She turned so quickly that James had no time to block the slap that she laid across his cheek. “Get out of here! Get out and never come back!”
James looked around at the children who had come to the kitchen door to stare at them. Josh called, “Do you need help, Charlotte?”
“No, Josh,” Miss Browne said as she jutted her chin out proudly. “Lord Stanhope was just leaving.”
James sneered at the woman then elbowed through the gawking children. He left the vile house and spit upon its door. “Back to the inn,” he grumbled as he climbed into the carriage.
Miss Browne was a fool to turn him down. Even the life of a mistress was better than what she was enduring. Let her rot in that house with those brats.
*
After Lord Stanhope left, she spoke to the children to make sure they were unharmed. She had been a fool to let the man in, and she shook her head at herself. It was clear that Lord Stanhope believed the rumours about her.
That the man would come to her in her lowest hour to try and take advantage of her was all she needed to know about him. Charlotte also hated herself for her not seeing through his charm sooner. She shook her head as she watched the children playing in the backyard.
For a moment she had entertained his offer. She had actually been thinking of accepting. After all, she was not likely to get another.
Her mind went to Lord Easterly. She had hoped perhaps that their sharing a kiss might have meant something, but that hope was fading. The scandal had done away with any chance of finding out an answer to that question.
She certainly did not wish any ill fortune upon Lord Easterly and being around her would definitely invite more scandal.
Charlotte sighed. “What was that sigh all about?”
Charlotte turned to see Mrs. Wilson just inside the door. “Oh, I did not know you had made it back.”
“There were carriage tracks outside,” Mrs. Wilson said. “Was that your clothing being delivered?”
Charlotte shook her head and stepped inside the kitchen. “It was Lord Stanhope,” she said as she rubbed her arm.
Mrs. Wilson frowned. “Is everything all right? I do not know a Lord Stanhope. Is he from London?”
“Yes and yes, he is from London,” Charlotte replied. “He came to propose marriage to me, in a way.”
Mrs. Wilson guided her over to the table where they both sat down. “I would say congratulations, but it does not sound as if it was the type of proposal you wanted.”
“He tried to kiss me and when I refused his advances, he called me harlot,” Charlotte whispered. “I had no idea he was like that.”
Mrs. Wilson grasped her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Often people do not show their true colours right away. I am so sorry I was not here. I daresay he would not have got up to such as that had I been in the house.”
“I slapped him,” Charlotte admitted as she felt her cheeks flush with heat.
Mrs. Wilson snorted. “Good on you. Sounds like that particular lord could do with some old-fashioned punishment.”
“I hope he does not tell Lord Easterly,” Charlotte mumbled.
Mrs. Wilson assured her, “I doubt he tells anyone at all. Men are very curious creatures. They do not like to admit that they were bested by those weaker than them.”
“Good.” Charlotte covered her face and shook her head. “I thought things would calm down and get back to normal here. I fear the scandal has followed me.”
Mrs. Wilson clucked her tongue. “We are not completely cut off from the world outside, but you know how little stock people around here put in such things as London gossip.”
“I have friends in London, or I did,” Charlotte said with a sigh. “I wonder how they view me now.”
Mrs. Wilson arched an eyebrow at her. “Friends are friends no matter what, child. You should write to them and you might be pleasantly surprised by how many are unmoved by rumours.”
“Maybe,” Charlotte agreed. She did not know if she truly would, but it certainly could not hurt her situation any. Charlotte shook her head. “I just thought of Lord Stanhope and Miss Easterly. I do hope he does not try to pawn himself off as some gentleman. Miss Easterly and I might not be the friends that we were, but I do not wish her any harm.”
Mrs. Wilson sighed and gave Charlotte’s hand a squeeze. “I cannot say if he will or not, but it is good of you to think of your friend.”
“I do not know if I can truly get her to listen. Perhaps I could convince Lord Easterly that Lord Stanhope is not who he claims. Surely he would want the best for his sister.” Charlotte nodded as she came to a decision. She would go tomorrow and let Lord Easterly know about Lord Stanhope’s conduct.
*
For the second time in as many days, Lord Stanhope was in Graham’s study. This time the man seemed to be intent on drinking himself to an early grave and, frankly, if that was his aim, then Graham could oblige. He re-filled Stanhope’s glass and handed it back to him.
“So kind,” Lord Stanhope enthused before taking a long drink. “Lovely, lovely.”
Graham had made his stance on marriage to his sister very plain, so he knew the man could not be here for that. There was little to do while Amanda was currently not speaking to him. James laughed and slapped his chair arm.
