Gentleman of Her Dreams by Jen Turano

looked down and found Piper staring up at her, her head tilted to the side, curly wisps of hair straggling around her beautiful face.
    The girl’s beauty reminded her that Hamilton’s wife had been absolutely lovely. She swallowed a sigh, remembering that she was hardly showing to advantage at the moment. She was missing a dress, her hair had lost the majority of its pins, and, for some odd reason, her skin was tinged with blue.
    Perhaps she was suffering from overexposure.
    She would have to visit her doctor yet again and endure his countless questions and dire predictions that she was headed toward an early demise.
    She’d heard the good doctor’s predictions more than once over the years, and each time she went to see him, he always seemed surprised by the fact she was still among the living.
    “Well, are you?”
    She’d forgotten Piper was questioning her. Before she could formulate a suitable response, Henry spoke up.
    “Miss Wilson and I are simply friends.”
    Hearing the words come out of his mouth caused her stomach to drop.
    He really didn’t see her in a romantic way.
    “Then why does Miss Wilson get that sappy look in her eyes when you talk to her?”
    She should invent a muzzle for children. Yes, that would be a most excellent invention, except for the part where parents would most likely balk at muzzling their little darlings. Still, it might have merit, especially for children like the too-observant child watching her so intently at the moment.
    “I’ve never had a sappy expression on my face in my entire life,” she managed to say.
    “Well, not now, now you just look mad,” Piper said before she spun on her little heel, turning after she’d taken only a few steps. “Don’t think about marrying my daddy. Ben and I don’t want another mother, and Daddy doesn’t have time for girls anyways.”
    Charlotte decided right then and there it was time to abandon her plan in regard to Mr. Hamilton Beckett. Clearly the gentleman had plenty of other issues to deal with, and two of those issues certainly didn’t seem to care for her.
    Being a spinster for life was looking more appealing by the minute.
    Charolotte sent Piper a nod, watching as the child sent her a glare in return. The girl spun around again and made her way to Hamilton’s side.
    “She’s very old for her age,” Henry remarked as he reached up and readjusted the blanket around her shoulders.
    “I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” Charlotte muttered.
    “What’s wrong with your hands?” Henry asked, taking them into his and turning them over. “They’re blue. You should have told me you’re freezing.”
    “But I’m not,” Charlotte said. “I have no idea why my hands have turned blue.”
    Henry looked at her for a moment and then pulled part of the blanket away from her.
    “What are you doing?” she grouched. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’m not exactly properly dressed.”
    “I didn’t know you knew how to blush,” he said before he closed her back into the blanket and grinned. “Your neck’s blue too, which leads me to believe the dye must have leaked out of your dress.”
    “I paid a fortune for that dress.”
    “Maybe next time you should have me go with you to the stores,” Henry said. “You know I have a better eye for fabric.”
    Charlotte smiled and then sobered. “I’m sorry I talked you into taking out that boat.”
    Henry blew out a breath. “It’s not your fault. I’m the one who captains a large freighter every day. I should have looked the boat over more carefully and realized it was unfit to sail.”
    He was always willing to take responsibility for everything she conned him into doing.
    Why did he allow her to do that?
    He was a strong-willed gentleman, and yet, with her, he gave in frequently, even when he knew there might be dire consequences.
    He gave in because he knew she’d go forward with whatever plan she had in mind if he refused.
    He obviously cared for her, but in a strictly