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"Mrs Riddleton"

Glancing up, Charlotte’s eyes widened at the sight of Lord Merrick Tall and radiating savagery barely restrained, he was intiaze Standing in the parlor full of wo

"Lord Merrick" Her heart leapt into a faster rhyth the only reason the earl would seek her out would be related to Hugh

Gesturing to one of the two empty chairs, he asked, "May I? I won’t take up too much of your time"

"Certainly, my lord"

He settled his powerful frame into the seat and clasped his hands in his lap "Lord Montrose has shared your map and other items with me, Mrs Riddleton"

Charlotte’s hand went to her throat "He did?"

"Yes, he did Lady Merrick and I travel to the West Indies at the end of every Season to visit with her father Lord Montrose has asked that I take you with us on the journey next year, and he has provided enough funds to retain a large expedition for the search He’s also spoken with Lord Glenements for you to continue to have use of the residence here in Derbyshire"

Sing hard, she glanced at Ghose pursed lips and narrowed eyes conde how difficult it ative reply to his proposal

Lord Merrick cleared his throat, and she returned her gaze to his His handsohts "I will relate to you what I told Montrose A great many adventurers have searched for that treasure over the years, Mrs Riddleton I doubt your chances of locating it are any better than theirs, even with Montrose’s substantial largesse However, he insisted this be done, and because I consider hireed to assist you" He stood "I have your direction, and I will contact you to erabbed his arm and blurted, "How is he?"

Merrick arched a brow and studied her carefully "As well as any man can be when he’s disheartened"

"Oh" Her hand fell away The tone of Merrick’s voice told her much "You don’t like me, do you, Lord Merrick?"

"I don’t like that you have wounded my friend, but I very much appreciate your rejection of his suit I was fortunate to find true happiness inless for him He’s heartbroken now, but he’ll recover I hope one day he will love again, as unfashionable as that is, and next time I hope the lucky woman loves hi back a sob The picture evoked by Merrick’s words cut her deeply, clenching a fist around her heart "I love hi but clear

"Mrs Riddleton," he said, sighing, "I am not privy to the state of your affairs, but I can assure you, for you to remain seated here while a man who loves you suffers is not love by any means"

She looked at him "My decision was made for his benefit as well as mine I have reasons I--"

"I’m certain you do But love requires a leap of faith, and often it has no reason It siements for you to depart toave a jerky nod, and Merrick walked away, his departure drawing the appreciative gaze of every woman in the room

Gwen stood "You coward," she accused, in a sharp whisper "You want to run back to the o without argu witnessed Gwen saying an unkind word to anyone "That’s not true I’ what is best for all of us We hardly know him and his history--"

"’Tis not his history that is the problem, but yours You are afraid to rely on anyone You have fended for yourself and all of us for so long, you don’t kno to allow sohten your load"

"You are too young to understand, Gwen"

"How could living with Montrose possibly be any worse than the e are living now? Even if he were to becoed to overhear, ould live no less in poverty than we do at this , Charlotte lifted her chin, fighting off the tears that threatened She had hts, and the conversation with Lord Merrick had her thoughts in chaos Looking around, she saw the curious glances "I refuse to discuss this any further while we have an audience" She swept out of the room with Guinevere fast on her heels

"Think on it, Charlotte Think how happy we have all been Tom and Henry carry themselves with a pride they never had before, because Lord Montrose has never condescended to them or made them feel inferior for their handicaps Katie adores hi like of him" Gwen’s voice became breathless as she chased Charlotte up the stairs "It wasn’t an accident that I went to his rooht I wanted him to find the secret door I wanted him to know to look deeper"

Charlotte halted on the upper landing, her breath co your pardon?"

Gwen held out a hand and leaned against the railing, catching her breath "When Toht be the one When Katie told an to think of how I could be certain And when I saw your face with its rosy glow and bright eyes, I kneas the one, and Artemis did, too Why you cannot see it is beyond

"I have ad as I’ve known you, Charlotte Please don’t take that away from me" GwenCharlotte with a tear-ravaged face and far too much to consider

Charlotte pushed aside the sheer curtain that covered theand looked out upon the winter scene below Her heart thruton walk theirclear tracks in the snow

As Hugh disappeared froazed at the room around her, a room in which she’d spentwhat it was she wished to do with her life Her trunks were packed and waited by the door She was leaving today, and once she departed she knew there would be no turning back However, before that happened, she illing to make one last, desperate bid

She’d discovered so she should have acknowledged long ago--she was a coward, just as Guinevere had said A coas afraid to believe that someone would care for her, worry about her, and wish the best for her To give control of anything into the keeping of another was difficult for her, a woman who had cared for herself with no assistance almost since birth But she was a coas h La Coeur forever than she was of placing her fate and the fate of her dependents in his hands

The hands of the clock on the mantle moved with torturous leisure It seemed forever before a half hour passed Once it had, she left her roo hallways until she cah’s suite was located She paused at the door to his roo in unsteady pants Before she lost her courage, Charlotte reached for the handle and walked right in

"Go away," Hugh said curtly "I didn’t send for anything"

Her eyes filled with tears at the sound of his voice She’d missed it,her as surely as he did Soft and encouraging, or husky and raw, it had offered her a lifetime of joy, and she’d thrown it away like a fool

He stood by the , looking out at the rear lawn He’d removed his coat and waistcoat, his broad shoulders covered in a white linen shirt, his powerful legs encased in breeches and boots For a ht of hiraceful arc of his arm as it held the curtains back She’d ht she would die of it Even now her throat was so tight, she doubted she could speak