Page 12 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)
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L ater that night
When Charlotte couldn’t delay in her rooms further, she brushed her palms down the front of her gown and sighed.
“At least I’m presentable,” she said in a soft voice as she cast a glance in the full-length cheval mirror.
“You are beautiful, my lady.” The maid, Bessie, smiled at her from the clothespress where she put away another gown. “That maroon color suits you.”
“I quite agree.” She traced the plain scooped neckline with her fingertips then she grabbed a shawl of lightweight ivory wool.
How the devil did Edwin know her measurements after all this time, especially when she’d gained a bit of weight since they’d last seen each other?
And when had he procured the garments? Had his kidnapping been premeditated?
Somehow, she didn’t have the feeling it was.
“Um, did Mr. Coatesville know I would be coming?”
“No, my lady. He only notified us today around noon.”
“Yet all these clothes are here.” To say nothing of the bottle of precious perfume she’d discovered and had dabbed a tiny bit behind her ears and on her wrists.
The maid shrugged. “Mr. Coatesville always has this suite stocked and ready to be used should you ever need someplace to stay. We change out the clothing each year, and refresh the bedding and linens every autumn.”
“Oh! I wasn’t aware he did that.” Was he so desperate—or stupid—that he thought she would walk back into his life and take up where they’d left off? Then her heart squeezed. Perhaps hopeful was the more appropriate word. She didn’t know if she should be concerned or flattered.
But their break had been necessary. Hadn’t it?
Bessie nodded with a smile. “Mr. Coatesville is a lovely employer. He is always helping us if we need it, and when he’s in residence, many of the staff’s children encourage him to play games with them. He’s even gone fishing with the butler and groundskeeper a few times.”
“Truly?” How very odd that he’d never mentioned any of it to her.
“Yes.” The maid’s eyes twinkled. “He is quite well known in the area due to the causes and charities he supports. My mam says he’s almost a patron saint of Farnham with all the good he does.”
“What a lovely thing to say.” She pulled the wrap about her shoulders, for there was a bit of an autumnal chill in the air. “Thank you for telling me. Apparently, he’s quite humble, for he never mentioned any of it.”
“Will there be anything else, my lady?”
“No. Not until I’m ready to retire but thank you.” Then Charlotte left her rooms. On her way to the stairs, she happened to glance out the windows that overlooked the rear of the property, and she spied Edwin in the gardens below.
By the time she gained said gardens, he was speaking with a pair of young children, a boy and a girl, probably not more than six years old. Standing out of sight by a collection of tall shrubberies, she listened to his conversation with the children.
“Now what are you two sprites doing running about by yourselves? It’s nearly dinnertime.” Edwin went down on one knee so he was at eye level with the pair.
The boy scratched his head beneath a slouch-style cap. “Grams sent us out to find some flowers for the table, but Mary said the best flowers were here in your gardens. I told her we couldn’t steal.”
“You are on the right path, Thomas.” He laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“Stealing is wrong, and I’ll wager your gram would frown at that.
” Then he glanced at the little girl. “However, since you said my flowers were the best, you may each pick five of them, and one extra for your gram. Make hers a grand one.”
Mary smiled, and a bit of hero worship reflected in the boy’s eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Coatesville.”
“You’re welcome. How’s your papa? Is his back doing any better?”
Thomas nodded. “He can walk around the cottage now. Gram says he’ll be right as rain soon enough.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He gave the boy’s shoulder a squeeze then stood. “Go on and find your flowers before your gram worries.”
As they both scampered off, Charlotte’s heart trembled.
She remembered what a good father he’d been to Olivia the times he’d been home and not out trying to make coin in questionable ways, or leaving them both home alone while she wondered at his allegiance.
Would they have had more children had they remained together?
A ball of emotion stuck in her throat. She’d been pregnant while she was with Edwin.
Olivia had been five years old. But Charlotte hadn’t known that was why she’d been ill and doing poorly, for she hadn’t been that sick when she carried Olivia.
Then one day when he was away with a few business partners in a new venture he swore would make them rich, she suffered so much pain that she felt faint and collapsed in the drawing room.
Before she could summon help, her body betrayed her, and she miscarried the babe on the floor.
