'Precisely.'
'What are you saying?'
'You use sex as a way to avoid your feelings.'
She was speechless for a moment, surprised by the accusation. 'And you don't?' she scoffed, rising to her feet.
'No rows,' came Gwen's chastising voice from the doorway. She swept into the room with her customary enthusiasm. Dressed in sprigged muslin, with her long, dark hair tied at the nape, she appeared younger than her seventeen years. 'We've been trapped together for days. 'Tis inevitable that we would become a tad testy with one another.'
'I've been here for years,' Charlotte retorted. 'Montrose is the testy one. Perhaps his lordship is the one who is bored?'
Hugh turned from the window, and the smoldering light in his eyes stole her breath. 'With the games you play to keep me at bay? Yes, I weary of them.'
'Keep you at bay? How can you say that after these last two weeks?'
He snorted, and her hands clenched into fists. He wanted everything, damn him.
Gwen coughed discreetly. 'Cook outdid herself for tea. Katie will be bringing it up shortly.'
Bowing, and looking damned dashing while doing it, Hugh said, 'You must excuse me today, Miss Guinevere. I feel a headache coming on. I believe I'll retire for a nap.' His glare blamed Charlotte as he walked past her and left the room without another word.
'Oh.' Gwen's wide-eyed gaze moved to Charlotte. 'He's not testy. He's angry.'
'Apparently.'
'Will he still take us with him when he departs?'
The plaintive note in Gwen's voice drew Charlotte from her thoughts. 'Of course,' she soothed. 'He won't be angry in an hour or so.'
Gwen's head tilted to the side. 'Why not?'
'Men don't usually stay angry at women for long.' Charlotte moved back to the settee as Katie entered with a cacophony of rattling china. 'Even if the fault is ours.'
Sighing, Gwen joined her, spreading out her skirts to avoid wrinkles, as Charlotte had taught her. 'I don't believe I will ever understand men. The more I learn about them, the less they make sense.'
Charlotte laughed. 'Truer words were never spoken.'
'If Lord Montrose is bored, perhaps I could play whist with him, or cassino, though it's not as much fun with only two.'
'He'd probably enjoy that.'
Hugh had taken a liking to Gwen, and his gentle, courtly dealings with the young girl warmed Charlotte's heart.
'But perhaps you meant to say, it is the company that bores him,' Gwen said, wrinkling her nose.
'Oh, no, Gwen.' Charlotte covered her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. 'If he's bored with anything, it's me.'
'I doubt it's that.' Reaching for the tea, Gwen began to serve, demonstrating a grace and social adeptness Charlotte had worked hard to teach her.
But Charlotte had no formal training. Everything she knew about proper social deportment was learned from studying others. She wanted Gwen to have a better start in life, and already time was running out. Gwen would come of age in less than a year.
'Montrose is smitten with you, Charlotte. It must be thrilling to have so handsome a man take such a keen interest in you.'
'It is,' she agreed. 'I'm afraid, however, that I'm terribly smitten myself.'
'Why be afraid?'
'Because we'd never suit.'
'You suit beautifully,' Gwen scoffed.
'In some ways, but in others we're worlds apart. You haven't experienced the class system yet, but you will.'
'You are a duchess.'
'I am a counterfeit duchess. The title doesn't change who I've always been. And this discussion is moot in any case. Lord Montrose is a man who holds only temporary interest in women.'
Passing over a cup and saucer, Gwen smiled. 'I propose a toast.'
'Over tea?' Charlotte arched a brow.
'Don't tell me it's not proper. It's all we have at the moment, so it will have to do.'
Charlotte laughed. Gwen's enthusiasm for life had never diminished, despite having spent so much of her childhood hidden away as a mistake. 'Very well. What are we toasting?'
'New adventures.'
Charlotte raised her cup. 'To new adventures.'
'Are we almost there?' Gwen asked. She craned her neck out the carriage window, her hand holding her bonnet to her head so it wouldn't blow away.
Hugh watched her antics with a wide grin, understanding how excited she must be to venture out after all these years. 'How many times do you intend to ask that question, Miss Guinevere?'
'As many times as necessary for you to give me a straight answer.' She shot him an arched look. ''When we arrive' is not a proper response.'
'When have we ever done anything properly?' Charlotte teased, laughing as Gwen scowled in response.
'Oh, we're turning! We must be here!' Gwen nearly shook with excitement. 'What a beautiful property. I wasn't aware they could make homes that big. And look at all the carriages!'
'Damnation,' Hugh muttered, looking over Gwen's head to see the front of the Remington manse. Neoclassical in design, with fluted columns and overlooking a wide circular drive, it was stunning in its elegance. But the beautiful facade didn't hold his attention. Instead his narrowed gaze was riveted to the line of carriages that clogged the drive. Shunned by the highest tiers of Society, the Remingtons nevertheless had no lack of friends or acquaintances.
'Good heavens.' Charlotte's hands went to her throat. 'What will we do now?'
Hugh blew out a frustrated breath. He'd intended to tell Julienne about Charlotte, Gwen, and the whole mess with Glenmoore's map, but now he would have to alter course. Charlotte had taken great pains to hide her marriage to Glenmoore-encouraging Artemis to scare away visitors and hiding Gwen. Looking at her now, he could see the tension tightening her lips.
'Not to worry,' Hugh soothed, thinking quickly. 'Gwen will simply be your companion.'
'And I will be Mrs. Riddleton,' Charlotte finished, reaching for his hands and squeezing them tightly. 'Your widowed paramour. You're brilliant, Hugh!'
'Riddleton?' he asked, even as warmth spread from her compliment up to his heart.
'My maiden name.' Her eyes sparkled, and Hugh felt great satisfaction in having lightened her worries. It was a feeling to which a man could grow accustomed.
Gwen giggled. 'It will be fun! Like a charade.' She resumed her seat and rubbed her gloved hands together. 'You are an angel sent from above, Lord Montrose. I cannot tell you how happy I am that your carriage was disabled near our home. If you hadn't come along, I would be studying right now and lamenting my boredom. Instead I am about to enjoy my first social gathering. I do hope there are more handsome men to ogle.'
'Good God,' Hugh muttered, arching a brow at Charlotte, who had the temerity to grin.
It took a few moments for the other carriages to dispatch their passengers and luggage, but it seemed all too soon that they were alighting by the front steps. Hugh was holding his hand out to Charlotte when a familiar deep voice sounded behind him.
'Montrose, we weren't expecting you.'
Looking over his shoulder, Hugh smiled at his brother-in-law. 'I couldn't allow you to have a gathering without me. Can you imagine how dreadfully boring that would be?'
Lucien Remington laughed aloud. 'We're delighted to have you. And your lovely companions.'
