Beauty and the Bounder by Jessica Cale

Author:Jessica Cale [Cale, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Seb was just stepping out of the florist’s the next morning when he caught a glimpse of copper-colored hair shining brighter than a new penny across the lane. He’d only seen one person with that color before; rich as it was bright, it could never be replicated with henna, though many a lady had tried. There was only one woman it could be.

Apparently feeling his dumbfounded gaze, Charlotte Halfpenny turned and looked him full in the face. She couldn’t help but gape, taking in his changed appearance as he noticed hers. He’d played opposite her Juliet, Helena, and Lady MacBeth; she’d buried him as Antigone and married him as Eurydice. They’d worked together for so many years, nothing she could wear ought to have surprised him, but he was wholly unprepared to see her dressed as a countess in truth. Her indigo cape was as theatrical as one would expect of such a distinguished actress, but he rather suspected the gold embroidery upon this one was real. The most shocking aspect of her appearance, however, was the pram.

Her eyebrows drew together quizzically. “Seb? Is that you?”

She had been his closest friend before he’d left with the seventy-sixth; he could hardly ignore her. Perhaps it was early enough that no one would see them talking or hear what she’d called him.

A curtain twitched from a window just behind her. No such luck.

Nevertheless, Seb bowed.

Charlotte gasped and clapped her hands in girlish delight. She rushed across the slippery stones as quickly as she could with the pram, embracing him like a long-lost brother. “I thought I’d never see you again.” She hugged him like nothing had changed and no one was watching. And why shouldn’t she? She was an actress who’d married an earl. What could they say about her they hadn’t said already?

Seb, on the other hand, stood to lose a great deal. “It is so good to see you looking well, Charlotte. I beg your pardon—Lady Somerton.”

She playfully swatted him. “You know me far too well for that nonsense. Look at you! That coat is divine. Truly, darling, you’ve never looked better. What’s the occasion?” Her eyes lit up. “Is this for a part?” she asked conspiratorially. “Are you coming back? Please tell me you’re coming back. I can have a word with Rob—”

Her words came out so quickly, she must have missed the horror on his face. Surely it would be frowned upon to hold a countess’s mouth shut. “I beg of you, Lotte.” He lowered his voice. “Might we speak in private?”

Sensing intrigue, Charlotte immediately closed her mouth and nodded. “Certainly. Our rooms are just opposite. Would you care to join me for a cup of coffee? Tea, perhaps? Anything other than that rancid pump water.” Her smile faded. “Oh, heavens. You’re not ill, are you?”

“Almost certainly mad, but not ill, no.” He cleared his throat and took a step backward to put some space between them. God only knew what this exchange must look like. “I would be honored to join you for tea.

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