A Perfect Engagement by Karla Kratovil

Author:Karla Kratovil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
ISBN: 9781956387315
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2022-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Charlotte blindly turned left and raced down the corridor toward the front stairs. She needed to escape to her room. Tears she could barely hold back, gathered in the corners of her eyes. She glanced over her shoulder. Would Daniel chase after her?

“Charlotte, watch out!”

She skidded to a halt just before crashing into Susanna. Susanna, Olivia, and Sophia stood staring at her with concerned expressions. “Why on earth are you running down the hall?” Susanna asked.

But Charlotte had no words to explain. Laughter filtered out of the drawing room, and she flinched. She couldn’t go back in there. Would everyone know what had just happened? It was as though she had been turned inside out, with all her feelings on display.

Sophia peered carefully at Charlotte, confirming her suspicions. “Mussed hair, swollen lips, panic in her eyes. I think you have been kissed.”

“What?” Susanna exclaimed with a grin. “Where is Hawksridge? That devil.”

“Are you running from him? Did he hurt you?” Olivia grabbed her hand. “Charlotte?”

Charlotte finally found her voice. “No, no, he didn’t hurt me. It was wonderful.” She closed her eyes. All the feelings the kiss had let loose within her swirled, making her head spin. What had she done? “But I’m an awful person. It shouldn’t be him.”

“Charlotte, you’re not making any sense,” Susanna said.

“Let’s go upstairs to my rooms. Please, I can’t talk out here.” Charlotte headed for the staircase.

On the second step, she looked back toward the library one more time, and she could see Daniel’s shadowy shape standing in the doorway. He took a step forward, but she shook her head. She didn’t want to face him now. She needed time to think. She turned her back to him and continued up the stairs.

When they had reached the sanctuary of her rooms, Charlotte flung herself down on the settee. She couldn’t believe that kiss had just happened. She brought her fingertips to her lips. Not just a kiss, a revelation. Being in Daniel’s arms had felt so right. But why did it have to be him? She should be kissing Hawksridge. Did this make her an adulteress? She hadn’t even said her vows, and she was already in the arms of another man. Charlotte buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.

“Charlotte, please tell us why you’re upset. What’s happened?” Sophia asked.

“I kissed him,” she mumbled from behind her hands.

“What’s so bad about that? Was the kissing terrible? Does he slobber?” Susanna asked.

Charlotte giggled through her tears but did not raise her head from her hands. Daniel definitely did not slobber. His lips had been warm and firm, and so had his chest and his thighs and the large bulge in the front of his trousers. She could have stayed tucked in his strong arms forever.

“Charlotte, there is nothing wrong with kissing your intended. No matter what your mother may have said,” Susanna said.

“He’s not my intended,” Charlotte muttered.

“Pardon? What did you say?”

Charlotte finally lowered her hands and looked up at her friends.

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