What the Duke Wants (17 page)

She nodded and bid her farewells, walking down the hall. Her emotions were a jumbled mix of gratitude and heartache. Gratitude for the duke giving her the perfect escape from an awkward situation, but heartache for the way it was done.

Cursing her oversensitivity, she almost didn’t hear Lady Southridge’s scolding. “Well, if
that
is how you treat her, no wonder you’re having issues. I am now fully convinced you need my assistance.”

“Bloody—”

“Charles!”

“Hell.”

Carlotta couldn’t help but smile as she walked the rest of the way to the schoolroom. She puzzled over the meaning of Lady Southridge’s words, but more than anything, she delighted in someone telling the great Duke of Clairmont what to do.

It was about time.

****

Later on that afternoon, Tibbs came in to request their presence at dinner. The girls squealed with delight over having a formal dinner rather than their usual quiet meal in the nursery. Noticing the girls’ attention severely lacking, Carlotta quit lessons earlier than usual to allow the girls ample time to ready themselves.

Carlotta helped them dress and enlisted the help of Mary, the maid, to help arrange their hair. By the time Tibbs came into escort them to dinner, Carlotta had scarcely arrived in the nursery, having rushed through readying herself. She chose a deep green gown, one that was simple enough for a governess, but that highlighted the color of her eyes. She went a step further and loosened the prim chignon at the base of her neck so that it was more of a flowing style that softened her features.

More than once she told herself she was taking these steps for herself, not the duke, and that she would have done the same if he was not in residence and instead was having a practice formal dinner with the girls.

But her heart called her mind a liar.

While she would have dressed the same, even done her hair in a similar manner for the practice dinner, the idea wasn’t the same. She wanted to look beautiful, and if she were honest, she wanted him to
want
her. Even if nothing could come from it, she simply wanted to be wanted. Shaking her head at her own folly, she followed behind Tibbs to the parlor where they were to wait till dinner was served.

Lady Southridge was already waiting. She was a beautiful vision in fine velvet of a deep green that appeared every bit as expensive as it surely was. Her eyes lit up as the girls entered, surprising Carlotta with the warmth in her gaze as she stood and approached the girls.

“My! How lovely you all look tonight! I’m so glad we can have you for our guests!” she gushed. Bethanny blushed and curtsied. “You must be… Bethanny, correct?” Lady Southridge inquired with a smile.

“Yes, my lady.” She demurred perfectly.

“And you are Beatrix?” she asked.

“Yes, M’um.” Beatrix curtsied as well, her face blooming with color.

“I’m Berty! Don’t forget me!” Berty rushed up, gave a precariously deep curtsey, and then beamed up, showing off, again, her lost tooth.

“Oh! It seems that you have lost a tooth! My! You are becoming quite a young lady, aren’t you?” Lady Southridge bent down slightly and caressed Berty’s face in a decidedly motherly fashion.

Carlotta was conflicted. The duke had said that she was more of a maternal figure to him… but was that accurate? Was Lady Southridge’s opinion differing? She surely acted as if she belonged at Greenford Waters, and was taking a marked interest in his wards. Carlotta felt a surge of jealousy she quickly stomped out.

It wasn’t her business.

And if the duke married a woman who would care for the girls, all the better. She refused to give any voice to the raging emotions in her heart, and turned to offer her own warm greetings to Lady Southridge. “How are you this evening, Lady Southridge?”

“Very well! I do love it here. My husband has an estate not too far away, but I do find that Greenford Waters is more to my own personal taste,” she commented, her eyes bright and clear.

Carlotta tried to puzzle piece this information together.

And was failing miserably.

“I’m sure you’re quite welcome here.” Carlotta spoke, trying to maintain her composure in her deep confusion. Thankfully, Lady Southridge turned her attention to Bethanny, questioning her about her age and talking about the London Season.

Carlotta lost herself momentarily in her thoughts even as she kept half an ear on their conversation between the two women. If Lady Southridge was married… then she wouldn’t be pursuing the duke. Carlotta felt a huge burden of relief, but a dark foreboding nipped at the heels of such a release.

