Page 9 of The Virgin Duchess (Unwanted Brides #2)

Chapter Six

C harlotte squeezed the fabric of her dress enough that her knuckles ached. Frederick was downstairs in the study, doing what she had no idea. Unfortunately, she was forced to go to him and interrupt.

Asking for permission had never been a strong suit of Charlotte’s. Everyone knew that she was a rather bold woman, as much as circumstances would allow, and she was also remarkably used to being turned down. Magnus was a tight-fisted man, not only with his finances.

While she understood that he was thinking of her protection, her reputation, it still infuriated Charlotte that her brother so often let his attachment to propriety take precedence over what might be morally right or better for someone emotionally.

Pragmatic to a fault was always how she described him.

As Charlotte reached the study door, she knocked gently on the gleaming wood. After a moment, Frederick’s response came, inviting her in.

Stepping inside, she proceeded to his desk, where Frederick sat with a stack of papers. Charlotte bowed her head ever so slightly. Best to keep him in a good mood, after all. She was about to ask him for something.

“Thank you for giving me a moment of your time. I wondered, dear husband,” Charlotte knew the phrase was a stretch, and Frederick clearly did as well, cocking a brow at her, “I wondered if I might ask you for something.”

He sat up straighter in his chair, and his brows rose. “Oh? And what might that be?”

“I would very much like to invite my friends over for a visit. Amelia, Ethel, and Selina.”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes, ready for Frederick to rebuff her request. She’d come prepared with several counterarguments, and she was ready to use any of them to be permitted at last to see her friends. Talking with them both was desperately needed as was the reprieve of being around those who she didn’t need to put on airs with.

“Of course. Whatever day you think is best. I suppose they could come today if they are available.”

Stopping short, Charlotte’s jaw dropped open, and she was forced to clamp it shut once more.

“Pardon?”

“You may invite them over today if you wish. I am unavailable during the daytime, so you will have the estate to yourself.”

It was impossible to keep the shock from her expression. Charlotte started speaking only to stumble over her words several times before she finally eked out a coherent sentence.

“You’re saying yes. Just like that.”

Frederick chuckled, setting down the quill. “I am your husband, not your overprotective brother. I do not see any issue with you enjoying the company of your friends. Particularly in the safety of the estate.”

When Charlotte had yet to respond, Frederick pulled out his pocket watch and considered the time. He stood from his seat, circling the desk to come stand before her in the center of the study.

“I promised to give you what you required to be comfortable. Your friends are very much considered a part of that.” He leaned forward, kissing the top of her head gently, the picture of a gentlemanly husband. “I will be out during the afternoon, though I would very much like to enjoy our second evening together. Yes?”

She was still at a loss, but Charlotte managed to nod her head as Frederick’s words jumbled through her mind. What’s more, she could feel the burn in her cheeks now, and it was terribly obvious that she was flushing.

Shaking herself, Charlotte blinked and focused all the more on actually speaking to her husband.

“That should be acceptable. I will inform my friends that my evening is occupied.”

“Excellent.” Frederick nodded. “I must be off, but please ask the staff to assist you with anything you need to make your friends’ visit more comfortable. They can prepare tea and scones for you in the drawing room as well as any additional refreshments.”

Without another word, Frederick sauntered to the door and exited the study, leaving Charlotte flabbergasted. So much so that it took several minutes for her to regain her composure and hurry on her way to the kitchen to enlist the help of the staff.

Her friends would be arriving shortly with news delivered of her invitation, and there was much to do.

“Charlotte,” Amelia said, practically rushing up to her and wrapping her in a hug. “How are you?”

Her tone sounded so severe, and Charlotte offered a tight chuckle. “I’m well. Thank you so much for coming. You as well, dear Selina.”

She turned to the Dowager Duchess, embracing her as well before gesturing for both women to join her on the sofa. As they took their spots, Charlotte lifted the teapot to pour them each a drink and then herself. Still, she looked to the third empty seat in the room and gestured with her head as she finished a sip.

“Where is Ethel?”

Selina scoffed. “Ugh, I do not wish to speak of it.”

Charlotte glanced at Amelia, who solemnly nodded before rolling her eyes. It was barely a moment before Selina set her tea down with a clatter and sighed.

“She will not be here for the Season at all! Can you believe her? What on earth could be keeping Ethel away?”

Frowning, Charlotte reached out and took Selina’s hand. While the two of them always had a more antagonistic friendship, Ethel and Selina were quite close. It was a rare day indeed that anyone saw one without the other.

“She didn’t tell you?” Charlotte asked, looking between Amelia and Selina.

“No. She said nothing. Only that she would not be available and to enjoy the Season without her. I am dreadfully worried! Has she been waylaid with injury or illness? Is she hidden away because she finds herself ruined by some rake? I know nothing!”

