Reputation at Risk: a Regency Romance (A Chronicle of Misadventures Book 1) by Martha Keyes

Author:Martha Keyes [Keyes, Martha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paradigm Press
Published: 2024-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

The Mandevilles were a vivacious family. As they became more comfortable and more confident that they were not expected to keep quiet or simper, their laughter became more frequent.

Anthony watched with a growing feeling of envy. The Mandevilles’ interactions reminded him vaguely of the sort of relationship he had once enjoyed with his brothers. Silas’s escape to France had changed that, though. The scandal had rocked the family to its core, cracking the foundations. The secrets Anthony kept had only deepened that divide.

Once the refreshments had been eaten and everyone had returned indoors to rest and prepare for dinner, Anthony paced in his room. He had yet to speak in private with Charlotte, and it had become more apparent than ever during the time in the garden that they sorely needed to discuss their plan. They could not spend hours on end with her family and his aunt without such a thing.

He glanced at the door that led to her adjoining bedchamber. He could simply knock on it—it would be easier to be private with one another that way. But somehow, he doubted Charlotte would appreciate the presumption on his part—or the intimacy. He couldn’t forget the way she had looked when he had called her my love.

With a sigh, he turned his gaze from the adjoining door and strode to the one that led to the corridor. He would do things the proper way.

He opened his door and stopped short at the sound of Mrs. Mandeville’s voice nearby. He pulled the door most of the way closed again, stopping before it could make the click that would alert her to his presence.

“You look splendid, my dear,” Mrs. Mandeville said as she stepped out of Charlotte’s bedchamber and into the corridor. “No wonder Anthony whisked you off to that balcony t⁠—”

“Mama!” Charlotte’s scandalized whisper made Anthony smile.

Mrs. Mandeville begged forgiveness in hushed but unapologetic tones, and the sound of her light and retreating footsteps followed.

Anthony waited a few minutes until he was satisfied there was no danger of her returning, then he left his room to knock on Charlotte’s door softly. The door creaked, opening slightly, not having been properly shut.

Charlotte was seated upon her bed, a handkerchief in hand. Her head came around at the creaking, and she stared in consternation at him through eyes that glistened.

She turned her head aside. “Go away.” Even had he not seen the tears, the quality of her voice would have alerted him that she was crying.

After a moment’s hesitation and a quick glance down the empty corridor, Anthony slipped inside and shut the door, his heart feeling odd and heavy.

“Not until you tell me what is wrong.”

“Nothing. See?” She turned toward him with a forced smile, but her pink nose and cheeks, her glistening eyes, and the way her lashes stuck together betrayed her.

He strode over and took a seat on the bed beside her. “We are engaged, Charlotte. You should be able to tell me what ails you.”

She turned to look at him, her eyes brimful of tears but her brows turned down in frustration.

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