Part 5 (1/2)

”Good heavens! You can be a tad blunt on occasions, Mr. Talbot. I'm sure that I don't need to advise you not to bring up any conversations like that when at the ball this evening.” The man reappeared with a pale cream coloured offering, accentuated with tiny golden threads woven about the b.u.t.tonholes.

Geoffrey narrowed his eyes as he considered the garment. It was more decorative than he personally favoured, but the fabric appeared subtle enough for him to overlook his taste for the less flamboyant. Seeing victory within his grasp, Coalport immediately helped Geoffrey into the waistcoat before turning him towards the mirror.

Geoffrey frowned as he stood there and huffed out a breath. The waistcoat was perfect, just as every other item of clothing had been throughout the whole week. Annoyed with himself for enjoying the beautiful clothes, he grabbed up his evening coat and stalked from the room as he spoke over his shoulder.

”Don't wait up for me tonight, Coalport. I doubt that we will return early and you've been up earlier and later than me all week. I'll take care of myself this evening.”

Coalport smiled widely as he waved Geoffrey off.

”Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your consideration. Don't forget to hang your clothes when you return. I don't want to find them all flung over the floor tomorrow morning.”

Geoffrey laughed as Coalport shooed him out of the door. He and the valet had become friends over the last few days. It felt good to be able to talk to the man without any pretence of grandeur.

”Good grief! Anyone would think I was some sort of commoner the way you go on.” He laughed again as he heard Coalport's own friendly chortle.

As usual, he arrived in the drawing room before the ladies. Bottomley was already pouring him a brandy but he had yet to sip it when Charlotte arrived looking more breathtaking than ever before. Her oyster pink gown s.h.i.+mmered over her body, accentuating her loveliness while driving nails into Geoffrey's heart all over again.

He bowed over her gloved hand and she accepted his salutation with a smile that tore at his very being. His gaze s.h.i.+fted to her ivory throat and he suddenly noticed her pulse beating hard under her delicate skin. He breathed as slowly as his body allowed while he fought the enticement to press his lips to that very point and tasting the heat of her blood. G.o.d help him, it was more than enticement! He clenched his jaws together and resisted the temptation to haul her into his arms, throw her over his shoulder and cart her off to the nearest bedroom. He wouldn't let her up from the bed until he had stripped them both naked and loved over and over until she cried out his name and swore that she was his forever more.

”You look lovely again, Charlotte,” he managed to stammer before he let her hand go and pa.s.sed her a gla.s.s of sherry.

”As do you, Geoff.” She sipped the sweet wine and hid behind her gla.s.s as she looked Geoffrey up and down. It was becoming harder to not notice him each day. His new wardrobe set off his splendid figure to perfection and she wondered if he could tell the effect he was having on her. Her blood almost sang as it flew around her body, a slight flush rising into her cheeks as she breathed in the scent of clean man.

It was probably just as well that the door opened behind her and Olivia walked slowly into the room with her hand pressed against her temple. Charlotte gasped at the paleness of the woman's skin and rushed towards her.

”Olivia, is something wrong?”

The older lady staggered and Geoffrey leapt forwards, catching her gently and helping her into a chair.

”Madam, I will call a doctor immediately.” He made for the door but the d.u.c.h.ess called him back.

”No, no, it's just the megrims. I will be better in a moment, but I doubt I will be able to remain long at the ball tonight. I will come with you as Charlotte's chaperone, of course but then will have to leave her under your care, Geoffrey. There will be many ladies there qualified to act on my behalf. I will ask one of them to sit with you. I know that I can rely on you to see that she comes to no harm during the ride home.”

Charlotte shook her head.

”No, Olivia. I refuse to leave you if you are unwell. I don't want to go to the ball anyway. We have attended enough this week to last me a lifetime. I will stay here with you and make sure that you are well this evening.”

Geoffrey nearly sagged in relief as he thought of the far more pleasant prospect of a quiet evening at home. A game of cards, or a good book from Alexander's well stocked library would suit him perfectly, but before he could agree with Charlotte and insist on remaining at home, Olivia waved her handkerchief and shook her head.

