A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Chapter Thirteen

“What happened?”

Charlotte managed to smile as a cup of tea was pressed into her hands. “I am quite all right, Amelia. You need not hover.”

Amelia, who had been at Charlotte’s elbow ever since Lord Crestwood had ushered her back into the house with a murmur about Lady Foster, finally sat down though her eyes were fixed to Charlotte.

“It was Lady Foster,” Charlotte said, quietly. “Lord Crestwood and I were returning to the carriage but she was there waiting for me, ready to rail at my choice to engage myself to Lord Crestwood.”

“Obviously, she does not know it is a pretence,” Lord Crestwood stated, coming to sit beside Charlotte though Charlotte presumed it was simply because the couch was close to the fire and he could warm himself. “However, she was very angry indeed.”

“I am sorry.” Amelia let out a sigh and closed her eyes. “What are we to do?”

“It is not that which upset me,” Charlotte said, pausing to sip her tea and let the warmth push through her. A slight tremble ran through her frame, right down to the tips of her fingers, and she set the teacup down with a slight clatter. “She was very angry, as Lord Crestwood has said, but as she was throwing harsh words at me, she said something which gave me pause.” Another breath, another sip of her tea and, closing her eyes, Charlotte finally managed to repeat them. “She said, ‘You cannot! It must be this way, or else she will lose – ” and then came to a sudden stop.” She opened her eyes to see Amelia frowning. “She was speaking of our stepmother, I am sure, but once she stopped herself from saying anything more, she turned on her heel and took her leave.”

“In a most abrupt manner,” Lord Crestwood added, just as Lord Hesterway came into the room to join them. “I did not understand what happened.”

Charlotte swallowed hard, lacing her fingers in her lap. “I am sure that she stopped herself from saying something she ought not to have said. In saying, “it must be this way, else she will lose,” it is clear to me that there is a reason behind my request to remain unwed.”

Lord Hesterway frowned. “Who said this?”

“Lady Foster,” Amelia replied, quickly explaining what had happened to her husband. “But Charlotte, what possible reason could there be? Father’s will stated that it was only to keep Lady Barcsay company, so that she would never be alone. Could it be that this was what she meant? That Lady Barcsay would lose your company?”

No-one spoke for some time but Charlotte’s heart fluttered within her, telling her that there was something more here, something that she did not yet fully understand.

“To my mind, that does not make sense,” Lord Crestwood said, eventually. “Forgive me for sharing my opinion when it is not my matter but it seems to me that saying that Lady Barcsay would lose Charlotte’s company would not be something that would be snapped back as it was. It would not force her to turn away as abruptly and rush to her carriage.”

“I agree,” Lord Hesterway said, as both Amelia and Charlotte nodded, though that did not bring Charlotte any relief. “But what else could it mean?”

“I – I do not know and it is that which makes me tremble,” Charlotte admitted, a little tearfully. “Oh, sister, what if there is more to our father’s desire for me to remain unwed? His words might have been spoken differently but have been captured incorrectly – and mayhap Lady Foster and our stepmother know of it!”

Amelia opened her mouth, then closed it again before looking away. “Would that I knew what to say to you, Charlotte,” she answered, eventually. “But if you are sure that there might be something more here- and I confess, on hearing what you have said, I quite agree – then there is something that must be done.”

Charlotte blinked quickly, trying to understand. “I cannot speak to Lady Foster again if that is your thinking. I am sure that she will not tell me a single thing.”

Amelia nodded. “I am sure she would not! However, might you not speak to our brother’s solicitors? I am certain our brother would not mind in the least.”

Lord Crestwood shifted slightly in his seat. “You mean to suggest that she would be able, then, to ascertain something from them? Mayhap one of them might know of exactly what was said when the will was created?”

“It would be worth asking, yes,” Lord Hesterway agreed, before Charlotte could speak. “What a pity the will itself was lost.”

Charlotte felt rather than saw Lord Crestwood’s frame tightening, his gaze swift as he turned to her. “It was lost?”

She nodded then spread out her hands. “Some highwaymen, it is thought, stopped to rob the mail coach. The will, which was being sent back to our solicitor, was within it. It has never been seen again.”