What if
she
were his mistress?

It wasn’t unheard of. In fact, it was quite common for those women of quality who had produced an heir and spare to take their pleasure elsewhere than their husband’s bed.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

No wonder the duke was so cold and harsh when she mentioned a mistress.

He already had one.

But why present her as a parental figure? It still made no sense.

At that moment, the very man in her thoughts entered the room. His presence filled it, permeating the very air with the power of his person. He scanned the room and when his gaze met hers, she felt the connection like a physical caress. An unwelcome shiver of delight tickled her back and she forced her gaze away. Though she was now watching Berty, she continued to
feel
his gaze upon her.

“Charles, of course now you show up! Leave it to you to arrive just before we’re called to dine. You really must set a better example,” Lady Southridge chided, her face still lit up in grin.

Her manner towards the duke was even more confusing.

“Lady Southridge, accept my deepest apologies. Allow me to make amends by escorting you to dine.”

Carlotta glanced back to him, assuming he would be looking at Lady Southridge as he spoke to her.

But he wasn’t.

No, he was still gazing intently at Carlotta.

Swallowing compulsively, she glanced down once again.

“If you don’t mind Charles, I would rather be less informal this evening. The girls and I have much to discuss and I’d prefer to keep their company rather than yours. Goodness knows how tedious you can be.” She spoke in a teasing manner.

“Heaven forbid I should subject you to my objectionably tedious manners,” he replied dryly.

“Lovely. Now girls, shall we make our way to the dining room? Now, I’m sure your lovely governess has told you this before, but usually the highest-ranking gentleman will escort the highest-ranking lady to supper. But since we’re dining informal, I’m breaching proper conduct.” She leaned down to fake whisper, “Please keep my indiscretion between yourselves.” She raised an eyebrow till the girls, giggling behind their gloved hands, nodded their obedience.

Carlotta lifted her own hand to cover her wide smile at the antics of Lady Southridge. The woman was a confusing mystery, but regardless, Carlotta found herself rather liking the unconventional woman.

Lady Southridge started towards the door. “Do not forget your manners Charles, escort the young lady.” She nodded in Carlotta’s direction and left. The girls following close behind. Bethanny paused at the door, glancing back at Carlotta and giving her a wide smile.

A
knowing
smile.

Immediately heat burst into her cheeks, surely causing a deep blush.

“I’m under firm orders to escort you to the dining room.” The duke bowed crispy before her, then extended his arm.

“Thank you,” she replied. Keeping herself firmly in check, she allowed him to lead the way, but she refused to
feel
anything.

Her arm tried to make her feel how warm he was, even through the material of his fine coat.

Her nose tried to overwhelm her with the spicy peppermint scent of him.

Her eyes tried to remind her of his strong jaw, his full lips and the broadness of his shoulders.

She silenced each sense that tried to be overwhelmed with
him.

“Quiet again?” he inquired, his tone light but distant.

It pulled her away from the lockdown she had forced upon her senses.

“Simply nothing to say, your grace,” she responded.

“Again, I find that hard to believe. But perhaps I’m not asking the right questions. What do you think of Lady Southridge?”

“She is very kind to the girls, for which I’m very grateful. She seems genuinely interested in them.”

“I assure you, she is.”

“That is good to hear.”

The silence continued for a second longer.

“How are the girls doing in the studies?” he asked as he reached up to adjust his collar.

“They are very intelligent young ladies and quick studies in all I place before them,” she answered.

“That is good to hear.” He used her same words, which was not missed by her. A smile tipped the edge of her mouth at the oddity of their conversations. Truly, if they weren’t arguing, they were kissing. If they weren’t kissing, they were arguing. This was quite possibly the first calm conversation they had carried and it was also the most boring, mundane—

“What has caused that mischievous grin to delight your face?” He stopped their progress and turned towards her, his eyes taking in her features in a decidedly passionate manner that was in conflict with the lightness of his question.

“My thoughts are my own.” She shrugged, attempting to walk towards the dining hall once more.

His hand closed over his arm, trapping her hand and halting her progress.

