A Chance to Kiss the Marquess (Charmed By Chance #3)

Chapter 13

13

C arver was annoyingly cheerful as they left the gentleman’s club. “You know, you cannot avoid home forever.”

Kal shot him a sidelong glare. “I am not avoiding home.”

“Kal.” Carver stopped short on the sidewalk, and Kal was forced to do the same. Carver’s knowing look was even more annoying than his cheerfulness.

“Yes?” Kal didn’t try to hide his impatience.

“The only reason you’d voluntarily attend tea with me at Meg’s home is if you are avoiding your own home for some reason.”

Kal scowled up at the sky, cursing the sun that still hung high. There was a full twenty-four hours until tea at Meg’s. And even then, there was no guarantee that Ann would be there. Just a hunch.

No, a hope.

He turned away from Carver before his friend could see his frustration.

“This sudden desire to take tea with me and my betrothed wouldn’t have anything to do with what Rodrick was talking about just now, would it?” Carver sounded far too thoughtful.

“That was as vague as vague can be, cousin,” Kal shot back dryly.

But Carver was not deterred. “Come now. You’ve been acting strange lately. We’ve all seen it.”

Kal shot him a sidelong glare and Carver had the good grace to look sheepish. “Not that we’ve been discussing you or anything.”

Kal let out a huff of wry amusement. “You and Rodrick are worse than the ladies with all your gossip.”

Carver lifted a shoulder, his smile good natured. “Perhaps, but he’s noticed just as I have that you’ve been acting…odd.”

Kal lifted his gaze heavenward as he sighed. Lord, grant him patience.

Carver was undeterred by his silence. “It seems this change came about when your mother announced that Lady Olivia and her family would be coming to stay.”

Kal arched a brow. “And so you think Lady Olivia is the problem.”

Carver laughed. “I wouldn’t say she’s a problem.. .”

Kal and Carver had met the beautiful young blonde only two nights before at a dinner party Kal’s mother had planned for her guests. Everyone had been charmed by Lady Olivia. Including Carver and Meg.

Including him , if he were being honest.

“She seems perfect,” Carver went on. “I cannot imagine what she’s done to make you so…out of sorts.”

“I’ve been as snarly as a bear,” Kal muttered. “You can say it.”

Carver chuckled, but he waited for Kal to elaborate.

He did not. There was nothing Kal could dispute. Lady Olivia was indeed perfect. She’d make some man a fine wife. She was perfectly polite. Perfectly graceful.

And perfectly as unaffected by him as he was of her.

Her smile was placid when they’d met, and she’d said all the right things. But he couldn’t help but feel they were both…bored. Or, at the very least, merely playing parts they’d long since perfected.

So yes. She was perfect.

And that right there was the problem. If he hadn’t found that blasted notebook he’d have been content to marry Lady Olivia. Not thrilled, by any means. And definitely not smitten with the young lady. But he’d have done his duty to the title and would have forged a good connection with a woman who’d make a fine hostess and political partner.

And yet, here he was. Pining like a blasted fool over a woman who was too afraid of him to meet his gaze, and who…

Well, it was high time he admitted it.

A woman who preferred another man.

He drew in a sharp breath, jealousy a stinging blow to his gut. It took him several moments before he could collect himself, and when he did he realized Carver had seen…something.

He’d seen enough.

Carver arched his brows in question, but Kal turned to the waiting carriage and climbed in to avoid the inevitable.

“It is not Lady Olivia who has upended your world.” Carver stated this as a fact.

It wasn’t Lady Olivia. Fact.

And his world had been toppled. That was another fact. His whole world had been shaken to its core and then rearranged with a new center of gravity.

He supposed both facts were obvious to his cousin, so he didn’t bother denying it. But that, apparently, was response enough, because Carver leaned forward as the carriage lurched to a start. He rested his forearms on his knees.

“You looked ready to murder someone back there.” Carver jerked his head toward the club. “It wasn’t Rodrick…”

Kal shot his cousin an exasperated look. No, of course it wasn’t Rodrick.

Rodrick had merely been the messenger. And neither he nor Carver could have known just how cruel they were being as they discussed Albright’s stroll in the park with Ann the other day.

Or when they shared their thoughts on what a fine match they’d make.

Kal’s hands clenched and unclenched at his sides as he struggled for calm. Meanwhile, Carver’s eyes narrowed on him. “Your demeanor changed dramatically when Rodrick mentioned Albright courting Miss Ann. Er, Miss Truesdale now, I suppose.”

“It’s Ann.” He couldn’t help himself. He’d honestly just wanted to say her name. “She still wishes to go by Miss Ann.”

“I see.” Carver looked like he truly did not see. Not anything. His eyes had a dazed look about them as he stared at Kal, clearly stunned.

“What? Stop looking at me like that,” Kal groused.

“You know…” Carver’s brows drew together. “I found it odd that you’d asked me to host a dinner party, and odder still that Albright came upon you and Ann talking alone in the hallway about a topic so very intimate…”

Kal looked out the window. Carver was clearly prodding, trying to get him to speak. He ought to know better than to think that would work.

A long silence followed, until Carver cut through the silence with an awed whisper, “You like her.”

Kal couldn’t bring himself to deny it, but he didn’t wish to discuss this any further. Especially not today. Particularly not after all he’d just heard. His jaw clenched as he tried his best not to envision the scene Rodrick had painted for them in such excruciating detail.

“And yet…” Carver frowned. Apparently he was only now remembering the conversation that had sent Kal into a fit of rage. “And yet Albright made it clear he wishes to court her.”

