A Lady to Desire by Bethany Sefchick

Author:Bethany Sefchick [Sefchick, Bethany]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781387816859
Amazon: B07DD39HH6
Goodreads: 40643971
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 2018-05-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Silently fuming, Charlotte allowed her mount to pick its way along the narrow path without much guidance from her. After all, this horse likely knew the path to the ruins far better than she did and was probably far more clear-headed about this endeavor at the moment.

How dare Francis follow her and Noah to the ruins! Especially after the way they had parted last evening!

Except that he really hadn’t followed them, she admitted to herself. His horse had been gone from the stables long before she and Noah had even made the decision to ride out together. Charlotte had overheard two of the grooms discussing Mercury’s rather foul temperament as they had saddled her mare. Francis had also been in the clearing long before they had arrived, likely speaking with Dr. Longford, for she and Snowly had passed the physician – who had mentioned that he was returning to Havenhurst – on their journey toward the clearing.

Which meant that Francis had been out here first – and Noah had likely known it somehow or at least guessed. Which was probably why Noah had suggested this trip to the ruins in the first place, as a ploy to spite his rival. That was why she was here, after all – to spite Francis and, through her actions, let him know that he did not control her and she could do as she pleased. Just as Noah had likely brought her here to annoy Francis even further as the two men seemed to be in a competition over her – and Noah seemed very determined to win. And she was the prize he wished to capture.

Charlotte wasn’t certain how she felt about that.

Or perhaps she was reading entirely too much into the whole situation, and Noah hadn’t known that Francis would be in this blasted field. In either case, however, Noah had attempted to goad Francis into a display of temper just now. He had not succeeded, though that spoke more to Francis’ character than to Noah’s.

She should be cross with the earl for his behavior, but she wasn’t. She was, however weary for she had not slept well last night either and it had nothing to do with the storms that had rumbled across the estate. Rather than sleeping, she had been thinking of Francis. In fact, he was all she could think about.

Charlotte had remembered the way he kissed her so passionately and the way his lips tasted, sweet like the most exotic of wines. She thought of the way he held her so very tightly against him, allowing her to feel the proof of his desire but not pushing her farther than she was comfortable with. She also thought of all they had shared over the last year and had begun to wonder if she, too, did not bear some of the blame for the current state of their courtship.

After all, she could have told Francis about her father. She still could, and probably should have long before now.

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