Page 24 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)

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Charlotte breathed in deeply, took in a few lungsful of crisp autumnal air as she walked through the back acreage of Edwin’s property.

She’d decided to take advantage of the break between bouts of rain to get in some exercise that had nothing to do with bedroom endeavors.

Now, as she headed toward the gardens at the rear of the manor, she couldn’t help her smile.

When was the last time she’d felt so centered and satisfied?

Ever since she’d been at Wildflower Cottage, she’d been so lazy that she remained abed until noon, but would anyone blame her?

Either she’d been up after hours, or the carnal play Edwin had put her through sapped at her strength.

Even now, her muscles held a pleasant but persistent ache, and she experienced a bit of chafing in her private bits from the frequent friction of their couplings.

And oddly? She wouldn’t have changed anything, not from the kidnapping to all the wicked things she and Edwin got up to.

This was exactly what she’d always wanted with him, and the fact they were beginning to talk to each other about the things they’d kept secret before?

It was amazing. When she’d come into his room last night and found him crying?

That raw emotion had pulled at her heart, and she’d fallen for him a bit more.

A man who could show his feelings was an honest man, that was for sure.

When she’d left the house, she’d no idea where Edwin was, but since she hadn’t wished to disturb him—and she needed time to think—she went outside by herself.

Besides, it was good to keep occupied, for since her father called, she had been wracked with nervous energy, and was worried that he might try to force her into doing something else she didn’t wish to do.

Only this time, she would screw her courage to the sticking place; she refused to make another mistake. However, she wanted the whole story of what had happened between Edwin and William. If she needed to choose one of the two men, she wanted to be completely informed.

When she married a second time, it would be for the remainder of her life. No longer would she allow someone else to make a decision for her.

As she reached the gardens, it felt as if a weight came away from her shoulders, for the wealth of plants and flowers immediately lifted her soul.

Some of the ornamental fruit trees still bore fruit, especially the apple and pear trees.

The gardeners had done a lovely job of creating a calming space in the gardens; it was one of the places she missed the most. When she reached a patch of sunflowers, Charlotte put her willow basket on the ground at her feet then took up a pair of gardening scissors, for she fancied an arrangement for the drawing room this evening.

As she cut sunflowers—both with large heads and small—as well as white and yellow daisies, and a few chrysanthemums, she happened to glance up while placing blooms in her basket. With a soft gasp, she frowned, for Lord Danville approached her.

Immediately, her pulse accelerated. Frissons of unease twisted down her spine. “What are you doing here? Edwin will kill you if he finds out you’re on his property.” There was no doubt in her mind he would make good on that promise.

The viscount shook his head. His blond hair glimmered in the sunshine. “I had to see you.” When he took her free hand, she frowned. “Your father rode back to London early this morning. I told him I’d follow a few hours later.”

“Did the rain last night prohibit you from returning yesterday?”

“It did, so we took our evening meal at one of the taverns in Farnham and stayed at an inn.” He squeezed her hand. “Your father asked that I try to talk sense into you.”

A wave of hot annoyance rose in her chest. “What do you want, William? I am busy.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Firstly, why are you still here? With that monster?”

The slow burn of anger went through her veins. For an insane few seconds, she thought about stabbing him with the gardening scissors. “Edwin is not a monster.” Truth be told, she wasn’t sure that William wasn’t one. Which was why she needed to talk about that with Edwin.

When she tugged her hand from his, he frowned. “Secondly, are you fucking him?”

Such rudeness. “That is none of your concern. I have a history with him, share a child with him. We have things to discuss regarding that.”

“I’ll wager you do, and I’ll wager he’s convinced you to do more than that.”

Before she could think about, she shot out her free hand and slapped him. Since it wasn’t her dominant one, it wasn’t as powerful as it could have been, but it made the statement she wanted. “How dare you.” He didn’t need to know anything else.

The viscount put a hand to his cheek. “I apologize, but he doesn’t deserve you.”

“That is for me to decide, not you or my father.” It felt all too good—too powerful—to speak those words aloud.

“I think you’re making a mistake if you wish to pursue him.” This time, when he caught her hand, he tugged her against his body. “Just a few days ago, you were receptive to me paying my addresses to you. Has that changed?”

“I...” Before she could sort her thoughts, he brought his mouth crashing down on hers.

While it was true, if he’d done that the night of the ball, she would have welcomed such an overture, but now it felt cheeky and wrong, as if she betrayed Edwin and what they were trying to build again between them.

Was that what she wanted? Was she truly falling back in love with him, but for the right reasons this time?

Charlotte wrenched away. “You have overstepped, William.”

“You realize that Nottingham is a criminal, a murderer? Is that who you want to align yourself with? Do you want your daughter to suffer that gossip and have it destroy her chances in society before she ever has her Come Out?”

That had always been one of her fears when it came to Olivia’s future. “I try not to hold a person’s past against them, and in Edwin’s case, I’m not entirely convinced he is what you and my father say he is.”

“Don’t be a fool. Stay away from him. I’m the better—safer—choice, and you know it.” When he reached for her, she shook her head.

“My life is my own, and I can do with it what I choose.” Putting her palm to his chest, she shoved him away from her.

Then she put her hands on her hips, despite the scissors she still held.

“You are not acting like a gentleman if you are trying to order me about.” Oddly it was different than when Edwin did it.

His demands came from a place of concern, and dare she say love?

Warmth went through her chest. Did he truly love her? How lovely a thought!

“I’m concerned for you, Charlotte.” Pity played prominently in his expression. “The more you are with this degenerate, the more you are risking your own reputation. I am trying to save you.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I am not a damsel in need of rescue, for I am fully capable of guiding my own life.

