The Seduction of Lady Charity by Maggi Andersen

Author:Maggi Andersen [Andersen, Maggi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-04-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

As Charity walked down the corridor of her aunt’s house, Robin’s comment that she was like a white rose still rankled. What kind of rose did he think Lady Kitty would be? she wondered. A more vibrant color? It was her fault. She’d never revealed that passionate side of herself to him that she poured into her art. She hadn’t wanted to give him false hope, and now it would be extremely inappropriate when he was about to marry.

“You look tired, my dear.” Her father looked up from a book when she entered Aunt Christabel’s drawing room. “These sittings of yours are quite improper.” He leaned back in the chair to study her. “Perhaps I should accompany you.”

“You’re more than welcome. I doubt you’d enjoy it much, although we did have an interesting discussion about roses and Shakespeare.”

“An odd coupling. Then, no, I doubt I would. But I must say I like Harwood. If you two decide to tie the knot, I’d be very pleased.”

“We are friends, Father. Robin has a lady in mind for his duchess.”

Was she unwise to paint his portrait? It was difficult to capture someone she’d been friends with for a long time without being accused of lacking objectivity. She flipped open her sketchpad and gazed at her drawings of Robin’s face. It wouldn’t be embellishment to render him a handsome duke, for he was one, with strength in that chin and a generous mouth.

Perhaps she made too much of his marriage proposal. It might have been a spur-of-the-moment thing when he faced such a challenge. It appeared he’d taken her at her word and moved on. As he should of course. She supposed her pride was hurt by him transferring his affections to another so quickly. Drawing him today had awakened some inexplicable longings in her, his ability to laugh at himself, the humor in his fine eyes when he teased her, the tenor of his voice when he laughed, which made her laugh too. She loved their conversations, and enjoyed being with him, and would be sad when their friendship was at an end. But he’d made it quite plain that he did not approve of her portrait painting, and she was not about to abandon her career, not for Robin. Not for anyone.

“Are you listening to me, Charity?”

“Sorry, Father.”

“I asked if we will meet the lady in question tomorrow night.”

“I expect she’ll attend. Has a letter come from Mama today?”

“No.” He climbed to his feet. “Not today.”

“Where’s Aunt Christabel?”

“Gone to visit her dressmaker. She’s having a new gown fashioned for the party.”

Charity was pleased. One of them at least would enjoy the evening. She dreaded meeting Lady Kitty and suffered the sudden desire to return home to Tunbridge Wells. At least there, she could concentrate on her work.

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