Stolen by the Cursed Duke (Stolen by the Duke #3)

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

“ C harlotte!” Louisa’s voice rang out, high-pitched and full of relief.

The family home in Mayfair was as pristine and orderly as ever, the polished wood floors gleaming, the brass doorknobs bouncing the light around.

As she stepped into the front hall, the familiar scent of beeswax polish greeted her, accompanied by the low hum of activity from the household staff.

Before Charlotte could respond, her younger sister burst into the hall, her curls bouncing as she threw herself into Charlotte’s arms.

Louisa’s enthusiasm was a marked difference from the rest of the household’s usual decorum, and Charlotte couldn’t help but smile as she hugged her back.

“I was so worried!” Louisa exclaimed, pulling away just enough to look at her. “You weren’t here, and I couldn’t find you, and then the storm?—”

“Louisa, don’t smother your sister,” came the sharp voice of their mother, Lady Shelton, who had never even risen from her seat in the drawing room.

Louisa grabbed hold of Charlotte’s hand and dragged her in to where her parents both lounged, her mother with her embroidery on her lap, her father with his nose in a newspaper.

Lord Shelton didn’t look up, didn’t even make a sound, but her mother’s gaze swept over Charlotte, landing on the gown she wore—the plain, slightly ill-fitting gown borrowed from Thornvale.

Her lips pursed, and her eyebrows arched in thinly veiled disapproval.

“What on earth are you wearing, Charlotte?” she demanded. “That gown is appalling. It’s far too plain and old fashioned, and it doesn’t fit you properly—it’s practically falling apart! Did you take it upon yourself to borrow from one of the maids?”

Charlotte took a calming breath, already feeling the familiar weight of her mother’s criticism settling over her.

“It’s a long story, Mother,” she replied evenly.

Lady Shelton folded her arms, her gaze scrutinizing every detail as she looked at her daughter down her long, pointed nose.

“I’m sure it is. Though I imagine it won’t be a satisfactory one.”

“Have you truly not noticed?” Louisa interjected, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Charlotte has been gone for two days! Two days! How can you not have realized?”

Lady Shelton blinked, her cool composure unshaken. “Gone? Don’t be ridiculous, Louisa. Your sister has been in her room, reading as she always does. I hardly think her presence—or absence—would cause such a fuss.”

Charlotte sighed. She had known her parents wouldn’t notice her disappearance, but she was still disappointed by it.

The image of Thornvale Castle loomed in her mind—the cold stone walls, the tension-filled dinners, and, most vividly, the kiss that still burned on her lips.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, the door opened and her brother, Reginald, strode in, bringing a gust of cold air with him.

“Tell them, Reggie,” Louisa said, bouncing over to their brother. “Tell them that Charlotte has been missing for two days.”

“For goodness’ sake, Louisa,” Lord Shelton said, peering at her over the top of his newspaper. “Stop all this nonsense. We all know your sister likes to hide away.”

She looked up at her brother, hoping he would somehow rescue her.

“You know, now that you mention it, I haven’t seen her in the last two days either.” He tilted his head at Charlotte, his brow furrowing, and she glared at him. “Where exactly have you been, sister?”

Lady Shelton’s embroidery needle paused mid-stitch, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Charlotte.

“Two days?” she repeated, her voice low and sharp. “You mean to tell me you have been gone for two days, and we were unaware?”

“When are you ever aware of what I do?” Charlotte snapped, her frustration bubbling over.

The realization seemed to hit her mother all at once. Her gaze darted to Charlotte’s borrowed gown again, taking in its plainness, its ill fit. Lady Shelton’s lips pursed, and her eyes widened in disbelief and dawning horror.

“That gown,” she said, her voice tight. “It all makes sense now!”

Lord Shelton finally lowered his newspaper, folding it neatly and setting it aside.

“What’s this about?” he asked though his tone lacked any real urgency. “You have been gallivanting about, have you?”

The air in the room grew heavy as both parents turned their full attention to Charlotte. The questions came fast, overlapping and growing sharper with every word.

