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Of course Charlotte rong

Every wo They had to be, or else huo If they could hear the vilest thoughts in ain his chestthey would never allow men anywhere near them

And chances were, it worked the same for women, too Charlotte doubtless had flaws or some insecurity she’d rather s tacks than let him see It wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference in the way he felt He didn’t love her for being perfect, he loved her for being Charlotte

Good God

He loved her

He loved her

Of course he did She understood him Reached out to him, no matter how many times he pushed her away She’d found a way inside his heart, and if she left him now, he would be more hollow than ever

Naturally he would realize this after he’d set her room on fire And humiliated her in front of several people Then caused her best friend to reject her Pity about that tearing-her-dreams-to-shreds bit, too

Bloody hell

Piers braced his hands flat on the desk and pushed back in his chair, drawing to his feet He was a

He’d deservedly sunk to the level of pond scu Charlotte’s forgiveness, confess his true emotions

No, no He had the steps out of order

First, ad emotions

Then confess what they were

Convince her he would make all her dreams come true, plead with her to be his wifeFlowers probably wouldn’t go alanced at the clock

Five hours Give or take No sher Even if he succeeded in setting the stage for a grand apology, there were no guarantees Charlotte would accept it He was in danger of losing her forever

He tugged on his cuffs, pulling theent of the Crown, or wasn’t he?

Danger hat he lived for

Chapter Twenty-three

For Charlotte, it was an all-too-familiar scene

The orchestra waranand she found herself a wallflower once again Delia sat in the opposite corner of the ballrooht she had her fa--or --with Lady Parkhurst and her friends But Diana and Aaron, Minerva and Colinthey all kept Charlotte company

"You needn’t stand about with me," Charlotte said "You should dance"

"I’," Aaron said

"Neither am I," said Minerva

Charlotte turned to Colin, who had seldom encountered a dance or a partner he didn’t enjoy

"I’ll save rizzled old out perhaps"

Her lips curved in a bittersweet s to console her--and she loved them for it