Page 32 of The Virgin Duchess (Unwanted Brides #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

W armth was still pressed to her on all sides as Charlotte woke up. She had remained in Frederick’s arms just as suspected, and truly, her heart was so light when she began to crack open her lids against the brightening sunrise that even that celestial orb stood no chance against the illumination of her joy.

Frederick still slept, his eyes gently closed as he breathed in a slow, deep rhythm. She watched him, running over his form with her eyes and admiring the steady presence he offered. He was so different asleep, so calm.

While he never seemed overly frantic or aggressive to her, Frederick was constantly dogged by the concern over the Baron. Now, however, as he dreamed next to her, his bare chest rising and falling, Frederick was serene, the weight of his worries and responsibilities absent.

Charlotte’s heart was so remarkably full, and she stared down at his face, desperate to kiss him but utterly unwilling to break the spell of slumber and peace that held him. She wouldn’t dare disturb him like that. Charlotte cared too much about him to even steal a moment of his sleep.

In the quiet of the room, it hit her, and Charlotte pulled back slightly, her stare going down.

I care so much about him…I…love him.

Nervousness and excitement tumbled through her chest in a spinning whirl. It was chaos and purpose. It was new and familiar at once, and Charlotte felt too small to contain it all. How had she so thoroughly missed the signs? She’d fallen in love with Frederick somewhere in the midst of their toiling and bickering. Cordelia had been right. She did love her husband, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do about that.

“Hmm,” Frederick hummed, stretching the bed and turning toward her. “Good morning. You’re awake first, I see.”

Charlotte smiled; the look of him waking, his hair mussed as the sheet bunched up around him in a wrinkled mess, was too adorable. She leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

“I was, yes.” Charlotte ducked her head before facing Frederick again, keeping herself draped over his arm. “I’ve just been lying here, enjoying the morning.”

“And a fine morning it is.” Frederick smiled sleepily at her, rolling further onto his side so that he could pull Charlotte against his chest.

Her front smoothed against his, and her husband nuzzled into her neck, kissing playfully as he held her to him. The morning greeted him with excitement apparently, and Charlotte warmed at the thought of what they’d finally done the previous evening. Should he indeed be able to repeat that after only a short night of rest?

“Frederick, I?—”

He nipped at her neck, silencing her as he dragged his lips up to her mouth, claiming her in a fierce kiss. Frederick’s erection pressed against her, and she moistened at the notion. She was undoubtedly ready to go once more. Perhaps Frederick truly was the same.

Wrapping her leg over his hip, Frederick’s length slipped between her thighs, and he groaned against her lips. Neither of them spoke, relishing this silent invitation and acceptance between them. A gentle rhythm began, one that teased Charlotte as Frederick rubbed against her without entering as he’d done before. The kiss heated, growing more desperate and furious.

Knock, knock, knock.

Jumping in Frederick’s arm, Charlotte nearly leaped out of her skin from the surprise. Her heart beat hard against her ribs, and Frederick leaned back with a grumbled curse.

“Ugh, what could possibly be so important?” He kissed her again, still unwilling to let the moment pass. “I have much more essential things to tend to this morning.”

Charlotte couldn’t contain the giggle that turned into a moan, but then a voice was booming through the closed door as Diedre shouted out.

“Your Graces! I hate to disturb. Truly! But the Duke of Aldworth is downstairs in the drawing room. He is in quite the mood and is demanding to see the Duchess.”

Freezing, Charlotte abruptly sat up and looked at the door. Her brother was here. But why? They had not arranged to see each other, and he knew better than to arrive unannounced at such an early hour. Worry gripped Charlotte’s heart, and she sat back against the headboard, casting a nervous glance down at Frederick.

“I do not believe we should keep him waiting. I…I am concerned about what might have brought him here just after sunrise.”

Frederick sighed, lifting her hand to his knuckles and kissing them. He was clearly disappointed, but he offered a gentle smile and nodded.

“Of course. We shall make ourselves presentable and meet your brother downstairs.”

Gratitude stretched Charlotte’s face into a grin, and she pressed a quick kiss to Frederick’s lips.

“Thank you.”

With that, she tore herself from the bed, set on getting herself ready as quickly as possible.

Charlotte went down to receive her brother while Frederick was still in the process of getting dressed. She knew she was being hasty, but she couldn’t stop herself. Magnus wasn’t one to simply drop by the estate like this. So, it seemed prudent for her to merely make herself presentable, dispensing with the usual formality of outerwear, and get herself downstairs quickly.

When she rushed down the steps to the drawing room where he waited, Charlotte tried to convince herself that this was all a misunderstanding or that something only needed her immediate attention. It couldn’t be something so terribly wrong. It just…couldn’t.

Still as she entered the room, Charlotte froze as Magnus’s disapproving stare landed on her. It was visceral as if she’d been struck by the back of her hand. Fear gripped Charlotte’s heart, and she offered a slight bow in some vain attempt to appease Magnus’s anger.

“Brother, to what do I owe the unexpected visit?”

He glared at her, and Charlotte swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat.

“I’ve received a letter.” Magnus held it up, and Charlotte gazed on confused, her brows knitting together. “From Cordelia.”

Her stomach sank, nausea crawling up from its depths, and Charlotte stumbled backward just a hair.

“Cordelia has written you? Is she…oh, God, is Kitty all right?”

