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“Ugh!” She could not hold back the scoff this time. “That was one instance and an entirely different situation. Your reputation has proceeded you for years now, Frederick. Can you honestly blame me for being cautious?”

She’d stepped toward him without realizing it, and they nearly stood nose to nose. Frederick leaned in, closing that distance as his eyes burned fire into her flesh.

“And you? Do you believe what they have said of me?”

Charlotte couldn’t move, even as her mind screamed at her to get out of there. She was rooted to the floor as firmly as an oak, her stare held prisoner by Frederick’s grey eyes.

“Why shouldn’t I? You have given me little reason to think otherwise.”

He let out a sharp breath through his nose, cocking his head as he roamed his gaze over her face. Frederick’s eyes landed on her mouth for only a split second. Still, she instantly caught fire thanks to the scalding power of his attention.

“Oh, haven’t I? Of course,” he mused sarcastically, “because I have not given you space and freedom and permitted you to disappear into the night. I haven’t ensured that I would do nothing you didn’t like.”

Charlotte’s heart beat furiously, the drumbeat screaming in her ears. She was too aware of the sensations in her body, the snake of flame that slithered through her veins.

“And how would you know what I like?”

The words were out before she could stop them, before Charlotte could keep herself from announcing them with a throaty quality, full of breath and darkness.

And then Frederick kissed her.

Chapter Ten

Charlotte held her fingers to her lips, coasting them slowly over the sensitive flesh as she remembered how Frederick kissed her.

“Mistress?”

Shaking herself, Charlotte looked up at the maid standing before her. There was a teapot poised in her grip, and her brows were up as if she’d just asked a question.

“Excuse me, Gemma. I was…distracted. What did you say?”

The girl smiled at Charlotte, her gentle expression making the dimples stand out on her cheeks. She gestured with the teapot and then nodded down to Charlotte’s cup.

“I only asked if you’d care for more, Your Grace.” Charlotte nodded, still pulled into her mind by uneasy thoughts. “You doseem a bit…off this morning. Are you quite well? I could call for the physician if needed.”

The memory of last night's events and discussions struck Charlotte, and she was quick to shake her head.

“No, that is quite all right, Gemma. I am well.” She looked around the room, noting how she was seated at the breakfast table alone this morning. “Though, I do wonder where Rose and His Grace have gone to.”

Tea poured into Charlotte’s cup, and she watched the charming brown liquid fill up the well, smoothing over the white porcelain and tinting the painted pink flowers to make them look orange. Oftentimes, it was relieving to even just smell the drink or watch it fill her cup. The habit of drinking tea to settle her nerves was so ingrained in her.

“Lady Rose remains in her room this morning, and the Duke has gone out for the day. He assured the staff that you were aware of his absence.”

As Gemma finished pouring and stood back from the table, Charlotte had to bite her tongue—hard enough that she thought she might actually taste copper.

Of course, Frederick had “gone out.” He kissed me just last night without a word of warning and then left my room just as quickly.

“Thank you, Gemma.”

Silence returned, and Charlotte considered what her maid had said about Rose. It wasn’t wholly uncommon for her to be holed up in her room. Still, the duchess couldn’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with their strained parting from the other day.

Rose had her heard speak poorly of Frederick, and though, she didn’t have the context necessary to fully understand Charlotte’s words, it was more than likely that Frederick’s sister was avoiding her. With a sigh, Charlotte resolved to finish her tea and then make her way to the girl’s room.

They needed to have a heart-to-heart.

Knock, knock, knock.

The echo of Charlotte’s rapping on the door slipped down the hall as she stood and waited for Rose to answer. It was several moments before she heard the floorboards creak on the other side of the wood and the click of the lock turning over. She swallowed down her nerves as Rose pulled the door open and greeted her with a narrowed stare.