“Say, that Miss Browne,” Lord Stanhope said. The man’s eyebrows waggled at Graham. “I had no idea she was so easy with her affections.” He laughed and slapped the arm of his chair again. “Mind you, I should have liked to be first, but I am not opposed to being second.”
Graham looked at him with disgust. “Mind yourself, Lord Stanhope. I think you have had too much to drink.” Graham corked the bottle and set it aside.
Lord Stanhope protested, “After the couple of days that I have had I should be allowed to drink all I want.”
“I do not care what sort of day you have had. You have no right to speak of such things. You have the audacity to ask for my sister’s hand in marriage and then turn around and talk of another’s lady’s virtues to me?” Graham clenched his teeth. He was trying his best to push the anger he felt down. It would do little good to take it out on the man, and no doubt only make things worse.
Lord Stanhope raised his arms, which wavered as he did so due to the drink he had imbibed. “Now, now, Lord Easterly, I did not mean to get you wound up. I fear the drink has got to me, but I would never insult your sister.”
Graham eyed the man with disbelief. “Is that so? Then what do you calling talking of Miss Browne in such a manner?”
Lord Stanhope sighed and waved his hand at Graham as if dismissing his anger. “Come off it, man. Have you never had a mistress?” Lord Stanhope’s laughter rose as he watched Graham’s face. “See, I can tell by your face that you need to loosen up.”
Graham had heard all he could stand. He slammed his hand on the desk as he rose. “No, Lord Stanhope, I have never had a mistress, nor will I ever. The utter disregard you have shown here today proves one thing to me. You are not worthy of my sister. I will never consent for you to marry her. Do I make myself clear?”
Lord Stanhope was already rising, his hands held out as if to ward off Graham’s words. “I did not mean what I said. I was jesting.”
“That is not the sort of thing a gentleman jests about, Lord Stanhope,” Graham went over to the door. “Please leave.”
Lord Stanhope stood, slightly wobbling but firmly planted. “You cannot kick me out. Do you know who I am?”
“I am beginning to see who you are, Lord Stanhope,” Graham growled as he gave the cord by the door a yank.
A moment passed before Victor arrived. “What is it you need a hand with, Sir?” Graham waved his hand at the drunken gentleman in front of his desk. “Oh, I see.”
Lord Stanhope moved backward as Graham grabbed his arm. “Unhand me at once!”
“I will gladly unhand you if you walk out of the door as a proper gentleman would,” Graham said with honesty.
Lord Stanhope sputtered, “Yo
u cannot kick me out. My brother is an earl!”
“But you are not,” Graham reminded him, and he bodily hauled the young man toward the door.
Victor picked up the slack and grabbed Lord Stanhope’s other arm. They escorted him, protesting the whole way, down the hallway. Maids peered around corners and eyed them with concern. One of the lads from the stable came and Graham gladly handed over the drunken young dandy.
He followed them to the door. The two men shoved Lord Stanhope out and the man stumbled but managed to keep his footing down the steps. The young man spun around and growled, “You cannot treat me this way!”
“I did,” Graham assured him. “And I will do worse if you ever show your face here again.”
Lord Stanhope looked from Graham to the two men with him and left in a huff toward his carriage. Graham was certain that he had not heard the last of that particular dandy. Victor and the stable lad left with Graham’s hearty thanks.
Edward arrived just as Lord Stanhope was driving off. “Missed all the fun, eh?”
“It would appear so,” Graham said with a smile. “Never fear. I think he shall be back.”
Edward rubbed his hands together. “If he does dare step foot on the property the lads and I will be more than happy to make sure he does not make it to the door.”
“I would consider that a kindness indeed.” Graham patted Edward on the back. “For now, let us hope things are quiet and that my sister did not witness her beau being thrown out like the bathwater.”
*
Charlotte did not like the idea of going to Berwick Manor, but she felt she had to, so with Mrs. Wilson’s permission she borrowed their horse and left early in the morning to see Lord Easterly. She mused that at least she would not have to deal with the children for a while.
The ride was a fair one, but not as bad as trying to ride to London, and she would be back at the vicarage by the end of the day. She simply wished she could stamp down her nervousness. She had only spoken to Lord Easterly briefly since they had left the inn, and now she was going to tell him that his sister’s beloved was a scoundrel and rogue. This was not the conversation she had hoped to be having with the man.
The sound of a carriage made Charlotte stop. She saw the carriage with Lord Stanhope go by, but fortunately he did not see her. She whispered, “I hope I am not too late.