“Where have you been, Charlotte?” Lady Shelton demanded. “And why on earth are you dressed like that? Do you have any idea how this looks?”

“Were you alone?” Lord Shelton asked, his eyes narrowing. “Did anyone see you? Speak to you?”

Charlotte straightened her back, her chin lifting. “I was somewhere safe,” she said firmly, meeting their gazes without flinching. “And no, no one saw me.”

Lady Shelton’s hands clutched her embroidery hoop so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

“Safe? That’s hardly the point! Do you have any idea what rumors could spread if anyone thought you’d been compromised? Charlotte, how could you be so reckless?”

“Reckless?” Charlotte repeated, a sharp edge creeping into her voice. “I was caught in a storm. What would you have had me do, Mother? Freeze to death for the sake of appearances?”

“That is not the point, young lady!” Lady Shelton snapped, rising from her chair. “It is your duty to ensure that you do not bring disgrace upon this family. What were you thinking, leaving us in the dark like this? If someone—anyone—were to suspect impropriety…”

Charlotte’s temper flared, but she kept her tone measured. “No one suspects anything, Mother. As I said, I was safe, and no one saw me.”

“You’re certain of that?” Lord Shelton asked, his voice sterner now. “Absolutely certain that no one saw you?”

“Quite certain, Father,” Charlotte replied, holding his gaze. “I was in the company of someone trustworthy, and no one else was aware of my presence.”

Lady Shelton’s face softened slightly though her disapproval remained evident. “Trustworthy or not, you should have sent word. Louisa was worried sick, as she said, and you have made us all look negligent!”

The sudden concern from her parents was clearly not for her well-being but for the preservation of their reputation.

“There was no way to send word during the storm—if there were, I could have just returned home myself,” she said, keeping her voice calm. “And as you have already established, you didn’t even notice I was gone.”

Lady Shelton opened her mouth to retort, but Reginald cut in with a low chuckle. “Well, this is all rather dramatic, isn’t it? Charlotte’s back, safe and sound. Let’s leave it at that, shall we?”

“Reginald, this is not a laughing matter,” Lady Shelton said sharply though her tone had lost some of its bite. She turned back to Charlotte, her eyes narrowing once more. “You had better hope this doesn’t come back to haunt us, Charlotte. For your sake and for ours.”

Charlotte met her mother’s gaze evenly. “You needn’t worry, Mother. No one will speak of this.”

With a heavy sigh, she turned and made her way up to her chambers.

Charlotte shut the door to her room with a soft click, leaning against it for a moment as she exhaled a long, steadying breath.

The familiar surroundings of her chamber—pale blue walls, a four-poster bed with pristine linens, and shelves filled with her beloved books—offered little comfort.

She had a sudden urge to return to Thornvale. At least there, she had intrigue and mystery. There, she had excitement.

There, I had the Duke.

“Where have you been, My Lady?” came a voice from the far side of the room.

Charlotte startled, turning to see her lady’s maid, Polly, standing near the wardrobe with a freshly pressed gown draped over one arm. Polly’s round face was furrowed with concern, her brown eyes searching Charlotte’s for an answer.

“I was delayed by the storm,” Charlotte said vaguely, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. “It’s not worth mentioning.”

Polly hesitated, setting the gown on the back of a chair. “Begging your pardon, My Lady, but you have been gone two days. People are bound to talk.”

Charlotte’s fingers tightened around the folds of her borrowed gown.

“It’s not anyone’s business to talk,” she replied, her tone sharper than she intended. “I was safe, and that’s all anyone needs to know.”

Polly looked unconvinced, but she said nothing more on the matter. Instead, she busied herself with tidying the scattered cushions and smoothing the bedspread though Charlotte noticed her movements were slower than usual, as if she were debating something.

After a moment, Polly cleared her throat. “If it’s not too bold of me to say, My Lady, gossip like this… it might not sit well with your fiancé.”

Charlotte blinked, the words catching her entirely off guard. “My what?”