Page 4 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)

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Sutcliffe House

St. James Place

London, England

Lady Charlotte Cavendish—formerly Coatesville—glanced around the ballroom, and she smiled. In the past handful of years, she’d tried to avoid being out in society, but today, she’d finally been convinced to attend a ball thrown by the elusive Duke of Ravenhurst.

However, when the viscount who occasionally came to call had asked her to accompany him to this event, she agreed enthusiastically, especially since her parents were currently putting pressure on her to marry for a second time.

So, she’d consented to come, and the surprise was how much she was enjoying the evening.

While William was visiting with a group of his peers, she drifted over to one of her friends, the Duchess of Averly.

She’d known Imogen for years, and during that time, the other woman had been engaged to the duke.

She’d finally been forced to marry him earlier that summer, and though it had been the on-dit of the summer, with many wagers going down in betting books throughout gentleman clubs as to whether they would kill each other or not, Imogen and her duke had fallen in love with each other.

They were still newlyweds, and Charlotte found that sweet and hopeful.

I miss that so much.

“It’s lovely to see you tonight, Imogen,” she said with a bright smile, for going about in society would prove quite easy if she could always have a friend in each ballroom or drawing room. “It feels as if it’s been an age since I talked with you.”

“Oh, Charlotte!” The duchess held out her hands and Charlotte clasped them. “It truly has been an age. So much has happened.”

“I know! How are you enjoying being a duchess and a wife?” She’d been present at the nuptial ceremony, and the tension on that day had been so high it had been palatable in every space of the room.

“It’s wonderful.” A faint blush stained her cheeks. “I never thought I would find everything I wanted in a man in Averly, but after a few bumps in the road, I can’t imagine life without him.”

“That’s lovely to hear.” Though a tiny stab of envy went through Charlotte’s chest, it was easily thrust away.

Yes, she’d been married once, and she’d had the exact thoughts that Imogen did, but sometimes, things happened to a union that caused it to crack and crumble.

“I would imagine your husband is quite affectionate?”

“He is indeed.” A dreamy sort of smile curved the duchess’ lips. “Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined how much we get on in the bedroom.”

“Lucky lady.” When Charlotte swept the crowded space with her gaze, she had a glimpse of the Duke of Averly with his red hair as he talked and laughed with a group of his friends. “He is quite easy on the eyes.”

“And more so,” Imogen said with a cheeky grin. “He is so naughty, and I adore it.” Then her expression sobered. “But he is also sensitive and mindful.”

Did she miss being a wife? Yes and no. Currently, all her focus was on her nearly eleven-year-old daughter, but there were specific times when she wished she had a strong, protective, attentive man in her life.

Not to mention how much she longed for the physical affection or carnal release that could only be found within a man’s arms.

The duchess nodded. “How are you, Charlotte? I was surprised to see you out tonight since you’ve hidden from society for far too long.”

It was her turn to have heat in her cheeks. “I think I’ve reached a point in my life that I’m done hiding. I won’t let embarrassment guide my steps any longer.” She shrugged. “And my parents are anxious for me to marry again.”

“I can understand that.” Imogen was one of the few friends who knew the story of Charlotte’s scandalous divorce. “I’ll wager they want a man with a title for you this time ‘round?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “My father was furious when I wed Edwin because, though he was a gentleman, he didn’t hold a title, and he had no coin to his name.”

It hadn’t mattered to her at the time, for love won against everything else, and he had been so exciting and all-consuming.

But when she’d discovered she’d been increasing with Olivia, she’d impressed upon him that he needed to work at a living that would bring in a steady income.

The man was quite talented in ferreting out investments and schemes, but whether they worked or not was another story altogether.

They’d had a good life together... when the times were lovely, yet there were many times that were not.

“Having a title or a fortune are no guarantee the marriage will be a happy one,” Imogen reminded her as she waved and smiled to someone in the crowd.

“Oh, I know that.” She’d married Edwin as a na?ve young lady of nineteen.

Now as a more mature woman of two and thirty with loads of experience behind her and more of an idea of what she wanted—or didn’t—from life as well as a husband, she was ready to begin.

“But it was sometimes a struggle with Edwin.”

