Rescued by the Viscount

Author:Anne Herries
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Charlotte twirled before her mirror, admiring the gown of pale rose-pink silk that Mama had had made for her dance that evening. She was looking her best and the smile on her face was free of shadows, because the news of Lord Harding’s sudden collapse after being accused of cheating at cards had swept through London society. He had been taken out of London by his servants and was still unwell, though he had not died and no one was quite certain what harm the seizure had done him. Indeed, after the first buzz of gossip few people were interested. He had never been a popular man and now he was seen as being beyond the pale.

Mr Patterson had also left London for his own estates, which meant that Charlotte was no longer frightened of being imminently ruined by scandal. Whatever gossip there had been had effectively been quashed, because no one wished to be associated with a man who had been caught cheating. Now that his perfidy had been revealed there were many ready to come forward and accuse him of having cheated them; they had always suspected him, it seemed, and the general opinion was that Jack had done society a good turn by unmasking the rogue.

Some ladies spoke sympathetically of his having suffered a seizure, but most were inclined to think it was his own fault for having behaved so badly. Charlotte could only be glad that the threat of scandal had been lifted, though she was not so hard hearted as to wish the man dead or indeed permanently disabled. She was merely thankful that he was no longer in town.

Since that night, Jack had spent most of his time escorting her and her mama to balls, soirées, drives and picnics while the weather kept fine, also visits to Vauxhall Gardens and the theatre. The day of their wedding had been announced as the first Thursday of September, and once Charlotte’s dance was over, Jack had promised to take her down to his grandfather’s estate for a few weeks.

‘Grandfather is looking forward to meeting you, as is Mama, of course,’ Jack told her. ‘We shall hold a ball at Ellingham for all our neighbours and friends, but where would you prefer the wedding to be—at your home or at Grandfather’s estate?’

‘I think Papa would like to hold the wedding at home,’ Charlotte said. ‘But it will be smaller than a wedding your family might host. I do not mind, for I have only a few friends and relatives to ask.’

‘And I have too many.’ Jack smiled ruefully. ‘However, if we invite them to the ball and entertain them for a few weeks, we may be forgiven for having a smaller affair at your home, my love.’

Papa was consulted, but thought it might be better if the wedding was held at Ellingham after all and so it was agreed. Charlotte would stay at the estate for a month to meet Jack’s family, but after

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