neither, could you, Lady Lathamton?”
Cassie wanted to slap the condescending expression from his face. She wanted to storm from the room and leave the man she’d once loved with all her heart far behind. She wanted to go back to the home she’d made for herself with her son and never have to look at Harrison Prescott, Marquess of Fellingsdown again. But she couldn’t.
When he held out his arm, she had no choice but to place her hand atop his jacket sleeve. And pray he didn’t notice how much his words had affected her.
Or how close to tears he’d brought her.
Chapter 6
Elly’s heart pounded so hard inside her chest she was certain Charfield could hear it. If he did, though, he didn’t show it. Neither had he seemed overly surprised when Harrison helped her to her feet then handed her the cane.
Most surprising of all, he hadn’t shown any embarrassment when he realized he’d been saddled with someone who was deformed.
She worried her bottom lip, not knowing exactly how to handle this. Wasn’t it enough that she had to worry about Harrison and Cassie? Elly wasn’t sure she’d survive this evening. Or the next two weeks.
She knew it was highly unlikely a minute would go by when at least one of her siblings wouldn’t check on her. Even the twins’ expressions told her they’d come to her rescue at a moment’s notice.
She could imagine the dread Charfield was experiencing. No doubt he was cringing at the thought that Harrison’s actions tonight were a prelude to what would be expected of him the next two weeks. He may even think her brothers and sisters had tricked him into attending because they were trying to force a marriage.
Her face warmed. She had to reassure him that after this first dinner, he wouldn’t be expected to escort her again. She couldn’t bear to have him think her family intended to foist their lame sister on him. She wanted him to know this before they went in to dinner. It would make the evening so much more bearable.
Elly looked over her shoulder to the room where they’d left Harrison and Cassandra. She was glad they weren’t coming yet. It would give her time to say what she must.
“Are you going to force me to initiate a conversation all night or is your silence just a temporary condition?”
Elly swallowed a startled gasp and stopped in the middle of the long hallway that led to the formal dining room. She blinked once then looked up at him.
He was smiling.
“What?”
“I’d like to know what’s churning through that pretty little head of yours. You’re terribly quiet and I’m sure silence is not one of your virtues.”
She breathed a deep sigh. “You’re right. I’m hardly ever quiet.”
“Then why don’t you tell me what has you so worried. Is it Lady Lathamton?”
“Lady Lathamton?”
“I couldn’t help but notice your brother’s reaction to her appearance.”
“That’s because seeing her here was such a shock.”
“Why a shock? Lathamton estates borders The Down to the east doesn’t it? Surely she visits often.”
When Elly didn’t respond right away Charfield leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms in a relaxed pose. “Are you saying this is the first time Lady Lathamton has visited since her marriage?”
“Yes,” Elly said softly. “Lady Lathamton has been in mourning for the last year.”
“I heard about Lathamton’s illness and death.”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t, however, explain your brother’s almost violent reaction to seeing her.” The furrows deepened across his brow.
Elly gave up trying to hide anything from Charfield. “We all thought there might be a marriage between Cassie and Harrison. But when that didn’t happen...”
“Of course. I seem to recall your brother’s name being linked to Lady Lathamton’s before she married. And the suddenness of her marriage to another man.”
“Yes, but—“
“I’m surprised her name was included on the guest list.”
Elly swallowed hard.
Cassie wanted to slap the condescending expression from his face. She wanted to storm from the room and leave the man she’d once loved with all her heart far behind. She wanted to go back to the home she’d made for herself with her son and never have to look at Harrison Prescott, Marquess of Fellingsdown again. But she couldn’t.
When he held out his arm, she had no choice but to place her hand atop his jacket sleeve. And pray he didn’t notice how much his words had affected her.
Or how close to tears he’d brought her.
Chapter 6
Elly’s heart pounded so hard inside her chest she was certain Charfield could hear it. If he did, though, he didn’t show it. Neither had he seemed overly surprised when Harrison helped her to her feet then handed her the cane.
Most surprising of all, he hadn’t shown any embarrassment when he realized he’d been saddled with someone who was deformed.
She worried her bottom lip, not knowing exactly how to handle this. Wasn’t it enough that she had to worry about Harrison and Cassie? Elly wasn’t sure she’d survive this evening. Or the next two weeks.
She knew it was highly unlikely a minute would go by when at least one of her siblings wouldn’t check on her. Even the twins’ expressions told her they’d come to her rescue at a moment’s notice.
She could imagine the dread Charfield was experiencing. No doubt he was cringing at the thought that Harrison’s actions tonight were a prelude to what would be expected of him the next two weeks. He may even think her brothers and sisters had tricked him into attending because they were trying to force a marriage.
Her face warmed. She had to reassure him that after this first dinner, he wouldn’t be expected to escort her again. She couldn’t bear to have him think her family intended to foist their lame sister on him. She wanted him to know this before they went in to dinner. It would make the evening so much more bearable.
Elly looked over her shoulder to the room where they’d left Harrison and Cassandra. She was glad they weren’t coming yet. It would give her time to say what she must.
“Are you going to force me to initiate a conversation all night or is your silence just a temporary condition?”
Elly swallowed a startled gasp and stopped in the middle of the long hallway that led to the formal dining room. She blinked once then looked up at him.
He was smiling.
“What?”
“I’d like to know what’s churning through that pretty little head of yours. You’re terribly quiet and I’m sure silence is not one of your virtues.”
She breathed a deep sigh. “You’re right. I’m hardly ever quiet.”
“Then why don’t you tell me what has you so worried. Is it Lady Lathamton?”
“Lady Lathamton?”
“I couldn’t help but notice your brother’s reaction to her appearance.”
“That’s because seeing her here was such a shock.”
“Why a shock? Lathamton estates borders The Down to the east doesn’t it? Surely she visits often.”
When Elly didn’t respond right away Charfield leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms in a relaxed pose. “Are you saying this is the first time Lady Lathamton has visited since her marriage?”
“Yes,” Elly said softly. “Lady Lathamton has been in mourning for the last year.”
“I heard about Lathamton’s illness and death.”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t, however, explain your brother’s almost violent reaction to seeing her.” The furrows deepened across his brow.
Elly gave up trying to hide anything from Charfield. “We all thought there might be a marriage between Cassie and Harrison. But when that didn’t happen...”
“Of course. I seem to recall your brother’s name being linked to Lady Lathamton’s before she married. And the suddenness of her marriage to another man.”
“Yes, but—“
“I’m surprised her name was included on the guest list.”
Elly swallowed hard.
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