“Then put him behind you.” The duchess gestured about as a country reel got underway. “There are plenty of eligible men here tonight for you to choose from.” She shot her a sneaky grin. “Unless you’ve already chosen? A certain blond viscount who has a body built for carnal exercise?”

“Goodness, stop that,” Charlotte said in a scandalized voice.

“Yes, it’s true, he recently came into my life, and I’m hoping that means he’ll wish to court me instead of merely seeing me at various society functions.

” Though it was glorious to be back in circulation, she couldn’t help but wonder if the gossip surrounding her dramatic divorce from Coatesville, or Nottingham if he was still calling himself that, would affect a future relationship with the viscount.

“Then that is what I hope for you as well.” Imogen peered about, no doubt in the hopes of catching a glimpse of him as he visited with a few people at the opposite side of the room.

“William Carter, the Viscount of Danville. I’m afraid I don’t know much about him other than the fact that Ravenhurst invited him as a favor to another acquaintance.

” She frowned. “He’s not a member of Club Damnation, is he? ”

“I don’t believe so.” The club was one that her former husband belonged to, or so she’d heard through the gossip chain.

During the course of their marriage, he’d not had anything like that in his life, so how or why he’d come into an invitation still baffled her, but she was glad he had made connections with other men for that support.

“I thought I heard Danville belongs to White’s. ”

“Ah.” The duchess shrugged. “That doesn’t necessarily mean he is a good person.” She held Charlotte’s gaze with her own. “How do you feel about him?”

The heat in her cheeks intensified. “He is a pleasant person, but I think he is keeping more than a few secrets.”

Imogen chuckled. “What man isn’t?”

“Also, he’s stolen a couple of kisses.”

The duchess’s grin widened. “How were they? Did they make you want to whisk him to a shadowy corner and do unspeakable things to him?”

It was so refreshing to have a friend who wasn’t shy or embarrassed to speak on such a subject that was usually taboo in most drawing rooms. Charlotte couldn’t help but smile.

“They were lovely, of course.” But she couldn’t help but compare those kisses to what she’d shared with Edwin when they had been married.

There was just something about him that had sent shivers of excitement and acute need down her spine.

“Perhaps once we formally announce a courtship, we can experience more in-depth embraces.”

The duchess laid a hand on her arm. “Don’t overthink such things. And if need be, initiate them. Sometimes, the element of surprise can bring so much electricity to a kiss.” Then she winked. “And lead to other delicious things.”

As soon as Imogen said that, Charlotte spotted William, who came toward her now that the country reel had concluded.

“Do hush, Imogen. I don’t want him to overhear you.

” As much as she yearned for the feel of being bedded by a man after five years of not having a husband, she didn’t want to make any rash decisions.

That was how she’d wed Edwin to begin with.

I can’t make that mistake again.

When the viscount reached their location, she greeted him with a smile. He nodded. “What are you two lovely ladies talking about?” Then he waggled his eyebrows. “Can I hope that it’s me?”

A tiny tingle edged down Charlotte’s spine, for he really was a flirt.

“In fact, we were...” then her words trailed off, for as the crowds temporarily parted, it gave her an opportunity to glance to the opposite say of the room, and dear Lord, her gaze landed on none other than Edwin, the man she’d shared a life with for six years or so. “Oh, goodness...”

After not truly thinking about the man on a daily basis for five years, all sorts of thoughts and feelings came flooding back so strongly that they rocked her to the core. Above all, confusion surrounded her, and she didn’t know how to sort through everything else.

“What’s wrong?” William frowned as he followed her line of vision. “Ignore him, Charlotte. He is far beneath you.”

“He is the father of my child, William. I can’t just ignore him when we’re both out in public at the same event.” Yet her stomach was in knots of anxiety, especially when their gazes accidentally connected in that brief moment when the dance floor had cleared.

“While that may be so, no doubt Coatesville is drunk anyway. He will probably pass into the card room soon anyway, so spine of steel, my dear.”

Imogen gently touched Charlotte’s arm. “He’s not wrong,” she said in a low voice. “The man never came after you when the paperwork was presented to him. That’s a good indication that he didn’t care all that much.”