Kal’s nostrils flared and a muscle in his jaw ticked. And despite his best intentions, he took the bait and blurted out, “He does not care for her—” He held up a hand before Carver could protest. “Not the way I do.”

Another long silence. His words seemed to hang in the air between them. Kal had likely said too much. Admitted more than he’d wished to. But this was Carver, and if anyone could understand how rare this was for him, how hard it was to open himself up to another…

“Does she know?” Carver asked.

Kal settled slightly in the face of Carver’s serious tone. If his friend had teased or laughed off this revelation, Kal would have had to plant a facer. He tugged at his cuffs. “Yes. She knows.”

“But Albright does not,” Carver said.

Again, not a question. Kal grunted in acknowledgment.

“And she has professed her feelings for him,” Carver continued.

“She did not .” It came out far too harsh. He cleared his throat and tried again. “She merely sees him as a good match.” At Carver’s blank stare, he added a little too defensively, “Because they’re friends.”

“I see.”

Once again, Kal was certain Carver did not see anything.

After another long silence, Carver spoke again, and he sounded like he was trying to come to grips with this information. Justify it, even. “She’s pretty, there’s no doubt. And she has a certain charm of her own, to be sure.”

Kal just barely held back a growl. A charm?

“Yes, I can see how both of you might find her charming,” Carver mused.

Kal shifted in his seat, irritated beyond reason by his cousin’s even tone.

She wasn’t just charming, she was…well, she was Ann. She was clever and brave, straightforward and yet shy. She was kind, and surprising, and witty. Ann was the most unusual and genuine person he’d ever met. And all combined it made her so uniquely…her.

She was so very herself , and being around someone like that made it not just desirable to be oneself in turn, but…a necessity. He could not be anything but who he was around Ann. Just him. Not the rising politician or the Marquess who garnered respect and, yes, sometimes fear.

When he was with Ann, he was just Kal. A man.

A man who’d found the woman who lit up his world.

She didn’t have mere charm , she had the magic to brighten his whole world. She wasn't charming, she was…

She was outright enchanting.

It wasn’t until the carriage stopped in front of Kal’s home that Carver seemed to remember their earlier conversation. “What about Lady Olivia?”

Kal frowned. “What about her?”

Carver climbed out first. As usual, Carver would likely join them for supper. Perhaps even stay the night. He’d always been as much at home here as in his own house. Of course, that would likely change after he married. But for now, Kal could admit, he was glad to have his friend around.

“Don’t act oblivious, it doesn’t suit you,” Carver said. “You know your mother and Lady Olivia’s parents are hoping for a match.”

Kal nodded. “Mmm. And it would be a good one if my heart was not taken.”

“You sound almost…regretful,” Carver said, confusion clear in his tone.

Kal shrugged. “Perhaps I am. Life would be much easier if I hadn’t gone and fallen for the one woman in all of London who’d be horrified by my proposal.”

Carver snickered, but apologized when he caught Kal’s glare. “Sorry, it’s just—I might have said the same about Meg.”

Kal let out a grudging huff of laughter as they climbed the stairs.

Carver hurried to keep up with him. “Have you decided what you’ll do?”

Kal held back a sigh. “Yes.” His plan had not changed. Not even hearing about Albright’s conversation with Ann could alter his course now. He’d never be able to live with himself if he didn’t try his best to win her heart. “I mean to court her. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make her see that I am the man for her.”

Carver clapped a hand on his shoulder. “That’s the spirit!”

Kal gave a grunt. His speech was all well and good, but Rodrick’s tale had dampened his optimism. How was he meant to win Ann’s heart when Alrbright was all but offering marriage? Kal had assumed he’d have more time to make his case…but now?

He worried it was already too late. Albright was the man she wanted. And if he wanted her as well…

Kal gave his head a shake. He couldn’t think that way. He’d just have to find more opportunities to get close to her, to speak to her, to?—

“My lord.” A footman hurried to meet them in the entrance hall. “A messenger came by with this a short while ago.”

“Thank you.” Kal opened the letter and his heart leapt into his throat at the familiar handwriting. Ann.

Was she writing to tell him she did not want his advances? Was she writing to warn him off and ask for space?

If she was, what would he do? How could he change her mind?

Still standing there in the hall, he paused to skim the contents, and with a loud sigh of relief he let out a short laugh and then started to read it thoroughly from the beginning.

A smile tugged at his lips. She wasn’t warning him off.

She was engaging in conversation.

Dear Lord Kalvin,

First, I must ask that you not tell anyone that we are exchanging letters. Impropriety aside, I should not wish to face the humiliation that will surely come if all of society were to learn that we had shared an intimacy…before you lost all interest.

And yes. I am most assured that you shall lose all interest by the time I’ve finished answering your list of questions.

But Ann was wrong.

So very wrong.

By the time he was done reading Ann’s straightforward, insightful, and often witty answers to his questions, he found that his heart was soaring in his chest and his cheeks ached from this foolish grin.

Yes, his Ann was nothing short of enchanting.

And he was nothing short of enchanted.

When he finally looked up, Carver was watching him with a dumbstruck expression.

Kal’s grin dropped. He frowned. “What is it?”

Carver shook his head. “Nothing, it’s just…I’ve never seen you smile like that.”

Kal’s frown intensified and Carver sighed as he pointed to it. “Now that is far more familiar. I take it you’ve heard from your beloved?”

“Indeed I have.” Kal felt another smile tugging at his lips.

“Whatever assistance you need…” Carver executed a short bow. “I am at your service.”

Kal clapped a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say.”