, she offered, “It was not a love match.”

The tension left his shoulders and a small chuckle escaped his sculpted lips. “Then I daresay I am not sorry.”

“There is no need, I assure you. The man was not well liked. How long have you been away?”

“Over ten years, at least. I left when I was only two and twenty.” Ginny watched as his mind drifted to a different place. In a moment, he snapped back to the present and said, “I really should introduce myself. It is irretrievably rude of me to have waited this long.”

When he still didn't offer his name, Ginny smiled. “I am Alysanne Drake, dowager countess of Essex.”

Her voice made him jump. Closing his eyes for a second, she watched him take a deep breath. When he opened them again, he focused on her and stated, “I am Morgan Baumont, Viscount Hood.” After stating his name and title, he took her hand and bowed.