” It was readily obvious now. When her father had taken advantage of her grief and confusion, when he’d had her divorced from Edwin before she’d realized what had happened, she’d lost all confidence in herself.

But now, thanks to her former husband and his encouragement, it was coming back in waves.

Done with this nonsense, she extended an arm and pointed toward the drive.

“You need to leave, William. Once you can act like a gentleman and when I return to London, perhaps we will discuss everything.”

Which meant he would lecture her on why seeing Edwin was a horrid idea, for he was good at that.

But one truth was certain... she rather doubted she would accept his addresses, not when she was warming to the possibility of having Edwin at her side.

Her former husband might not be fully proper, but then he didn’t need to be.

She liked him imperfect, because it let her be that as well.

“Fine.” William shook his head. Annoyance lined his expression. “I’ll respect your wishes just now, but promise me you won’t make any firm decisions until you come to London, and we can talk like we used to.” Then he stormed away with the breeze ruffling the edges of his greatcoat.

“What an arse.” Once he was fully out of her eyesight, Charlotte let out a scream of frustration.

Yes, her mind was still wrapped in a bit of confusion, but things were slowly becoming clearer where Edwin was concerned.

Did it frighten her? Yes, of course. Did it make her look forward to the future?

Absolutely. Did she finally see the path she needed to walk?

She did, and it gave her both calm and excitement.

If she was honest with herself, d she want another chance with him, and perhaps they could have another child, to fill that void left created when she’d miscarried before.

And all of that hinged on having him in her life for more than this string of wicked days.

With shaking hands and annoyance fairly radiating off her, Charlotte continued to cut flowers because it helped to soothe her ruffled nerves, and besides, flowers were pretty.

They never asked or demanded anything of her.

And only God knew when the weather would turn and destroy the rest of the blooms.

Eventually, she had enough for her planned arrangement, so she took the cuttings inside to the still room the housekeeper used to dry flowers and herbs and other plants.

It was also where she and the cook made dried teas and poultices as well as salves and any manner of other medicinal things a household might need.

The reason Charlottle enjoyed arranging flowers in vases in this room was because the light was good and the worktable was quite large. There was also a cheerful air in the space that worked to further set her mind at ease.

An enjoyable half hour passed as she worked on her creation. By the time she had finished, Edwin dropped by. He rested a shoulder against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

“You make quite the stunning picture surrounded by all those blooms.”

Her smile was genuine, for she was happy to see him. “Do you like it?” Standing back from the ceramic vase with a copper glaze that set off the flowers to perfection. “It’s so cheerful, like a gathering of happiness.”

“I do. You’ve always had talent for such, an artistic way with color and design.” He nodded. “Perhaps you should teach others how to do that or offer your services to earn some pin money. Also, in that way, you can show London your flare and style.”

“Ha.” But she simpered beneath his praise.

“This one is for the drawing room. I’d like to see autumnal touches in there to help usher in the season.

” A tiny gasp escaped her. “Oh... that’s rather high-handed of me since I don’t live here any longer.

” Realizing that caused her heart to drop a tiny bit.

Yet it was so easy to step back into that life, with him, because it felt right, as if she were always supposed to be there.

How had she mucked up her marriage so badly?

An enigmatic expression crossed his face, and his eyes darkened. “What’s mine is yours. I want you to feel comfortable here.”

“Right.” Charlotte nodded. “Will you do something for me?”

He pushed off the wall. “Anything. I would like to think you’d know that by now.”

“I do. Especially after this time spent with you now.” She briefly held her bottom lip between her teeth. “I want you to tell me what truly transpired between you and William.”

“I did,” he said from around what sounded like a low growl.

Awareness rippled over her skin. “No, I want the full story.”

“In all the gory details?”

“Yes. I want to break down the remainder of the barriers between us, as we should have done long ago.” And that meant she would need to tell him her secrets as well.

Slowly, he nodded. “You won’t judge me too harshly?”

“That depends on the story, but I’ll keep my mind open.”

“Perhaps you do need to know the story after all.” But shadows filled his eyes. “Let us come away from here. This isn’t the backdrop for such a tale.” And he extended a hand.

She frowned. “Where, then?” It didn’t matter, truly, for she trusted him, so she grabbed the vase of flowers in one hand, and as she kept it in place against her chest, she slipped her free hand into his. The second his fingers closed about hers, tingles shivered down her spine.

“We’re going into my study.”

“But the flowers...”

“Such a managing baggage,” he whispered with amusement in his tone. He removed the vase from her hold then set it onto the worktable. “The arrangement can wait. You can retrieve it later.”

“Mmm, I hope so. I worked hard on that design.” But he seemed so mysterious with wicked promise in his eyes and a faint grin flirting about his sensual lips that her pulse accelerated and she followed him from the still room without further comment.

How could she want him all over again after so many times with him already?

Didn’t her muscles ache enough? Wasn’t she a touch sore and needed a rest?

None of that mattered. Heat seeped into her cheeks.

Oh, dear, but she feared she was addicted to him, and he might prove the death of her, but she didn’t care.

In many ways, she knew she was his and he was hers.

She just needed to find a way to make it work so that there was more between them than this unrelenting heat and desire.

Was it possible? At this point, she would move heaven and earth to make it possible, because she also suspected that she wouldn’t be complete unless she was with him and they were a family again.

Dear heavens, Charlotte, you are so weak.

Yet she didn’t fully believe that, for she was stronger with him than apart from him, and if she were the wagering sort, she would say the same went for him.