Lord Crestwood blinked rapidly, his face paling just a little, and something within Charlotte’s frame tightened, her eyes searching every part of his expression in the hope of finding some explanation for his sudden pallor.

Lord Crestwood, however, said nothing. Instead, he looked away.

“Please.” Her hand went to his, grasping it lightly. “You were going to say something, were you not?”

Lord Crestwood pressed her hand back in return though he smiled at her gently. “It is not my business, my dear lady.”

“But we should value any thoughts you might have,” Charlotte answered, shifting herself a little closer to him though she made sure that her leg did not come close to touching his. “What are your thoughts?”

Lord Crestwood looked away, a breath hissing out gently from between his teeth. “I do not mean to disparage anyone, nor do I want to suggest any sort of wrongdoing. However,” he continued, pausing for a moment just as Charlotte nodded in order to encourage him, “is there any possibility that what happened in the loss of the will might have been deliberate?”

The shock of what he said ricocheted across Charlotte’s chest, her hand pulling from his so it might press lightly against her heart.

“I should not have said anything,” Lord Crestwood continued, immediately. “Forgive me, I have upset you and –”

“Charlotte saw the will with her own eyes,” Amelia broke in, though she spoke gently. “She saw what was said, read those words for herself and then she made her decision on that.”

Lord Crestwood’s jaw flexed for just a moment, his blue eyes darkening gently. “I see. I did not realise that you had read the full will, Miss Millerton. I –”

“Oh, I did not read all of it.”

Silence descended on the room as everyone turned their full attention to Charlotte. So great was the intensity of their look that Charlotte flushed, not quite certain where she now ought to look. Her gaze flickered around the room before she dropped it to her lap, her hands now twinning together as nervousness flickered through her.

“I suppose it would not be expected for you to read the will in its entirety,” Lord Hesterway said, though he spoke very slowly as though he were choosing each word with great care. “When you say that you read only that part, might I ask if there were statements and the like before it and afterwards also?”

Charlotte blinked, a light frown on her forehead. “I do not think there was, no. I read only the piece of paper which held the instructions about my duties as regarded my stepmother.”

Lord Hesterway glanced at his wife then looked back to Charlotte. “So there was nothing else there.”

She shook her head no.

“But it was signed by your father?”

“Yes, it was. I presumed that it was added later, perhaps once the rest of the will had been written,” Charlotte answered, feeling herself all the more embarrassed, as though she ought not to have done something – or should have done something else! “But it was signed by our father, sealed with his signet ring and then certified by the solicitors, I am sure of it.”

Another exchange of glances took place, though this time it was between Lord Hesterway and Lord Crestwood, but Charlotte could not understand what it was that such a look meant. She wanted to cry out in frustration, wanted to exclaim that she ought to be told what it was they were speaking of, only for Lord Crestwood to turn himself towards her a little more, reaching to catch her hand for just a moment as he spoke.

“Might I ask if you have ever considered the possibility that there could be something untoward in all of this?”

“Untoward?” Charlotte looked to her brother in law, seeing him frown as her heart began to clamor furiously. “I do not understand. My only consideration has been to do what my father has asked of me and I have done so.”

“What Lord Crestwood means is that there could have been some undue influence there,” Lord Hesterway explained, as Lord Crestwood withdrew his hand. “The fact that it was written separately and not as part of the will itself does bring up some questions.”

Charlotte’s heart began to pound furiously, a terrible ache beginning to settle there.

“You mean to suggest that Lady Barscay encouraged our father to do this? That she wanted me to be her companion rather than it be our father’s true desire?”

“That is what I think is being suggested, yes.” Amelia’s voice, much to Charlotte’s surprise, was light as though she were happy – nay, delighted – about this. Her eyes held a shine to them that Charlotte could not understand and, as she herself frowned, Amelia sent her a smile. “Charlotte, this means that you might be free of such demands!”

It was too much for Charlotte to take in. Her breath hitched, her face burned hot as she recalled that she was sitting very close to Lord Crestwood and, without warning, she found herself on her feet.

“I… I need to step away for a time,” she said, her voice a little hoarse. “This is too much to consider. I –”

Amelia rose and caught her hand. “I do not mean to upset you but surely, if there is some chance of this, then it is worth pursuing!”

