present.
“My father says I’m a perfect angel, and Grandmamma dotes upon me. Mind you, I am the only grandchild in the family.”
“I believe it. How you came to be so cunning is a story for another day.”
“Will we see each other again, my lord?”
“Sooner than you can imagine. I have every intention of learning all your secrets, but we must part company for the night. We wouldn’t want too many whispers speculating about our alliance.”
“Will you be visiting the Carleton estate this summer?”
“I’m not one to plan summer escapes. My poor sister wouldn’t be able to handle my children for an extended period of time in the hotter months.”
Lady Charlotte stood more rigid in his hold, her gaze perplexed. “Children?”
“Uncouth of me not to mention them sooner. They occupy my thoughts since they’ve just come down from my estate up north.”
Why had he mentioned them at all? He was supposed to win the young lady over to his favor. Now he was liable to frighten her off with the mention of children. This was different, though; he was out of his realm of expertise with this particular woman. He had always preferred a more experienced lady.
“No, I don’t mind knowing. You just seem so young to have children.” She swallowed visibly. “How many do you have?”
The pitch in her voice said he’d done precisely what he didn’t want to do—scare her off. “A boy and a girl.”
“Their mother?”
“Are you worried that ‘philanderer’ can be added to my description?” She slipped her arm away from his.
He looked at the confused expression in Lady Charlotte’s eyes and wanted to promise her that he’d never hurt her like Warren had hurt his sister.
He was not winning her over this evening. And he wasn’t generally unsuccessful at garnering the attentions of the fairer sex. He blamed the task at hand. Jez had said to charm and win the girl from Mr. Warren. Which he had every intention of doing, because the blighter would not be given the chance to get his hands on another young woman worth more than that man would ever amount to.
There was no disgust displayed in Lady Charlotte’s features, probably because she had no idea that his children were from the wrong side of the sheets.
“I am not married,” he assured her, which also meant his children were not born of a wife.
Damn it.
He needed to call it quits for the evening. It would have been better for her to hear that particular truth through the rumor mill; it unsettled him to see disappointment in her expression.
“I see,” was all she said.
He needed to fix this.
“My lady. I didn’t mean to cause you any distress and it would have been better had I not said anything.” He bowed so he didn’t have to look into her eyes a moment longer. He did not want to see disappointment there. “While I must call it a night, I do hope we chance upon each other in the near future. My evening was all the better for having spent it in your company.”
“You’re an interesting man, Lord Castleigh.” She ducked her head as he took her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. “I do look forward to conversing with you again—hopefully the setting will be more private next time and with fewer interruptions.”
“You’re more daring than any woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.”
“So I’ve on occasion been told.” She leaned in closer, her smile playing on her lips again. “Though I’m sure my tongue is liable to get me into trouble sooner rather than later.”
“I wouldn’t mind in the least if you caused a stir. I only ask that I can witness it firsthand.”
His hand slipped away from hers. He wanted to feel every contour beneath her thin gloves, but he could not linger in her company for much longer. The chaperone would be back soon enough, and the guests around him would likely take note of his interest in the young woman.
Would that be such a bad thing? Couldn’t he woo Lady Charlotte for all to
“My father says I’m a perfect angel, and Grandmamma dotes upon me. Mind you, I am the only grandchild in the family.”
“I believe it. How you came to be so cunning is a story for another day.”
“Will we see each other again, my lord?”
“Sooner than you can imagine. I have every intention of learning all your secrets, but we must part company for the night. We wouldn’t want too many whispers speculating about our alliance.”
“Will you be visiting the Carleton estate this summer?”
“I’m not one to plan summer escapes. My poor sister wouldn’t be able to handle my children for an extended period of time in the hotter months.”
Lady Charlotte stood more rigid in his hold, her gaze perplexed. “Children?”
“Uncouth of me not to mention them sooner. They occupy my thoughts since they’ve just come down from my estate up north.”
Why had he mentioned them at all? He was supposed to win the young lady over to his favor. Now he was liable to frighten her off with the mention of children. This was different, though; he was out of his realm of expertise with this particular woman. He had always preferred a more experienced lady.
“No, I don’t mind knowing. You just seem so young to have children.” She swallowed visibly. “How many do you have?”
The pitch in her voice said he’d done precisely what he didn’t want to do—scare her off. “A boy and a girl.”
“Their mother?”
“Are you worried that ‘philanderer’ can be added to my description?” She slipped her arm away from his.
He looked at the confused expression in Lady Charlotte’s eyes and wanted to promise her that he’d never hurt her like Warren had hurt his sister.
He was not winning her over this evening. And he wasn’t generally unsuccessful at garnering the attentions of the fairer sex. He blamed the task at hand. Jez had said to charm and win the girl from Mr. Warren. Which he had every intention of doing, because the blighter would not be given the chance to get his hands on another young woman worth more than that man would ever amount to.
There was no disgust displayed in Lady Charlotte’s features, probably because she had no idea that his children were from the wrong side of the sheets.
“I am not married,” he assured her, which also meant his children were not born of a wife.
Damn it.
He needed to call it quits for the evening. It would have been better for her to hear that particular truth through the rumor mill; it unsettled him to see disappointment in her expression.
“I see,” was all she said.
He needed to fix this.
“My lady. I didn’t mean to cause you any distress and it would have been better had I not said anything.” He bowed so he didn’t have to look into her eyes a moment longer. He did not want to see disappointment there. “While I must call it a night, I do hope we chance upon each other in the near future. My evening was all the better for having spent it in your company.”
“You’re an interesting man, Lord Castleigh.” She ducked her head as he took her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. “I do look forward to conversing with you again—hopefully the setting will be more private next time and with fewer interruptions.”
“You’re more daring than any woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.”
“So I’ve on occasion been told.” She leaned in closer, her smile playing on her lips again. “Though I’m sure my tongue is liable to get me into trouble sooner rather than later.”
“I wouldn’t mind in the least if you caused a stir. I only ask that I can witness it firsthand.”
His hand slipped away from hers. He wanted to feel every contour beneath her thin gloves, but he could not linger in her company for much longer. The chaperone would be back soon enough, and the guests around him would likely take note of his interest in the young woman.
Would that be such a bad thing? Couldn’t he woo Lady Charlotte for all to
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