Once the carriage was well past, she urged her horse on. As she entered the estate, one of the stable boys ran over to her and took the horse’s reins. “Miss, good to see you well,” he said with a grin.
Charlotte smiled as she accepted his hand to aid her in dismounting. “Is Lord Easterly in?”
“I should say so,” the lad said with a laugh. Charlotte did not catch the joke, but she smiled politely. “He’s inside. Go right on in.”
Charlotte thanked him and hurried toward the house as she adjusted her hat. She knocked and was greeted by the doorman. “Is Lord Easterly in his study?”
“I think he is yes,” the doorman said.
Charlotte hurried off, not waiting for the man to say more. She knew it was not terribly proper to see the man in his study, but it was his place of business and therefore it was not totally private. She knocked on the door and heard a gruff “Enter”.
Charlotte hesitated before she opened the door and slipped into the room. Lord Easterly had his back to her. She cleared her throat and he finally took note of who had entered. “Miss Browne.” She could hear the surprise clearly in his voice. “I did not expect to see you.”
“I honestly did not expect to be here,” Charlotte replied. She came to stand in front of his desk. She felt tears well up, and she had no idea where they sprang from. “I came because I have to tell you something about Lord Stanhope.”
Lord Easterly drew in a deep breath. “You just missed him.”
“I know. I saw his carriage,” Charlotte said with a sigh. “Lord Easterly, he is not who he claims to be. I say this more for you than your sister, but he is not worthy of her. He visited me under false pretences and, well, he offered to marry me.”
Charlotte did not know whether she should say anything more about the kiss or not. Would it matter? All that mattered was that Lord Easterly knew that Lord Stanhope was not as genuine as he claimed.
Lord Easterly drew in a sharp breath. “And when did he do this?”
“Yesterday,” Charlotte said. “I could not get away to tell you until now. I turned him down.” Charlotte choked up. She wanted, needed Lord Easterly to believe her.
Lord Easterly watched her silently for a long moment before he said. “I see. I assure you that he is not marrying my sister.”
“What?” Charlotte stared at Lord Easterly, unaware of what she should think of this development.
He raked a hand through his dark-blond hair and sighed. “He asked for permission to marry her, but I did not consent.”
Charlotte looked down at her feet. “Are you sure that he will really leave her?”
“Is this about the proposal, because you do still have your dowry,” Lord Easterly said as if reminding her.
The words stung Charlotte. This was not about the proposal, nor any dowry. The very fact that the dowry was still on his mind was proof enough that Lord Easterly was not going to marry her. Yet in his kindness, he was still giving her some means to find a match.
Charlotte wiped tears from her eyes. He did not deserve her scandal or her guilt. “I had not thought of the dowry. I was just concerned that Amanda and I might fall victim to a lie. No matter what she has done, I would never see that happen to her. He was quite forward, and I thought it was probably due to the rumour.”
Lord Easterly’s eyes narrowed. “Did he do something to you?”
“I handled myself,” Charlotte assured him. “I, well, I felt you should know in case he was still hoping to marry Amanda. I do not know that I would trust his words.”
Lord Easterly came over and wiped a tear off her cheek. “I am sorry that he has hurt you, but I will do all I can to make this right.”
Charlotte looked up at him and tried to blink away the tears. “You are always doing what is right.” She turned to leave then she turned back. “No matter what you think, Lord Easterly, you do not deserve to hold guilt for anything in the past or present. You are a good man.”
She left trying to feel proud of herself. She had delivered her message and made sure that Amanda would be safe from any duplicitous schemes. There was a lot to be proud of in her accomplishment.
Yet, Charlotte did not feel proud. She felt hollow and oddly bitter. For once she had found an honest, good man, and he proved too good for her.
Had she lost so much of herself in her adventure to London? Perhaps the cracks had always been there, but it took the glitter of society to reflect them back at her. Charlotte squared her shoulders.
“I am going to make you proud of me, Father,” Charlotte whispered. “I promise.”
Chapter 10
After Miss Browne had left, Graham sat for a long while in his study. Thoughts of a bitter nature to his chagrin swirled in his head. The idea that Miss Browne might truly use her dowry to marry Lord Stanhope was one of dismay, yet he could do little to persuade the woman not to. What right did he have to do so?
Graham closed his eyes and thought back to the times with Miss Browne. Had he imagined her affection and jealousy? Certainly, he had not imagined the kiss, but perhaps she had thought better of the risks. He could not fault her for that.
Under the Seductive Lady's Charm: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 19