Page 5 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)

“That is true.” It had broken her heart at the time, for he’d not tried at all to fight for her one last time, to plead his case, to ask why. Because of that, her father had advised her that she should not let him see Olivia, for it might prove traumatic for the girl.

The viscount maneuvered in front of her so she couldn’t see Edwin any longer. “You have much to look forward to, and none of it includes him.”

While that might also prove true—it was too early in the conversation to decide where, if at all, such a relationship with the viscount would go—why did it seem that William knew Edwin personally?

A frown tugged down the corners of her mouth.

“Do you know Edwin Coatesville? You seem quite familiar with him and his habits.” Or else he’d listened to some very specific gossip, which presented another set of problems.

“Oh.” William shrugged, and even that gesture was like a work of art, an extension of his beautiful form. “I went to university with him. We were friends—quite close friends at one time.”

Shock went through Charlotte’s chest. She exchanged a look of surprise with Imogen before she focused back on the viscount. “What happened?” In all the years of her marriage with Edwin, he’d never mentioned William or such a friendship.

“What always happens with Coatesville or rather Nottingham as he’s known now.

” One corner of his upper lip curled in a sneer.

Either he didn’t care for Edwin or Club Damnation.

“He got caught up in illicit things—I think I remember murder or something just as wretched—fell out with the proper set, fell in with men of questionable reputations, and then we drifted apart.”

When she peered around William’s shoulder, the crowd had shifted again, and she didn’t see her former husband any longer. “Why didn’t you tell me? Especially after you knew who I’d been married to before?”

“I didn’t think it important.” Nothing but honesty reflected in his blue eyes.

“Especially since you’d divorced him and were quite certainly through with him.

” He took one of her hands. “And I didn’t wish to upset you by bringing up the scrounger’s name.

The man belongs to your past; you’d do well to keep him there. ”

“I appreciate that, but sometimes, that isn’t possible.”

“While I am aware you and he share a child together, that doesn’t mean he needs to start hanging about again.” If there was a slight hardness to his voice, she couldn’t blame him. It was a sticky wicket indeed.

“Agreed.” William had proved himself solicitous over the past few months that they’d met each other during society functions.

They rubbed on well together and she felt safe in his company.

There was none of the sizzling passion that she’d shared with Edwin, but then, that was exactly the reason she liked being around William.

And why she’d enlisted her father’s help in getting her away from Edwin.

He was so intense, and when she’d been with him, she feared losing herself in him—in them together—and that had frightened her.

It had been but one reason her marriage had fallen apart.

.. or rather it had become something different than it had been when she’d first married him.

Had her father taken a highhanded approach in order to separate her from a man he never supported as her husband?

Of course he had. Had she taken steps to stop him?

Perhaps halfheartedly, but it had been a confusing, heartbreaking time and she hadn’t been in her right mind.

Was that a valid excuse? It was not, and every one of those thoughts came back to haunt her now.

Imogen’s whole expression lightened. “If you will excuse me? Averly is motioning to me. No doubt he has something important he wishes to impart before the next set begins.”

Charlotte nodded. “If time permits, perhaps you and I can finish our conversation later tonight?”

“Of course, but in the meanwhile, enjoy yourself tonight, Lady Charlotte. You’ve returned to society for a reason. Use it.” The duchess smiled, waved to Charlotte, and then moved through the crush assembling on the dance floor to reach her husband.

When William squeezed her fingers, she shoved all thoughts from her mind. Absolutely, she couldn’t allow herself to go back down that rabbit hole. No matter how it had come about, she had moved forward with her life, and she needed to continue that trend.

“What did Lady Averly mean by that?” the viscount asked with curiosity in his expression.

“Oh, nothing. We were discussing events upcoming in the next couple of months, and how I need to give myself time to acclimate myself to being back in circulation.” He didn’t need to know that they’d discussed the possibility of Charlotte being bedded by him.

“Very well.” He nodded. “It would seem a waltz is the next dance assembling. Would you share it with me?” The anticipation sparkling in his eyes fed her own excitement and had tingles flitting down her spine.

“Afterward, I’ll fetch you some punch and we’ll discuss plans for the remainder of the month, hmm? ”

“I would like that very much.” As she let him lead her to an open spot on the dance floor, Charlotte hoped he would ask to pay his addresses soon. She wanted to feel settled again in her life, and also, she wished to be a wife again.

Then, as the opening notes to the Viennese waltz burst upon the air, she happened to glance to the side of the ballroom where she’d last seen Edwin.

Once more, their gazes accidentally locked, and ice replaced the blood in her veins for a few seconds.

He stood there and glared with an expression of pure annoyance.

Was it for her or for the viscount? Not knowing, she continued to look back as she performed the steps by rote.

As the ice thawed, it was replaced by a wave of unexpected, heated need that had the power to steal her breath.

Dear heavens, she’d forgotten how handsome he was in an organic, devil-may-care sort of way with his light brown hair a bit longer than current fashion demanded, hair that curled at his collar and that she remembered was as soft and silky as it appeared.

The knot of his cravat was slightly loosened, as if he yanked at it in frustration or anger when he first saw in her William’s company.

But it was the flash of his deep brown eyes when the steps of the waltz moved her closer to his location for a heart-stopping second that cut her to the core.

There was so much that she hadn’t explained to him or even talked to him about before those damning papers arrived, before their marriage had been ripped asunder.

Did she owe it to him now to tell him everything?

Would it change anything? After all, they were divorced, and there was no going back from that.

“Forget him, Charlotte,” William said to her in a low voice as he narrowed his gaze a bit. “You should be grateful that you’re well away from him.” But then the steps of the waltz shifted and she was obliged to dance with a different partner for the next few moments.

Yet how could she forget that time in her life when she’d been married to Edwin, now the Duke of Nottingham?

When there had been oh so many highs where it had felt as if she would never come down from flying?

And there had been a few lows where she thought she might not recover from the grief, sadness, and disappointment?

How had she managed to survive that time, especially with how they’d come together in the bedroom like two fierce summer storms?

I can’t do that again. She concentrated on her partner, yet her thoughts had other plans. If I open that door even a tiny bit, he’ll burst inside, and everything will change once more.

Frankly, she didn’t think she was strong enough for a second round, for if she wished to admit everything to him, that would mean she’d have to face more than a few truths of her own, and then what would happen?