She’d lost so much blood that she nearly died, but the butler had found her.
He summoned a midwife as well as Edwin, but she begged them not to tell her husband what had really happened. She didn’t want his pity.
Shoving those thoughts away, Charlotte composed herself as best she could then joined him as he walked one of the paths in the gardens that were wild with autumnal colors, dying leaves that were in the early stages, and the buzz and hum of the seasonal insects and birds.
“Edwin?” For the first time in a long while, she was tongue-tied when it came to her former husband. After today, she was beginning to suspect she’d had the wrong impression about him.
He turned, and his grin sent tingles twisting down her spine.
“Charlotte!” The light in his dark brown eyes and the welcome in his expression took years from his face.
“I wasn’t certain if you would come down to dinner or not, and I’m glad you’re here.
” His gaze roved over her form with such a sensual grace that she swore she felt as if he’d physically caressed her. “The gown is perfect on you.”
“Oh.” Heat seeped into her cheeks. “Thank you. I was surprised at the wardrobe you provided and how well it fit, since we haven’t seen each other for so long.”
He shrugged. “I do what I can. Also, I popped into the modiste’s shop you used to favor in London. Since you still do, I ordered a few things and had them sent to Surrey.”
“You didn’t need to go to the trouble.” Slowly, she shook her head. “The coin you must have spent over the years...” Her words faded, for she probably shouldn’t reveal what her maid had told her.
The hint of a dark flush rose up his neck. “It’s no bother.”
Had he hoped she would have come back at some point in the past five years?
Her heart softened a bit toward him. “In any event, do you mind if we linger out here for a while before going up to dinner?” Behind the rampant possessiveness he’d shown earlier, had he simply been carrying a torch all along for her?
“Of course not. Many times, when I’m in Surrey, I stroll through the gardens. It helps to quiet my mind.”
Who was this man? There was a marked difference between his need to dominate during carnal play and this compassionate and philanthropic person who oddly looked after everyone. Two halves of a whole, and she wondered if she’d ever known him at all.
“If you are ready to talk, we can do a bit of that as we tour the gardens.” It was an offer she wouldn’t give him too many times, but she couldn’t let them keep going forward with animosity brewing in the background.
“Very well.” As they passed one of the beds, he plucked a young sunflower from its stalk and gave it to her. “I remember they were your favorite.”
“They still are.” Heated tingles chased up her arm to her elbow from the simple contact of their hands brushing. Awareness of him crashed over her. “Thank you.”
Edwin nodded. “I’m glad that hasn’t changed. The flowers are sunny, like you used to be, and strong enough to withstand rain, wind, sun, being trampled.” He shrugged. “Resilient.”
It was as good a metaphor as any, but did he not consider her strong?
Was it because she let her father basically rip her away from him without trying to work anything out between them?
Heated regret rose in her chest, but she tucked the short stem of the sunflower behind her right ear.
“What is kidnapping me really about? If you wished to merely claim my body, you could have done that any time within the last five years.”
“Fair enough.” He remained silent for a few seconds while they strolled.
“I want you back. That’s the truth of it, and I will not stand for you to marry a man like Danville.
” A trace of annoyance went through his chest. “I have had much time to think about what happened between you and I, and I’m man enough to admit that I might have been partially to blame for how our marriage collapsed.
” Then he glanced at her with inquiry in his eyes.
“But I suspect you were too, and now you’re keeping secrets from me. ”
Oh, heavens. There was nowhere to hide. “It’s true.
There is something I never told you.” She pressed her lips together to quell their trembling as she tried to sort her thoughts.
“Six years ago, I suffered a horrific miscarriage when I was increasing with our second child. You were away on business, but I nearly perished. Thankfully, the butler found me, summoned the midwife.”
“What?” He stumbled to a halt on one of the paths. “You were expecting another child?”
“Yes.” As she nodded, she let her gaze drift from his. “I was almost four months along, but the pregnancy felt different from when I carried Olivia.” The catch in her voice brought tears to her eyes.
“You didn’t tell me you were increasing or even of the miscarriage.” Shock echoed in his voice, and when she looked at him, the same was reflected in his eyes. “Why? Did you not trust me?”