A Gentleman Ought to Know by Jane Ashford

Author:Jane Ashford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2023-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Charlotte had expected her mother to follow along as she returned the tray to the kitchen, but when she set it down, Mama was not there. She didn’t see her again until the mail arrived later that day, bringing letters from two of her school friends. Mama dropped them on Charlotte’s writing desk with a smile, saying, “I knew you would want to see these as soon as possible.”

“Oh yes. Thank you.” They came from Sarah and Harriet. Charlotte reached for a letter opener to slit the pages.

Her mother lingered at the door of her bedchamber. “This morning, when I came into the parlor, you and Glendarvon looked—”

“He was glad to have the tea,” Charlotte interrupted. “He had a dreadful headache.”

“And you kindly provided it.” The irony in Mama’s voice was unmistakable, making the point that medicinal tea and ministering care were not characteristic of Charlotte.

“I felt sorry for him.”

“Ah.”

“He is a guest in our house.”

“Indeed.”

“Do stop sounding portentous, Mama.”

“Did I? So you took him tea, and then you talked of horses.”

Charlotte couldn’t help but look startled since their conversation had been about something quite different. Immediately, she knew she’d revealed too much.

“So he said to me, at least,” her mother went on. “You discussed the foal you saved together.”

“He’s been very interested in Rigel since then.”

“Naturally.” Her mother gazed at her. “You do see that he could well be a serious suitor, Charlotte.”

“I don’t think—”

Her mother held up a finger to stop her. “He seeks you out. If he sees you walk by a window, he generally goes out into the garden to join you.” She raised another finger. “He gazes at you during dinner, until he remembers he shouldn’t stare. And then he looks self-conscious.” A third finger went up. “He praises your intelligence and discernment to your brothers.”

Charlotte hadn’t heard that last one. A palpable thrill went through her. “Does he?”

“Yes, he does, my dear. And Cecil says—”

“I wish my brothers would mind their own affairs!”

“It is natural for them to want to watch out for you.”

“It’s more of a glowering hover, Mama. I don’t do that to them.”

“You didn’t tell Stanley last season that Miss Grillon was mean-spirited?”

“That was different. I overheard her saying some quite cruel things. And then she behaved so differently when gentlemen were present.”

Her mother waved this aside. “You have been spending a good deal of time with the marquess.”

“We are investigating what happened to his parents.”

Her mother could not hide a wince. “I think it is more than that,” she said.

Part of Charlotte wanted to admit it. The desire that flared up startled her with its strength. But she didn’t want her family interfering.

“You seem to like him,” said her mother.

Charlotte couldn’t lie. So she said nothing.

“If you do, you should encourage him. Not put him off as you have others.”

“I never—”

“Mr. Scrope.”

“He was unctuous and a dreadful hypochondriac!”

“He was an exemplary young man. With a respectable fortune.”

“He once talked to me about the symptoms of consumption for nearly half an hour!”

“He was kind and amenable.

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