“We?”
He nodded. “Yes. Reeves and I. And Lord William is going to help as well.”
“He is?” she raised her eyebrows. That was interesting. Ever since William had gone away to Eton when they were thirteen, he had maintained a careful distance from them, as was expected, of course. When she had asked Philip to speak to William on her behalf, she hadn’t expected him to take much notice.
Philip’s voice lowered. “You know he still cares about us, Charlotte, in his own way.”
“Perhaps,” she hedged.
“Then why have they let Charlotte go?” her mother said from across the room, where she was busy preparing another cup of tea for Philip.
“Perhaps, Mother, Philip and I should go for a walk,” Charlotte said, and her mother turned with her hands on her hips.
“I’m not sure why I cannot be part of this conversation. I am worried for you, Charlotte, that is all.”
“I know, Mother,” Charlotte said with a smile. “But all will be well, one way or another. I promise you that.”
Her mother finally nodded, and then waved her hand in the air. “Very well. Go for your walk, but if you need anything from me or from your father, be sure to tell us.”
“Of course,” Charlotte said, placing a kiss on her mother’s cheek before making for the door. “I always will.”
Her heart seemed to flip over in her chest as they walked out the door and into the crisp, fresh morning air. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, more so in order to push off the inevitable of having to turn to him and not jump into his arms, not talk about a future together, not remember what it was like to be together. It was torturous.
“Charlotte.” His voice was soft, sensual, and was like a caress in itself, wrapping around her and drawing her in close.
“Philip,” she said brusquely in reply, but she didn’t turn around to look at him; instead, she gazed out at the field beyond. All of the land belonged to the Duke of Devon, of course. The truth was, as nonchalant as she had been when speaking to her parents, she didn’t want to leave. Not forever. This was home. This was her family. This was her love, standing behind her.
She felt a touch on her arm, and she turned to look at Philip over her shoulder. His jaw was set rigidly, his lips pressed in a firm line, his eyes dark and insistent as he stared at her.
He slowly turned her around until she was facing him, looking up into his eyes.
“You were wrong.”
That wasn’t what she had expected to hear. She narrowed her eyes at him, suddenly back to the Philip she had known her entire life, the one who was always there for her, who teased her and tempted her with just a touch.
“About what?” she asked, nearly breathless, and she swallowed hard as she attempted to compose herself.
“About me,” he said, his voice lowering, the puff of his breath on her nose sending shivers down to her toes. “I know I’ve been a flirt, and I know that my actions have hurt you, Charlotte. I cannot tell you how awful it feels to know that something I have done has caused you pain. For I don’t want to see you hurt. Not now, and not ever. I never meant to do anything to wrong you, but I see how it must have looked to you. I promise you, Charlotte, that I will never do that again. For the truth is, you are the only woman I see. You’re the only woman that I have any thoughts or any feelings for. I want you to be the one I wake up beside, even if it is on a narrow cot in a tiny room at Hartland Abby. I’m afraid I cannot offer you much. Certainly not what you deserve. I’ll likely spend my life as a servant. But I can offer you my heart. You think I’m not ready to be married, Charlotte, and the truth is, I’m not.”
Her heart skipped. It had all been going so well. She had thought he was going to tell her that he loved her, thought that he would—
“I’m not ready to marry anyone but you. I love you, Charlotte, more than anything else. Marry me – please?”
She wanted to shout yes and leap into his arms, but there was so much more to consider. She had to allow rational thought to invade, despite the joy that was soaring about within her heart and her mind.
“But what of the fact that you will always work at Hartland Abby, while I will have to find another position?”
“I told you – we are going to make things right,” he said, placing a finger on her nose for a moment. “But if something goes wrong and we are not able to do so, then I will leave with you. Yes, I have the utmost loyalty to Lord William, but my first loyalty is to you.”
Charlotte was already shaking her head. “I cannot ask you to leave Hartland, nor to leave Lord William, for me.”
“If that is the way it must be, I would not hesitate,” he said. “I would rather be anywhere with you than at Hartland alone. Whatever comes next, you and I will approach it together.”
She leaned into him with a smile. “I like the sound of that.”
“Will you, then?” he asked, his eyebrows raised, his eyes searching hers with hope. “Will you marry me?”
“Of course I will,” she said, finally doing what she had longed to since he had appeared in the doorway, as she jumped into his arms, and he whirled her around in a circle. “I love you, Philip.”
“And I you,” he said, his lips finally meeting hers. It had been but a few days, and yet it felt so long since they had last touched.
When they finally broke apart, she was nearly breathless, and she looked up at him with an exhilarated laugh.
“We best plan something soon, shall we?”
He nodded. “We’ll have the banns read immediately,” he promised. “Then by the time all is settled, we should be able to be married.”
“Married,” she sighed before narrowing her gaze. She wanted nothing more in the world than to enjoy this time together, but there was much else to determine first. “Tell me, what do you have planned?”
His eyes gleamed.
“Here’s what we are going to do.”