”Absolutely not. I insist on you going. I have it on excellent authority that the Prince Regent is going to make an appearance. You must be there. I refuse to let you pa.s.s up this chance of royal acknowledgement. As Dowager d.u.c.h.ess I am already known to the Prince and am able to introduce you on behalf of Alexander. I will stay for the presentation and then ask young Callum to bring me home. He can return with the carriage for the pair of you later in the evening.” She held up her hand as Charlotte looked about to protest. ”I won't hear another word on the subject. Now if you could just pour me a small sherry, Geoffrey, I am sure that I will make a temporary recovery soon enough.”

Geoffrey's heart sank as he poured a goodly measure of the fortified wine into a crystal gla.s.s and handed it to the wincing woman.

”If you are sure, but if we have to go, I think that we should all leave together. It wouldn't look right for me to be left alone with Lady Charlotte.” He forbore mentioning that it would also mean that they could leave another of the dreadful routs a few hours early.

Olivia shook her head and then moaned as the apparent pain lanced her temple.

”No, I forbid you to leave until after the Prince dances with Charlotte, a thing he is sure to do as he loves nothing better than a stunningly beautiful woman. He won't be able to resist her charms and her chances of an even better match will be increased exponentially. All the most eligible bachelors will be there. We cannot let this opportunity pa.s.s.”

Geoffrey felt a headache of his own coming on until Charlotte spoke with a hint of annoyance in her tone.

”Olivia, as much as you may feel that finding a husband for me is the best future I can hope for, I am disinclined to agree with you. I do not want to marry. I certainly do not want to marry any of the less than adequate fools who pa.s.s for gentlemen, that I have met so far this week. None would suit me at all so it hardly matters if I dance with the Prince or not. I agree with Geoffrey that we should all leave together.”

Geoffrey didn't know if Charlotte had made him feel any better with her choice of words, but at least he was sure that she was not attracted to any other man in particular. He only hoped that she remained of the opinion that she could manage her life on her own, for though he knew that he could not have her, he didn't think he could bear to see her become the wife of another either.

The very thought of her with another man made his knees turn weak. It had been bad enough watching her being danced off her feet by all and sundry this last week. Fortunately she hadn't been granted leave to waltz yet. He wasn't sure how he would be able to cope when she was. He'd had no idea that the dance was so intimate. He'd yet to try it himself but it appeared to be easy enough. One, two three and sweep the lady around, one hand tightly on her waist and the other gripping her fingers. Of the one or two couples he saw dancing it well, he had noticed that the gentleman appeared to guide with his thighs too, pressing them into his partners skirts as they whirled about the room.

Heat suffused the whole of his body. No man was going to dance with her like that unless it was himself. He'd kill any who tried. Charlotte suddenly looked up at him and for a moment he wasn't sure why until he heard the growl that seemed to emanate from his own throat. He gave a belated cough and topped up her sherry to cover his indiscretion.

The Latham's dinner had been a lively affair. Charlotte had been placed near the head of the table due to her a.s.sociation with the d.u.c.h.ess. Geoffrey sat just a few seats down on the opposite side of the table. His raven haired dinner companion had monopolised his conversation and Charlotte had barely exchanged a glance with him.

She rolled her eyes as the man at her side placed his hand just above her knee for what felt like the fiftieth time. Apart from worrying over grease marks on her gown, she was completely fed up with his less than gentlemanly antics. She slipped her dessert fork into her right hand and sparkled up at Lord Latham at the head of the table as she stabbed the man at her side hard in his left thigh.

He let out a high pitched yelp and his hand quickly disappeared from her leg as Charlotte offered her sincere apologies for dropping her cutlery.

”I am so sorry! My fingers must be greasy from the duck. I do beg your pardon, Lord Ainsworth. I hope I have not injured you grievously.” She fluttered her eyelashes at the man as he gulped back the pain of the spearing.

”Think nothing of it, my dear.” He hissed and shook his head while he gritted his teeth and pretended that he was well able to ignore such a painful stabbing, but Charlotte wasn't done with the odious man. She pouted a pretty smile at him.