“Now I find that my interest is overwhelmed. Please share your secrets, Miss Lottie.” He raised an eyebrow, but a smile tipped his lips causing his expression to be quite mischievous.

“As I said, your grace, my thoughts are my own. There is no requirement for me to share them as they belong to me only,” she responded lightly, but her grin widened.

“Then I shall try to tease them from you.”

“That would be a very bad idea.”

“Haven’t you realized that I’m quite fond of that which pertains to bad ideas, lack of thinking and all things impulsive?” he teased, alluding to their earlier conversation.

Carlotta sobered as she reflected on that same conversation, rather, the end of it.

“Yes. I’m quite aware. It’s to your benefit that I’m opposing in nature and find myself more inclined to be less impulsive and more thoughtful. They’ll be waiting, your grace.” Carlotta kept her tone light, but her gaze surely conveyed her desire for the topic of conversation to come to a close.

The duke paused, searching her gaze before his expression became distant.

“As you wish.” He began to lead towards the dining room once more. As they were rounding the corner, he paused. Before Carlotta could question what he was about, he leaned in and kissed her, softly, sweetly. It was nothing more than a quick taste of her lips before he withdrew, leaving her not even a moment to return the kiss.

Which she wouldn’t have done, or so she told herself.

Immediately he began their way towards the dining room once more.

“Before you say anything…” he began in a soft whisper, like a caress. “I did that because I had to. As much as it is impulsive, without thought to propriety and lacking all judgment on my and your part, I find that kissing you is simply like breathing. Absolutely necessary. Hang everything else.” He gave her a penetratingly endearing gaze just before they entered the dining room.

Carlotta, feeling quite overwhelmed with the whole situation and his declaration, was thankfully guided to her chair and sat. She glanced up to see the three girls staring at her openly, questions written all across their faces. But to their credit, they didn’t speak. Although Bethanny was struggling mightily to conceal her amusement.

When she turned to Lady Southridge, she noticed a twinkle in the lady’s eye, one that was deeply amused and impish. Both traits she wouldn’t have earlier associated with the finely turned out lady.

Clearing his throat, the duke sat and dinner began.

Carlotta had never been so thankful for the distraction of soup in her life.

“Tell me about yourself, Miss Carlotta.” Lady Southridge began as she delicately sipped her soup.

Apparently, soup was only a distraction for
her
.

“There isn’t much to say, my lady,” Carlotta replied, hoping to keep the conversation dull enough to allow for a change in subject. So far, the duke hadn’t ever asked about her background, but she assumed he knew through Mr. Burrows or even Mrs. Pott. Being forced into service because of one’s poverty wasn’t a discussion Carlotta’s remaining pride was willing to explore, regardless.

“Oh, come now. I’m sure there’s something to share! Where did you grow up?” Lady Southridge persisted.

“Not too far from Bath,” she answered vaguely.

“Is that so?” Lady Southridge’s eyebrows rose.

“Indeed.” Carlotta nodded then returned to her soup, not offering any more information.

“So have you been to Bath before then?”

Carlotta swallowed her warm soup slowly, procrastinating so that she wouldn’t have to answer Lady Southridge’s question till absolutely necessary.

Pride was a wicked beast.

“Yes, on several occasions,” she answered politely. Though her answers were not lengthy, the last thing she wanted to do was offend the duke’s guest.

“Miss Lottie knew all about the Crescent and the Abby! We had a picnic at the park and everything!” Berty exclaimed, her face lighting up with the joy of adding to the adult’s conversation.

“Did she now? You girls are very lucky to have such a learned governess.” Lady Southridge gushed to Berty then turned her adoring gaze to the older girls. “Tell me, what else did Miss Carlotta tell you about Bath?”

“Well…” Beatrix turned a questioning gaze to Carlotta, as if to ask if they were allowed to divulge any information. Carlotta smiled sweetly, there was really nothing else she could do.

“She showed us the shops on the bridge, it was quite amazing. I’ve never seen a bridge like that.”

“Ah yes! I remember that as well. What park did you picnic at?”