Chapter 12
Philip had just walked through the kitchen door when he felt a swat on his arm, and he turned to find his mother standing there with her hands on her hips, brandishing her wooden spoon.
“Ouch!” he said. “What was that for?”
“For running off without telling me. For pretending you were going to marry Charlotte just so you could get closer to the Draper girl. And, mostly, for letting Charlotte leave.”
Philip rubbed his arm. “I know, Mother, I know.” He sighed, rolling his eyes. “You were right. It was a stupid plan. But all is well now.”
He filled her in on all that had occurred, and all that he was planning now.
“I’m not sure,” she hedged. “It’s risky. What if they decide not to strike, for Charlotte is now gone and they have no one to blame it on?”
He smiled triumphantly. “That’s just it. Charlotte has returned. We are saying she is here to collect some of the things she had forgotten. It’s perfect.”
“Very well,” his mother said, though it didn’t seem as though she was entirely convinced. “I hope it works, Philip, I really do. And if not…”
“Then I am going to be with Charlotte, no matter what.”
She beamed now, a true smile, and she patted his cheek. “That’s my boy. It’s about time.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Why didn’t you just tell me what to do?”
“Because you never would have listened,” she said. “It was something that you had to determine for yourself.”
She was right. As always.
* * *
Philip took a breath as he looked around Lord William’s bedchamber.
“Everything is set?” he asked his employer and his longtime friend.
“It is,” Lord William said with a nod. “The guests are beginning to arrive so the house will be busy. I have spoken at length, in front of all of the footmen, about how pleased I am that my watch has arrived from London. I have spoken of how expensive it is, and even referred to where I was keeping it.”
Philip
nodded, hoping that Lord William hadn’t been too obvious, but he couldn’t very well ask him, for it would be far too insolent.
Reeves appeared at the doorway with a nod to each of them.
“I have told the rest of the servants that I am feeling ill and will be taking to my bed,” Reeves announced, and both Philip and Lord William looked at him incredulously.
“Did they believe you?” Philip asked.
“Perhaps not entirely,” Reeves said, seeming hesitant. “But it will have to do. I shall wait in the dressing room.”
“I suppose that leaves me with the armoire,” Philip said with a sigh as he eyed it with distaste.
“You’re lucky I wear nice-smelling cologne,” Lord William said with a laugh before he shut the door behind him. Reeves and Philip exchanged a look of understanding, and then took their positions.
Philip only hoped that the thief would be quick.
* * *
At first they thought their wait would be short. No sooner had Philip squeezed himself inside the wardrobe when the door creaked open.
He leaned forward to look through the crack, shocked to find Charlotte entering the room.
“Philip?” she hissed, peering around her, and he opened up the door.
“In here!” he said, his voice just above a whisper. “What are you doing in here?”
She didn’t respond but instead climbed in next to him.
“You were supposed to be in the attic with Ellen.”
“I know,” she said, “And I did make my excuses as planned, telling everyone I was going upstairs to collect my things. But then I could hardly stand the thought of you here, catching the person who has put me through such discord. I would far prefer to face her myself.”
“Fair point,” he conceded, though he was having a rather difficult time forming a coherent thought with Charlotte pressed up against him. The wardrobe no longer smelled like Lord William’s cologne, but rather the fresh scent of lemons, and it was all Philip could do to keep from reaching out and pulling her in close.
“You’re very sure it’s going to be Lily, aren’t you?” Philip observed. “I still think it’s Stuart.”
“We’ll find out soon.”
Through the dinner hour, none of the family would be expected to be within their apartments, as they were now entertaining their newly arrived guests. It would make it the perfect time to strike.
And strike they did.
The door once more creaked open. Philip peered out through the crack in the wardrobe in order to see if it was as he’d expected. He raised his eyebrows. Drat. He lost his bet with Charlotte. He had to keep from making a noise when she elbowed him in the stomach, clearly pleased with herself.
For there was Lily Draper, her long fingers quickly browsing through all of Lord William’s belongings on the writing table in the corner.
The watch she was looking for was sitting in the second drawer, Philip knew. The moment she had her fingers on it, he acted.
“Lily,” he said, as he opened the door of the wardrobe, causing both him and Charlotte to spill out rather ungracefully, but he stood and straightened his jacket in recovery. “Fancy seeing you here this evening.”
The woman proved to be a skilled actor, whirling around in surprise, but it was the only indication she gave that something was amiss. Impressive.
“Philip,” she said, smiling – actually smiling! – at him, “and Charlotte. Whatever are you doing in the wardrobe?”
“Witnessing you steal my employer’s watch,” he said wryly. “I shall take that back, thank you very much.”
“I was collecting it for Lord William,” she said. “He requested it at dinner.”
“Did he, now?” Philip asked, arching an eyebrow. “I find that difficult to believe. For not only are you a lady’s maid, but he left it here on purpose.”
Lily Draper might be a thief, but she was obviously an intelligent woman, for Philip could visibly see when his implication sank in.