”It is fortunate that you are not so well endowed or it might have been more than a little p.r.i.c.k that you received.” She arched her eyebrows virtuously and whispered loudly enough so that several in the vicinity could overhear.

Geoffrey almost spat out his peach pudding, such was the guffaw that nearly broke past his lips. The dark haired lady who had talked his ear off all evening attempted to gain his attention yet again, but Geoffrey shrugged off her questing fingers that reached for his thigh and listened to Charlotte again. This time she placed her hand on Lord Ainsworth's arm and spoke earnestly. ”Or perhaps you dress to the right, in which case it is just as well that I am seated above you at the table. Being lower down the pecking order may have saved your family jewels.” Her hand flew to her mouth as Lord Ainsworth let out a strangled harrumph and turned a bright shade of pink.

Charlotte took out her fan and wafted it vigorously, catching the attention of over half the table before she spoke from behind it.

”I do apologise most profusely. Clearly you dress to the left and I have skewered more than meets the eye. Never fear, your secret is safe with me, your Lords.h.i.+p. If your wife or any of your mistresses ask why you are not dancing later this evening I will let them know that it was all my fault and that you met with a tiny accident that has left you incommoded for the foreseeable future.” Ainsworth now turned purple and Charlotte immediately gasped out, ”Oh heavens! Just think what a lucky escape you have had. Imagine if the fork had punctured your hand where it lay on my knee. You might have been unable to ride or draw forth your sword with any prowess.” She blinked in youthful innocence at the man who now sat squirming in his seat.

Several of the ladies t.i.ttered behind their gloved hands and many of the men s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably in their chairs, clearly removing straying fingers from numerous knees. Geoffrey glanced down at his dark haired companion, picked up his pudding fork and twirled it in his fingers. The lady's eyes widened and she inched back as her hand suddenly appeared above the table cloth. Geoffrey raised his gla.s.s fractionally in Charlotte's direction and smiled at her for the first time that evening.

Lady Latham looked along the table. Most of the company had stopped eating. She narrowed her eyes fractionally at Charlotte before standing up and leading the ladies from the room. Charlotte completely ignored her host's directive and lingered long enough for Geoffrey's dinner companion to leave before her. When the lady turned back to give Geoffrey a languorous smile Charlotte was right behind her, glowering at the flirtatious woman.

The ball began in earnest as the men rejoined the ladies. Other guests began arriving and the noise and general excitement increased dramatically as the music began and the ladies filled their dance cards.

Geoffrey stood behind Olivia and Charlotte as they sat together at the edge of the ballroom. Being the most beautiful woman in the room, Charlotte's card had been filled quickly and Geoffrey ground his teeth at the thought of how many men would touch her hands that night. She had only two s.p.a.ces left and both of them were waltzes. Olivia pressed her lips together and stood up.

”This is just not good enough. Lady Latham promised me that she would make sure that you were allowed, my dear. Stay here while I find the woman and gain your permission. We can't have the Prince asking you to dance and you being ruined when you have to refuse him. Geoffrey, put your name in both those s.p.a.ces so that no other men think that they may take advantage of them.” She s.n.a.t.c.hed up Charlotte's dance card and handed him the pencil.

Geoffrey felt his cheeks heat as he stared down at Charlotte's list of partners. There were two Dukes, a Marquis, three Earls and more Lords than he cared to count. He added a Mister, twice, and handed the filled card back to Charlotte.

”Your feet are going to be aching.” He grumbled as Olivia hurried off towards a group of gossiping women.

Charlotte sighed and fanned her flushed cheeks.

”I can feel the pain already. I'd give anything for a night off. Olivia has been an absolute darling, but I've not had a moment to myself since we arrived.”

Geoffrey glared ferociously at a young man who had been about to approach, and didn't speak again until the interloper had scuttled back, red faced, to his laughing companions.

”I know exactly how you feel. I am looking forward to Giles arriving more than I can say.”

Charlotte sighed deeply.