Rolling his eyes, Magnus nodded. While there was a modicum of relief at that, Charlotte could see that her brother remained upset, and that did not bode well.

“I have been informed that Cordelia and her daughter no longer require the family’s assistance to ensure their living. Apparently,” Magnus’s jaw muscles worked as he clenched it, scoffing lightly as he shook his head once, “you and your husband are taking care of them now.”

That same confusion growing within her doubled down. Charlotte stepped forward, holding out her hands to soothe her brother’s anger.

“We have provided what we can for them, yes. I have not spoken to Cordelia about no longer requiring money from our—excuse me, from your estate. Though, I should think that you would be glad to be freed from the financial burden.”

“He knows about her!” Magnus’s voice echoed in the room, and Charlotte startled, flinching as her brother threw up his hands, the letter smacking against itself.

“We have discussed the situation, Magnus. Frederick understands the severity of the consequences should word get out, and he has been utterly faithful to his word of ensuring it remains secret. In fact, he’s only wanted to help them since he was made aware of the situation. Cordelia and Kitty are well again after a terrible fever because Frederick volunteered his physician.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Magnus closed in, the vein in his temple dancing as his anger grew. “This has been a secret of our family’s since its inception. You are trusting our fate with a stranger? Who else have you told?!”

Charlotte ducked back, but only for a moment. Steeling herself, she stood face to face with her brother, straightening her spine.

“I have guarded the secret as always, Brother. You do not need to worry. I assure you.”

Magnus only glared hard, crumbling the letter in his grip as he waved it in her face.

“You assure me? Charlotte, you hardly know anything about the world beyond this estate. Our entire family crumbles if this gets out. Do you have so little concern for that? For me?”

The hurt of his accusation hit Charlotte hard. Still, she wouldn’t allow herself to be manipulated by Magnus’s attempt to make her feel guilty. She knew what she was doing, and she had been so very conscientious, so concerned about protecting the family that she married Frederick.

“How dare you. I have done everything I can to ensure our family’s wellbeing. I have married well and protected the truth of our abusive father’s dealing— because I care for you. Nearly every moment of my life, I have been careful, so wrapped up in ensuring our livelihood that I was miserable for years. Close up and sullen, having to sneak around in the night to see Cordelia because I wouldn’t be the monster our father was. And you want me to feel guilty about that? Like I haven’t done enough?”

“Charlotte,” Magnus attempted to soothe, stepping toward her with his hand outstretched.

“No.” She yanked her arm away. “I will not have you treating me as if I am still a child. I am a Duchess now, the Mistress of this estate, and I will tend to my business as I deem fit.”

Magnus recoiled, the hurt and fury plain on his face. Charlotte regretted her words only slightly, not wanting to injure Magnus or his pride but unwilling to allow him to treat her like she was an imbecile.

“Lotte, you do not know the intricacies, the lengths to which I was forced to go to ensure our family’s survival. You have not communicated any of this with me and do not have all the information to make a sound decision.”

She sliced a hand through the air, utterly finished with this conversation and the way Magnus refused to see her as an equal just because she was his younger sister.

“Enough. I will conduct my life as I please, Magnus. I wish to be kind to Cordelia and Kitty, something you have never understood. And I will trust whomever I deem worthy with their existence.” She rolled her eyes, scoffing. “Honestly, Frederick has known them for a fraction of the time you have and is ever more benevolent and kind.”

Magnus’s stare flared, and Charlotte had never seen her brother so furious in all her life.

“Need I remind you, Sister, that I am the one who was sending money to them all these years. And your precious Frederick?” Magnus reached into his coat pocket, procuring another bit of paper and throwing it at her feet. “Let us see how well you think of him when you learn the truth.”

“What is this?” She furrowed her brow, letting the paper sit on the floor because she wouldn’t entertain another one of Magnus’s stunts.

“See for yourself.” He nodded down at the floor. “Your husband is responsible for ruining a lady who was forced to become a nun.”

Charlotte’s stomach dropped through the floor, dread washing over her so quickly it nearly knocked her to the ground. She sucked in a shaky breath, reaching for the paper at her feet. When she held it open, Charlotte found a scandal sheet.

Her eyes roamed the page, and Magnus’s voice filled in the background, acting almost like a narrator to her thoughts.

“He left her with no other choice, and it is all laid out there in black and white. I told you previously, insisted, that your husband was a rake. And you yourself even mentioned it before your sudden marriage. You did not marry some reformed or misunderstood gentleman. He is a scoundrel and likely seeks to take our family for all that it’s worth by buttering you up.”

Fighting a swell of emotion that threatened to drown her, Charlotte shook her head, lowering the scandal sheet and crumpling it in her grip.

“You should know better than to trust these ridiculous things. They can print anything they want with no evidence.” Charlotte threw the paper to the side. “I don’t believe a word seen in these sheets, and nor should you. After everything that happened with Amelia, you still think they have any merit. That is utterly absurd.”

Magnus just glared at her. “After everything that happened with Amelia, you should remember that these rumors always come from somewhere, a nugget of truth. Do the investigation yourself. I will not bother you further.”

Moving so quickly that it shocked her, Magnus spun on his heel and left the room. Seconds passed, and then the door to the estate slammed, rocking the entire foundation. Charlotte stood in the drawing room alone, shaking from head to toe.

I do not believe it. I do not believe it. I do not believe it.