With a long exhale, Charlotte set herself sink further into the sofa, taking a sip of her tea. It was extremely unlikely that Ethel had been seduced by a rake or anyone for that matter. Unfortunately, that meant it was quite likely that she was ill or suffering from some malady. Worse, of course, was the way that Selina would no doubt gossip about it to anyone she could.

“It is downright cruel of her to leave me alone for the entirety of the Season. I shall never forgive her.”

Charlotte fought the urge to roll her eyes. Selina did have quite the way of making everything about her. While Ethel could be ill, the Dowager was concerned with being lonely.

Ugh, such a frivolous woman.

“I am worried over her,” Amelia added, finishing a drink of tea and setting her cup down. “And I am worried about you as well, Charlotte. This marriage…how are you handling it? Truly?”

“I am fine,” Charlotte spoke as encouragingly as she could. “The marriage arrangements were carried out with precaution. Frederick has been very amenable to inviting you both over whenever I wish, and he allows me the space to do what I enjoy.”

Squinting, Amelia regarded her. “Is that so? Still, it was hardly expected that he would propose. None of us had any inclination that he might do so. We have never heard you speak of him before this.”

Something stronger than tea sounded quite good at the moment, but without that option, Charlotte simply took a hearty sip and then sighed. When she looked up at her friends, Amelia’s brow was so heavily furrowed while Selina was caught gazing into her beverage.

“It was kept quiet. I wasn’t sure myself if it would ever evolve into something. Why lay out false hopes for anyone, especially myself? I am pleasantly surprised and glad to be wrong. I assure you.”

“Charlotte,” Amelia reached for her hand, taking it in a firm grip and giving it a squeeze, “you’re acting as if everything is as smooth as silk. No marriage is that perfect, especially not in the beginning. So, please. This is your time to talk with us. Use it to your benefit.”

She chuckled, silently grumbling about how insightful Amelia was. It didn’t help that the woman had been in a rather precarious arrangement with her own husband before they toiled through the process of falling in love. Amelia also knew her better than anyone.

If she could not relieve a bit of the stress with her, then there was no one else.

“It is quite the adjustment. I will admit that.” Charlotte smiled, shaking her head. “He has been…persistent about having an heir. I have instructed him that I am not quite ready and might never be, but he has taken to visiting me each evening in an effort to change my mind.”

Both women gawked at her, and Charlotte barked out a laugh. “Must you stare at me like that?”

Amelia was the first to reply. “Apologies, Charlotte. I…we are only surprised. It isn’t uncommon to be unsure about providing an heir, but…well, I shall admit to my own surprise that he is…still wooing you. You are married, after all.”

“Do you truly wish to avoid laying with your husband for the entirety of your marriage?” Selina looked as if she could not be more horrified. “Is that even acceptable?”

Sputtering, Charlotte began to squirm in her seat. This all felt too uncomfortable, and it was honestly the last thing on her mind. Frederick was not her concern. She had other, much more pressing things to be worried about. That was precisely why she’d agreed to all this.

So that she could keep tending to her responsibilities.

“I’m not sure. Frederick has had a reputation circle him, and I find that it is harder to ignore than I once thought. What if I am just another in a line of conquests? This one going so far as to wed me first before I shall be left divorced and ruined.”

“My brother would never do that. You are wrong about his character.”

The entire room was startled as Rose’s voice cut through the private conversation. Charlotte stood up from her seat, nearly knocking her teacup to the floor.

“Rose?” She gazed, confused, at her sister-in-law, shaking her head. “Why have you…I am sorry. I apologize for speaking ill about your brother. Though, I’ll admit that I?—”

Charlotte stopped herself. She had believed that Frederick and Rose were cross with each other, but it appeared very likely that she’d misinterpreted the situation, letting her experience with her own brother color her judgment.

“I am sorry.”

Rose stood straight as a pin, her eyes leveling Charlotte with a stern glare that was palpable. After a moment, she cleared her throat, blinking away the fury that had built in her blood. It was as if Rose’s sense finally gripped her, and she wished to avoid doing something she might regret concerning her brother’s wife.

“His reputation is heavily skewed, Your Grace.” Rose used her title still, clearly uncomfortable with calling her Charlotte. “I should hope that you are aware of that, considering you are now his wife.”

Tension stiffened Charlotte’s spine, and a terrible grip squeezed her stomach. She’d spoken too freely and let her fears push her into saying something she shouldn’t.

“Rose, truly, I apologize. I had not intended?—”

The young woman shook her head, glancing down and signaling an end to the discussion.

“Let it be. I will not speak of this to him, and nor should you.”

With that, Rose departed the drawing room, likely back to her own bedroom, where she appeared to spend the majority of her day. Charlotte sagged into herself, plopping down onto the sofa with a thump.

Dammit.