“I do not mean that I do not want to pursue it,” Charlotte answered, quickly, tugging her hand away, “but rather that this changes so much – if it is true, of course. It may not be.” Her voice grew thin, emotions beginning to press up through her. “I simply need a little time alone to think on it all.”

“And I shall take my leave, of course.” Lord Crestwood got to his feet, cleared his throat and then offered them all a slightly stiff bow. “Forgive me for the intrusion and I do hope I did not speak out of turn. I –”

“No, you did not. Not in the least.” Turning to face him, Charlotte swallowed the tightness in her throat, eager to reassure him. “You have done so much for me, Lord Crestwood. I am not in the least bit upset as regards what you have said or what you have done. I am nothing other than grateful for them, I assure you.” Seeing him begin to walk to the door, she came to join him, her heart still beating a little too quickly for her own liking. “I am truly grateful for the support and for the kindness you have shown me.”

The footman opened the door and both she and then Lord Crestwood stepped through it, as though they were both continuing their walk together. Lord Crestwood shook his head and let out a breath, making Charlotte’s eyebrows lift in question.

“Would that it were not so, Charlotte,” he murmured, the gentleness in his voice making her spirits lift just a little, her anxious thoughts beginning to dissipate. “From what I understand, you have followed the suggestion in your father’s will that you give up your freedom and your future in order to be companion to your stepmother, and I cannot now imagine what you must be both thinking and feeling with the awareness that it might now be a little… altered from what you first thought.”

Charlotte nodded, her eyes beginning to sting with tears which she forced back, refusing to let them fall. “My mind is filled with all manner of disquieting thoughts,” she said, hoarsely. “If there is a question over it, then how am I to discern the truth? How am I able to tell what it is that my father really wanted?”

Lord Crestwood turned to her, taking her hands in his and looking straight into her eyes. “You will discern it,” he said, with enough firmness to convince her and enough gentleness to steal some of her upset away. “I am certain that you have the strength and the skill to do so. You are determined, I think, and I say that in the hope that you will consider it a compliment.” His smile was sweet and in no time at all, Charlotte’s tears had faded, her own lips curving just a little.

“You appear to know me rather well, even though we have been acquainted for only a short while, Lord Crestwood.”

He grinned at her. “You have been very honest with me, I think.”

“That is because I have found you trustworthy,” she answered, aware now of the gentle heat which was beginning to stir in her core. “I have seen that your own character is one of kindness, given that you came to rescue me from Lady Foster and in your words and actions thereafter.” Her heart squeezed gently and she smiled, though her gaze dropped away, finding it a little difficult to look into his eyes. “Even now, I find myself comforted and reassured.”

“I am pleased to have been of assistance to you,” he said gently, and as Charlotte lifted her gaze to meet his, some deep-seated feeling within her began to stir. She could not explain it, could not understand what it was and yet, there was something there. Something that pushed her, almost bodily forcing her forward so that she did, in fact, take a step closer. The way his eyes flared, however, told her that he was a little taken aback by what she had just done and thus, she immediately took a step back again, dropping her gaze and, after a moment, taking her hands out of his.

“Thank you again,” she said, softly. “Do excuse me.”

“Of course. You will be attending Lord and Lady Howden’s Christmas soiree tomorrow evening, I hope?”

She glanced up at him, then away again. “Yes, I hope to do so.”

“I look forward to being in your company again.” Without warning, Lord Crestwood caught her hand in his, lifted it to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. The warmth which flooded her made her breath swirl in her lungs, her eyes flaring as he looked back at her with a heavy intensity in his gaze.

And then, he was gone.

Charlotte pressed one hand lightly to her stomach as she began to make her way to the staircase which would lead to her bedchamber. She had a great deal to think about already but this newness, this uncertain confusion over Lord Crestwood seemed to take priority in her thoughts. It was as though, in recognizing that there might be some difficulty in what had been asked of her in her father’s will, there had also come the realization that she might now be free to pursue love and matrimony… and then Lord Crestwood had come into view and something had changed.

“There is much to think on,” Charlotte sighed to herself, pushing open the bedroom door and stepping into the room, grateful for the quiet. “Though quite how I am to find out the truth, I do not know.”