“You tried to set me up, did you then, Philip?”
“I did set you up,” he said with a laugh. “You are caught.”
“Perhaps – by you,” she said, shrugging one of her delicate shoulders. “But no one will ever believe you. Or you,” she said, turning her eyes to Charlotte, finally paying her a bit of attention. “You will obviously do anything to clear your name – including falsely accusing me. But all know how resentful you were of me. I took the position you were so desperate for, and your betrothed has quite obviously been enamored with me from the start.”
Philip could sense Charlotte’s ever-growing ire from beside him, and finally it seemed that she had had enough.
“How can you be so—so—evil?” she managed. “Did you never stop to think of what your actions would mean for me and my life? I have lost my position, my friends, my family here. Do you not care at all?”
“No,” Lily said, her expression disinterested, “I don’t.”
She was looking quite sure of herself when a soft knock sounded at the door, and they both looked toward it as it opened up a crack.
“Annabelle? Is everything all right in there? What is taking so long?”
“Annabelle?” Philip looked at her, his interest piqued. “So you are not even Lily Draper, then, are you?”
Lily sent him a look so scalding that Philip was surprised he didn’t catch on fire.
“Come in, Stuart,” she said, not breaking her gaze.
Stuart began to speak as he opened the door. “Why are you calling me St— oh. Webster. And Charlotte.”
“Wright,” Philip answered. “If that is even your name.”
“It is for now,” Stuart said, looking back and forth between them all gathered in the room. “You think this is going to clear Charlotte’s name, don’t you?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “This has all been far too carefully planned. Haven’t you realized that yet? We’re smarter than you, Webster. You’re nothing but a valet, and that is all you will ever be.”
“Just like you, a silly little maid,” Lily said with a scoff. “Now, go away, Philip, Charlotte. No one will believe you. They didn’t before, and they won’t now.”
“That is where you’re wrong.”
Reeves stepped out of the dressing room, and Philip nearly shouted in triumph at the look on Lily and Stuart’s faces when he did. Finally, they realized they were trapped.
“What was this all for?” Charlotte asked, pointing her finger at the duo, as angry as Lily had been that she had been caught. “You tried to ruin my life! And for what? To steal a few trinkets?”
“I believe,” Reeves intoned in his dry voice, “that they have stolen far more than just a few trinkets. Those are simply what we have found. My guess is that with the visitors here, they had planned to make off with additional jewels and then escape while the house was full. Am I right?”
Lily and Stuart said nothing, though she held her chin up defiantly.
“I shall speak to both of you separately,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “And we will ensure that neither of you will ever work again – whoever you are, your names will be known.”
The two of them shared a look before Lily tried to run for the door, but Stuart caught her arm. “It’s no use,” he murmured to her, just loud enough that the rest of them could hear. “We’re caught.”
Her fingers curled into claws, and for a moment, she looked as though she was going to turn and scratch him. Finally, her shoulders sagged, and with a sigh, she surrendered. John and Adrian were waiting on the other side of the door to help Reeves escort them down to the duke’s study.
Philip took the opportunity to turn to Charlotte and wrap his arms around her.
“We did it,” he said, trailing a finger down the side of her face. “Thank goodness.”
“And thank you,” she said, lifting her face up to his. “I cannot imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t done this for me, Philip.”
“It wasn’t just me,” he said,
though he was filled with an immense sense of satisfaction that he had been able to do this for her. “I had quite a bit of help.”
“Yes, but you pushed to make sure that my name was cleared,” she said, her breath coming out in a whoosh. “I’m not sure how I can ever show you how much that means to me.”
“I can think of a few ways,” he said, waggling his eyebrows, and she swatted him on the arm.
“Philip!”
He laughed then, tugging her close to him. “I’m teasing. Marriage to you will be thanks enough.”
She smiled up at him before he bent his head and kissed her. It wasn’t one as passionate as many of their kisses had been, but it was a kiss of promise of all that was to come – that he would always be there for her, no matter what faced them in the future.
“Come,” he said, wrapping his arm around his shoulders as he pulled her in close to his side. “I’m sure there will be others who wish to speak with you.”
* * *
Charlotte rubbed her forehead, in disbelief over all that had happened in the past few hours. It was as Philip had promised – they had managed to prove exactly who the culprits were. She could hardly believe that someone would go so far to take what wasn’t theirs and allow someone else to lose everything in the process, but she supposed some people held different morals than others. Far different in this case.
She followed Philip into the hall where the duke, duchess, and William sat waiting for them on the padded chairs along the wall. She nodded hesitantly at each of them, unsure what they would think of her return when she had been dismissed so readily. Charlotte swallowed hard as not only the family, but the statues and the paintings around the room all seemed to stare down at her.
“Charlotte,” the duchess said, crossing over to her, surprising Charlotte by taking her hands in hers, which were covered in lily-white gloves. “We must apologize for all that occurred. It seems that we were all taken advantage of by some excellent actors.”
A Touch of Temptation: House of Devon Book 2 Page 8