Page 10 of Bound to the Scarred Duke (A Duke’s Game #1)
Chapter Ten
A TALE OF SENTIMENT
“ I t was actually something you wrote to me,” Charlotte said, smiling sweetly.
All evening, she had been irritated. Well, actually, she had been in a foul mood ever since she had seen Dominic flirting with three women as she arrived. Two . After all, one of the women was his cousin. This revelation had done nothing to warm her sentiment to him.
His charming and easy manner had not helped his cause. They had only reminded Charlotte exactly what kind of person she was dealing with. And now, he had the audacity to call her na?ve? In front of people she had never met? Well, we shall see how he likes being embarrassed.
“My cousin wrote something so sentimental?” Cecily looked at Dominic.
“Oh yes, Dominic’s letters were nothing like I had expected,” Charlotte said, her voice sweet as honey. “It is so rare to see a man so willing to do away with manly bravado and instead talk of sweet things.”
“Such as?” Benjamin asked.
“Oh, I would not want to embarrass him…” Charlotte trailed off and then added, as though she could not help herself, “but there was one letter where he wrote that he missed me so much, he felt he would cry.”
“I do not think those were my exact words. Perhaps you are misremembering, my dear?” The Duke looked at her, and Charlotte was pleased to see that spots of colour had appeared in his cheeks.
“Oh no, I remember perfectly. After all, I was taken aback by how willing you were to admit something that most men would find deeply embarrassing,” Charlotte replied. “I thought it rather sweet though perhaps I am a little na?ve in that way.”
Dominic’s eyes widened, and Charlotte felt a tiny thrill of triumph. Needle her in front of the guests, would he? “Naivety is not a bad thing.”
“I did not say it was, just that it is perhaps why I found your letters so wonderfully endearing,” Charlotte replied.
“Perhaps we should change the subject; I am sure the others do not want to hear about our letters to each other.” Dominic gestured around them. “Right, darling?” Dominic all but said that last part through gritted teeth.
“Oh, do not be ridiculous. You know I live for this kind of thing. Tell me, what else did he write to you?” Cecily leaned forwards.
Charlotte glanced at Dominic, and as their eyes met, she saw a hint of apprehension in them. I told you that I would not be made a fool of, dear Duke.
“Just the normal things. You know, told her that she was beautiful and that her mind was beyond compare.” Dominic waved a hand airily.
“Oh, you are being modest. Your letters were far sweeter than that.”
“I do not think they were. Perhaps you are mistaking your own letters? After all, I remember one in which you told me you pined for me, that you had been so overcome with joy you had struggled to eat.”
Charlotte’s cheeks flushed. “Do you remember when you wrote to me that you had seen a mother with her puppies, and the sight had moved you so much you had shed a tear — to think that perhaps we might one day have our own family.”
“I did not say that.” His cheeks were flushed now. “I would not cry over puppies.”
“It was very sweet. He wrote several paragraphs about how moving the scene was and how it made him realise the very powerful nature of our love.” Charlotte sighed dramatically, deciding that she might as well lean into this image of naivety if it made him squirm a little more.
“Dominic! I never would have guessed you had the heart of a romantic.” Benjamin laughed.
“Oh, he truly does! Beneath that rugged exterior, he is practically as soft as a kitten.” Charlotte beamed at Dominic.
“I think that is a little bit of an overexaggeration, dear one…” Dominic tugged at his shirt. “Not all of my letters were like that.”
“Oh, come now, Sweetkins, do not be shy just because we are with your family. I am sure they would love to see this side of you.” Charlotte grinned.
“Sweetkins?” Cecily’s eyes widened.
Charlotte heard Benjamin sniggering and could see Georgiana hiding a giggle behind her hand. Dominic was smiling, but she could tell he was irritated. The tips of his ears were a delicate shade of scarlet.
“It is my little pet name for him. My little Sweetkins. He loves it; do you not, Sweetkins?” She met his gaze.
Dominic smiled though Charlotte could see the edge to it. “I thought we agreed such names would be between us, darling.”
“What use are secrets? Are we not all soon to be family?” Charlotte exclaimed.
“We are.” Dominic fixed her with a smile, and she saw a wicked mischief in his eyes. “Then it seems only right that they know your nickname too.”
Charlotte’s heart sped up as she saw the mischief in Dominic’s eyes. What on Earth is he going to say?
“This is getting rather good!” Georgiana murmured to Benjamin. “Go on, tell us!”
“I call her my Precious Plum.” Dominic grinned, and Charlotte tried not to gape at him.
His Precious Plum? He met her gaze with a look that clearly said, “Two can play at this game.”
“Your Precious Plum?” Benjamin laughed.
“Why Precious Plum?” Cecily asked.
“Because she is precious to me, and in one of our earliest letters, she remarked that I made her feel like the most special thing in the world, and that she felt as though she were so sweet and decadent, she might as well be called a plum.” Dominic grinned.
Charlotte shook her head. If he calls me precious plum, I shall step on his foot. If he calls me that in front of my stepmother, I shall never hear the end of it.
Benjamin groaned. “Then you are as bad as each other.”
“I think it is rather sweet. Too many couples these days base their courtship purely on clothing and bloodlines,” a voice said from behind them.
The entire table jumped, whipping around to look at the newcomer and hastily standing up. Charlotte followed suit, clumsily curtseying as the imposing woman moved towards her.
“I take it that you know who I am? But we have not yet had the pleasure of being introduced. I am Agatha Felton, Dowager Duchess Caverton.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am Lady Charlotte Nettle.” Her mouth felt suddenly very dry.
The Dowager Duchess’ gaze made Charlotte feel as though she were being weighed. She was the same height as Charlotte but seemed to take up far more space with her mere presence. She moved with a grace and surety that seemed almost regal.
This is the woman we are trying to fool? The Dowager Duchess continued to survey Charlotte, and she forced herself not to fidget uncomfortably.
“Grandmother, forgive me, I had meant to introduce you to my betrothed earlier, but…” Dominic trailed off as his grandmother gave him a stern look. “I should have tried harder.”
“Yes, you should have.” The Dowager Duchess surveyed the group for a moment. “It strikes me that such letters would be treated as precious keepsakes between you both. I assume you have them with you?”
“Of course,” Dominic admitted.
It took all of Charlotte’s sense of self-preservation not to flash Dominic a surprised look… or whack him. She had the sense that his grandmother would sense even the smallest thing and forced her face into what she hoped was a pleasantly warm smile.
“Perhaps you would permit me to read a few of them, nothing too intimate of course, but we all know that one must take care of what one puts in letters.” Though she phrased it as a question, Charlotte had no doubt that neither she nor Dominic would be able to refuse the old woman’s request. “It would be so very lovely to see this… romantic side of my grandson. Maybe it would even be worth a few points in my Willful Wonders.”
Dominic inclined her head towards her. “I am sure we can arrange something.”
Remember why you are doing this and what stakes are on the line. Charlotte took a steadying breath.
“Wonderful.” The Dowager Duchess clapped her hands together and then made a shooing motion with her fingers. “As you were. I have mingling to do and far too little time to do it.”
“How does she always do that?” Cecily whispered, glancing around her as she did.
“Do what?” Benjamin asked, also whispering.
“Sneak up on people. I swear, she must be some benevolent spirit!” Cecily explained.
“Do not say that too loudly or she will hear you, and Lord knows we will all suffer then.” Georgiana winced.
As everyone descended into quiet discussion of the Dowager Duchess, Charlotte looked at Dominic. His eyes seemed to reflect the same panic that Charlotte felt. What are we supposed to do now?