Shattered Dreams by Laura Landon Page A

Before she could come up with an excuse Charfield would believe, his lips curved upward and he laughed.
    “He didn’t know, did he?”
    Elly stiffened her spine. “We could hardly have a gathering at The Down and not invite Lady Lathamton.”
    Elly leaned heavier on her cane. She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to try to explain why Cassie had been invited, or why there was so much animosity between her brother and her best friend. But she did. “I’m not sure what happened, but Cassie and Harrison didn’t part on good terms. They seemed so happy when they were together, then...”
    “There was the hint of scandal and her sudden marriage to Lathamton.”
    Elly nodded. “It happened so fast. One minute she and Harrison were planning a future together. The next Cassie was married to another man.”
    Charfield pushed himself away from the wall. “And you think you can get them back together again.”
    “I want my best friend to be able to visit me whether Harrison is here or not.”
    “You saw your brother’s reaction when Lady Lathamton arrived. Do you think that’s possible?”
    Elly hoped her expression didn’t reveal how hopeless she feared the results would be. “I have two weeks. A lot can happen in two weeks.”
    Charfield smiled. “That’s true. Ever so much can happen in two weeks.”
    Elly’s heart skipped a beat. Charfield didn’t know how right he was. Ever so much could happen in two weeks. That was another reason she had to disassociate herself from him as soon as possible. The pull she felt toward him spelled nothing but trouble.
    Yes, ever so much could happen in two weeks. Even heartache was a distinct possibility if she were foolish enough to let it go so far.
    She looked back to the closed door.
    “Are you afraid it might not have been wise to leave them alone?”
    “They did look as if either one of them could commit murder.”
    “I hardly think that’s likely.”
    “I hope you’re right.” She locked her gaze with his. “There’s something else I need to discuss with you.” She worried her lower lip while she thought how to begin.
    His voice caught her attention. “Something terribly important, I gather.”
    “Yes.”
    Charfield turned to face her with his arms crossed over his chest. His pose caused the fine cut of his expensive jacket to pull over his broad shoulders. She didn’t think she’d ever seen anyone so magnificently formed. Not even her four brothers were so perfect in build. And she’d always considered them the most handsome men in all of England.
    Then she made the mistake of focusing on his face.
    She swallowed hard. His complexion was a deep bronze. His hair the color of dark coffee. And his eyes a blue as bright as a clear summer sky.
    Elly hunted for a word to describe his rugged, yet handsome features and the only word that came to mind was...beautiful.
    Her heart shifted. Every horrible experience she’d endured in London haunted her. She remembered the cuts she’d received from the debutantes who didn’t want to be sullied by associating with someone so physically inferior. The female gender could be viciously cruel, especially when they were competing for the attentions of the most eligible males in Society.
    But what had hurt more was being rejected time and again by the men of the ton . She’d naïvely believed the males she’d meet would accept her disability the same as her brothers did.
    Instead she’d found the opposite to be true.
    Looks were everything. Beauty attracted beauty, and those less than perfect were considered an embarrassment.
    Elly had been an embarrassment.
    At first, Harrison and George had tried to include her on outings to which they’d been invited. But it wasn’t long before the invitations diminished as people realized there was the possibility their deformed sister might tag along.
    And there were always the comments.
    Initially she tried to pretend she didn’t hear them, tried to pretend she didn’t notice