Page 48 of Rogue of My Heart

He leaned down and kissed his sister’s cheek. “I’m afraid I must take my leave.” Then he reached for Charlotte’s hand. “Charlotte, always a pleasure,” he said, then he placed his hot mouth to her hand.

Well, not so much her hand, but the naked flesh at her wrist right above her glove. The warmth of his breath singed her skin and she nearly closed her eyes to enjoy it. But it was gone so quickly, she’d missed the opportunity. Still, her skin remained heated as if his kiss had permanently marked her.

Charlotte tried to formulate a response, but words were not gathering fast enough. What was the matter with her? Since when did she notice Edmond’s eyes and nearly swoon over a simple kiss to her wrist? No doubt her anxiousness was making her scattered and jittery. That’s all this was. Her body was simply over sensitized because of Jack.

“He was clearly irritated with me,” Charlotte mused. She should not care. She’s certainly noticed his indifference before, but had never allowed it to bother her. So it shouldn’t matter now how he treated her, even though somehow, inexplicably, it did.

“Lord Carrolton?” Willow asked.

“What?”

“You said Lord Carrolton was irritated with you,” Willow said.

Charlotte shook her head. “No, Edmond.”

Willow’s mouth opened, then closed. She frowned. “Doubtful.” She looked over her shoulder in the direction her brother had walked, as if she’d be able to still see him. “It is probably more that he doesn’t enjoy these types of functions. He’s not very comfortable in crowds.”

“Why?” Charlotte found herself asking.

“I’m not exactly certain why, but I know he never has been. He doesn’t like large groups of people.”

It was then that Amelia and Meg found them.

How had Charlotte never known that about Edmond and crowds? Evidently there were multiple things she’d never before noticed about Willow’s brother. Just as he’d accused. She clearly did not know him well at all.

Not that she needed to be cataloging Edmond’s qualities and quirks. Well, it mattered not. Besides, she knew when someone was annoyed with her and he had been. Strange.

“If you suspect Lord Carrolton to be the Jack of Hearts,” Meg said, “then perhaps you should encourage his attentions and see if you can’t identify any secrets.”

Where had that come from? Had they had an entire discussion without her while she’d been woolgathering about Willow’s brother? Good heavens. Thankfully, Meg reminded her about her intentions.

“Take heed though,” Amelia said. “You don’t want to tangle too closely should he prove to be dangerous.”

“We are supposed to go riding sometime this week. I shall be careful,” Charlotte said. “I promise.”

“Perhaps you should take Frannie with you, just to be on the safe side,” Meg suggested.

Charlotte considered that for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll be honest with me and possibly slip on any secrets he’s hiding if we have company. Besides, my plan is to get him to kiss me. Since I’ve kissed Jack, I should be able to tell once I’ve kissed him if he is the same man.” Then she realized what she’d said and popped a hand over her mouth. She squeezed her eyes closed and hoped that Willow, in particular, wouldn’t notice. But of course that would be like hoping Willow wouldn’t share her opinion.

“What do you mean you’ve kissed him?” Willow asked, turning her entire body to face Charlotte. As if that wasn’t enough, she grabbed Charlotte’s arm and pulled her further away from the bustling ballroom.

Amelia and Meg followed along until the four of them were alone in a small sitting room.

Charlotte waved her hand dismissively. “It was nothing,” she hissed. “I shouldn’t have even mentioned it.” That was a lie. That kiss had been all she had thought about for days. So passionate, and hinted at pleasures she could only dream of.

Willow held one hand up. “Charlotte,” she whisper-yelled. “You kissed the most notorious thief in London and you say it was nothing!”

Meg bounced on the balls of her feet and clapped her hands quietly. “This is most exciting.”

Charlotte exhaled slowly. “It was the night at the Maybrook ball. Out in the moonlight.”

“And he just kissed you?” Amelia asked. “You left that detail out at our meeting.”

“Yes, and yes, I did.”

Willow blew out a breath. “That was bold of him.”

“I know. But don’t you see that this gives me a way to potentially identify him?” Charlotte asked.