Part 8 (2/2)

He frowned. She was talking in riddles.

”What is it? Don't play with me, Charlotte. I am no puzzle solver.”

She glanced out of the window as the footman stepped down from the Prince's carriage. There was a commotion at the front door. Giles suddenly appeared and leapt down the steps.

Charlotte squealed delightedly and jumped up from her seat, but Geoffrey caught her hand before the door opened.

”Charlotte, tell me. What do you wager on the outcome of the race?” His eyes glimmered at her across the gap between them. She looked down at her hand and then back up into his silver eyes. She grinned as she laughed.

”I hope you think it worth winning. I wager my first ever kiss.” She jumped from the carriage as Giles reached it and she squealed again as her cousin swept her into his arms.

Chapter Eight.

Signatures and Shackles ”What a lovely surprise. I wasn't expecting you for at least another week.” She untied her bonnet and threw it on the table inside the hall. ”Where are Anne and baby Marcus?”

Giles shook his head.

”Anne's father has been struck down a severe stomach complaint. She has taken Marcus and the nanny and gone to visit him at Lavenham. Although I thought I had forgiven the man for wanting me dead, it seems that I am not as forgiving as I had thought. Though I no longer wish him in Hades, I found that I was unable to bear the thought of seeing the old stoat and made my excuses to come here instead.”

Charlotte peeled off her gloves and coat. She fully understood his sentiments, as it was Anne's father who had pressed so forcefully for Giles to be hung.

”But what about the livestock? Are you sure that you are not needed at Caithwell?”

”No, it's all under control. We had a hectic few days but all has gone well. Jamie and Lance managed so well that they barely needed me at all and Alexander said he would call in just to check things were still progressing as planned. I hear that you have been all excitement here. I'm afraid that my unannounced arrival raised Olivia from an afternoon nap. She's just ordered tea in the drawing-room.”

Charlotte laughed and wondered if napping was all that the woman had been doing.

”I swear that I am nearly dead on my feet. All this socializing is far more wearing than one would think. I think my face will crack if I have to wear my false smile at another dinner party while the man next to me gropes my knee.”

The smile fell from Giles' face.

”Good Lord! You had best tell me everything. Where has Geoff been while all this has been happening? I had hoped that he would be able to keep the rakes at bay.”

Charlotte sighed deeply.

”I think the poor man has suffered almost as much as myself. It is not easy to slap one's dinner companion about the face without being thrown from the room, however I managed to stab a well aimed fruit fork into Lord Ainsworth's upper thigh only last night and his long suffering wife dragged him form the ball soon after. I doubt I will have a problem with him again, though Lady Ainsworth may not be so happy with me. I think I stabbed slightly more than his thigh. It was hard to tell as he couldn't speak afterwards.”

Giles let out a roar of laughter.

”Good for you! Though I am sorry it has happened in the first place.” He turned as footsteps rang behind him. ”Geoffrey! This is well met! How are you? How are your thighs?” Giles laughed again and walked towards the man who had once saved his life. He grabbed his shoulders and looked him up and down. ”By G.o.d! You make a fine specimen of a gentleman. Alexander was right about the clothes. They look positively spectacular on you.”

Geoffrey rolled his eyes but returned Giles' smile.

”And I confess that I feel good in them. Three pairs of boots too, you know! I still sweat at the thought of how much they must have all cost. I have no idea how I am ever going to pay Alexander back for them. I fear that it will be an impossible task, so I am accepting them as a wonderful gift from an excellent friend.” He grinned at Charlotte's delighted smile as Giles clasped his shoulders tightly and spoke quietly in his ear.

”Good man. I know that they were meant as such.” He glanced over Geoffrey's shoulder and stepped to the side just as Bottomley began to close the front door. ”I was so pleased to see Charlotte that I never noticed your conveyance. Is that the royal crest or are my eyes deceiving me?” He looked quizzically between the two of them as they stood together in the hall.

Charlotte nodded as Geoffrey gazed back at her. He slipped his coat from his shoulders as his eyes dropped to her mouth, her rose red lips, the lips that she had just wagered a kiss from. He managed to free his mind as Charlotte nudged his arm.

”Yes, it was the Prince's carriage...Come, we had best take tea while Geoff tells you what has happened.”

Geoffrey nodded and sighed.

”Yes, you may not be so pleased to see me once you hear what I have done. Upsetting royalty is probably not the best way to endear oneself to the members of the ton.”

The men stood back as Charlotte preceded them into the salon. Olivia half sat, half lay on the settle with a damp cloth over her eyes, but she roused herself at the sound of someone entering the room.

”If it's more visitors, Bottomley, tell them that I am indisposed. I cannot think of entertaining today.”

Charlotte moved to her side.

”Are you still unwell, Olivia? Should we call the doctor for you?”

Olivia removed the cloth and struggled to sit straight. She clasped Charlotte's hand.

”Thank you for worrying, but I know it is just the symptoms of over indulgence. Too much rich food and too many late nights. I am not as young as I used to be and had forgotten how wearing a season can be. I am afraid that it has all caught up with me.” She patted the s.p.a.ce beside her. ”Now come and tell me all that happened at the palace. You are home far earlier than expected. I am sure that the Prince had mentioned tea.”

Charlotte looked up at Geoffrey. He stared back at her as if he hadn't heard Olivia's words, which indeed he hadn't. He was looking at Charlotte's lips, longing to taste them, to delve his tongue between them. He cleared his throat and shook himself.

Giles stared at him.

”Well, are you going to keep us in suspense all afternoon?”

Geoffrey looked confused.

”Pardon? Sorry, I fear that I lost my train of thought.” He dabbed his handkerchief over his forehead. Her first kiss! Her very first! And he might be the one to be given it. He'd make d.a.m.n sure that he was. She wasn't kissing anyone else ever if he had anything to say about it. He'd win the bet somehow and kiss her until the feel of his lips was imprinted so deeply on hers that she never wanted another. His hand trembled where it lay on the arm of the chair and he balled it into a fist, crus.h.i.+ng the square of white linen in his palm.

”Geoff, are you alright? Perhaps you and Olivia are both sickening for something.” Giles' concerned face suddenly appeared in front of him.

Geoffrey coughed and shook his head.

”It's nothing, just a delayed reaction to what I have gone and done, I think,” he paused and closed his eyes briefly before clearing his throat again. ”I refused the Prince's offer to ride his prize stallion in Lord Davenport's steeplechase. I fear that I have offended him greatly, but his horse is nowhere near ready. Charlotte and I witnessed the animal break a man's leg not half an hour since.”

Olivia gasped and sat up immediately.

”Was the man alright?”

Charlotte shook her head.

”The Prince said he would ask the doctor to see to him but only offered the poor man five pounds before he sent him on his way on a board carried by two men. Fortunately, I took the time to discover the address of his family and will enquire after his health as soon as we are able. It was our fault that he was injured. If we hadn't gone to visit the stables the poor man wouldn't have found it necessary to bow to the Prince. Vanquish took umbrage, knocked the man to the ground and proceeded to trample him. If Geoffrey hadn't stepped in and calmed the beast I think it a good probability that the Prince's man would be dead. None of the other stablemen were about to rescue him for fear of their own lives. Geoffrey was quite right to refuse to ride the horse. Until Vanquish is trained, he is a danger to any who go near him.”

A tight line appeared across Giles' brow.

”This is bad news on all fronts. You are right when you say that the Prince will be unhappy. I have heard that he is a stubborn man and not used to being thwarted. I daresay that he'll race Vanquish whatever you have advised.”

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