"They are a most delightful blue, I must say." His voice was soft, and she could hear a hint of a smile within. "And if I were to hazard a guess, they are an exact color match. They could not be more perfect!" He straightened, moving away from her. "I am astonished at the miracles of glass that can be achieved nowadays. Do you think having a glass eye bothers some of your suitors? I can't imagine that it would matter. You've still got one good one."
"I cannot say, sir," she replied, again not meeting his gaze directly.
"Are you certain your eye is false? It appears quite normal."
She had no choice but to convince him otherwise. Charlotte focused on twitching her eye, moving it incrementally further to the right.
"Goodness. . . ," he remarked with concern, more curious than frightened. "Your eye is ... ah ... gone a bit off." He gestured to his left with his quizzing glass.
"Oh!" Charlotte blinked and thumped the side of her head. "I beg your pardon; it does that on occasion."
"Amazing. Quite astonishing." He dropped to the ground on one knee before her, with no apparent regard to his apparel.
"Sir!" she cried out. "Take care, you shall certainly ruin your-AH!" Charlotte recoiled but could not move far. Sir Philip had a firm hold of her right ankle. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I was merely authenticating the rumor of your wooden leg." He glanced at her and flashed a smile. "Appears to be a hum, if you ask me."
"You could have inquired." She pushed against his shoulder, wishing he would remove his hand from her lower extremity. "At least requested permission before taking liberties."
"Posing questions before making a questionable maneuver would eliminate the delightful surprise element." Sir Philip finally released his hold of her ankle and then moved to lean over her left shoulder.
"I must tell you that my conscience compels me to speak my mind," he whispered into her left ear. "I must confess how ardently I admire you."
"You care for me?" Charlotte could hardly believe what he was saying. It was everything she wished to hear.
"How extraordinary!" Sir Philip proclaimed. "Another rumor proved erroneous. I'd heard you were deaf in your left ear." He lifted his quizzing glass to regard her appendage. "Couldn't hear a thing."
"Oh, do stop that " She slapped his hand, knocking the accessory-which should have flown from him if not for the ribbon tethering it to his neck.
He snatched her wrist and held it fast. Charlotte gasped at the contact and stared at him, absolutely shocked at his audacity at again touching her uninvited.
"I will admit you are a beauty, but it is not that which truly interests me. It matters not how many faults you disclose, for the kindhearted, caring soul you possess is a treasure true." He lowered himself onto the bench next to her and continued, "I have heard how you had come to the aid of the citizens of Bloxwich and Farmer Gilbert's family in particular."
"Oh, that" Someone had had to intervene, for the family was in dire straits. Circumstances dictated that she should act, for she had been present at that precise time.
"You are an amazing woman-and I find if I do not control myself, I should take advantage of this opportunity that we are alone and kiss you," he murmured softly.
"I hardly think that gentlemanly conduct at all!" Charlotte said, shocked that he would even suggest it. What type of a man was he? What kind of a lady did he think she was to allow such behavior?
"Do you not feel anything for me? Perhaps you think of me as one of your many suitors and no more. Someone to be tested, sent on quests, and do your every bidding in an effort to fetch your favorite savory, find a missing gewgaw, or perhaps cruelly tease for your sheer amusement"
"That is not true. I find you . . ." Charlotte finally found the strength to meet his stare. How wonderful it felt to finally tell him the truth. "You are more than acceptable, sir. It is only ... what if I were to allow every gentleman who wanted to kiss me to do so?" She leaned back to regard him at a more respectable distance but could not move far. "I believe that would be most inappropriate, sir. Such activity should be reserved-only allowed between a husband and wife."
"And why do you think I am here, my girl?" A slow smile graced his lips. "I had heard you vowed to wed the first gentleman to find you in the center of this maze. Have I not done just that?"
"But how could you have known?" Charlotte could not imagine how he had discovered it, but beyond that, she realized that he wanted to marry her.
"There is not much which concerns you that remains private." Sir Philip held her hand, drawing it close.
"You need not hold me to my promise, for I care more for you than any other gentlemen, even if I had to choose from all the men in England."
"Actually, I believe you did." Sir Philip brought her hand to his face and pressed it to his cheek. "Will you do me the honor, then, of becoming my wife?"
Yes, she thought, but could not manage to speak her mind. Charlotte knew her opinion of Sir Philip was not the only one that mattered.
"I do not know how I could accept when, I am sorry to say, my sister Muriel does not care for you."
"Ah, yes, the irascible Lady Muriel. My task has been arduous. Not only did I need to win your heart, I needed to seek her approval first."
"She knows you are here?" Charlotte found it impossible to believe Muriel would ever consent to Sir Philip turning his affection to Charlotte.
"You see, I secured directions from Lady Muriel herself." He released her hand to pull a folded piece of paper from the pocket of his waistcoat. Unfolding it revealed a map drawn in pencil. "I imagine that would have proved more difficult than speaking to His Grace for permission to pay my addresses."
Charlotte giggled into her hand. "Muriel can be difficult " But she was so happy! The map was by her sister's hand, which meant Muriel must have approved of the baronet.
"Now that we have your sister's blessing in regards to our future, I would very much like to kiss you."
"Then, sir, I should have to accept, for I, too, wish you to kiss me." Charlotte smiled and leaned toward him for her reward.
"Ah!" he interrupted, stopping her progression.
"What's wrong?" She froze.
"Shall we wait until after we speak to His Grace or do we dare cross the line of propriety and kiss before we are even officially engaged?"
Sir Philip enveloped her hand with his own. His hand felt warm, his touch tender, and he remained silent as if debating the matter.
"I think not," he murmured after some thought. Sir Philip lowered their clasped hands, stared into her face, and smiled. "I care too much for you to endanger your reputation. It will already come under scrutiny, as we are presently unchaperoned."
He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. Charlotte felt her knees weaken and realized she'd been struck momentarily speechless.
"Let us seek out your father, shall we?" Sir Philip helped her stand, tucked Charlotte's hand into the crook of his arm, and led the way out of the maze. "You are aware once we emerge that we take the risk of having litigious rumors being spread about us?"
"Rumors?" Charlotte giggled. "You better than anyone should know one cannot always believe everything one hears"
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