“Charlotte, you haven’t been a child for some time.” She stopped and turned to her cousin when they reached the neatly clipped grass lawn. “I daresay I’m not sure you were ever a child. But I’m telling you the truth. He leaves for London later today.”
Not only did Genny find it humiliating that Leo had duped her twice, she was still hurt by his actions and didn’t wish to discuss the details with Charlotte of all people. If she talked about it, she’d cry. And she did not want to return to the house with a tear-streaked face where everyone would be sure to ask what was wrong.
“What was it he tried to give you?”
Had her cousin seen the ring? Or was she just fishing for information so she could solve the puzzle herself?
“A trinket.”
“If you won’t talk about it now, I’ll pester you at the dinner table for more information on your friendship with Lord Barrington.”
Genny turned and glared at Charlotte. It felt good to replace her feelings of sadness with a slow simmering of rage. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Are you so sure?” Charlotte cocked her head to the side and gave her a challenging look.
“When I took this position, I thought I would actually make a difference in someone’s life. But you’ve been a trial that I could have done without. I take back what I said earlier, you do nothing but act like a child.”
Genny clapped her hand over her mouth. How could she have said anything so horrible as that? What was wrong with her?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” She was saying a lot of things on the spur of the moment lately.
“Yes you did.” Hurt colored Charlotte’s voice. “But tell me you wouldn’t act the same way if you were told to marry a man you had no desire to marry.”
“We’ve been over this time and time again. You can make this difficult, or you can accept and embrace the new life you’ll have.”
Charlotte clasped her hands behind her back and continued down the lawn ahead of her. “I know you think me young and naïve.”
“I think you are a very intelligent young woman.” She followed her cousin, catching up to her at the edge of the stream. She rubbed her hand soothingly over her cousin’s arm when they stopped again under the shade of a tall elm. “I really didn’t mean what I said.”
“You needn’t take your words back.”
Genny sat down on the grass, uncaring if it soiled her white walking dress. “You guessed right earlier.”
“Are we referring to Lord Barrington?”
Her cousin sat next to her and leaned back on her elbows. Genny lay back with a sigh, stared up at the green canopy shading them from the sun, and folded her hands over her midsection.
If Genny explained how she and Lord Barrington could never marry, even if they wanted to, would Charlotte welcome her impending marriage?
“Lord Barrington and I had a disagreement.”
“On?”
“His reputation.”
“Why would you even discuss his reputation?”
“Because he thought to court me.” Genny rolled over onto her side, her head resting on her open palm as she assessed her cousin’s expression. “I already know your father won’t allow it.”
Charlotte gave her a questioning look. “You don’t know that.”
“Your father and Lord Barrington have very opposing views in political matters.”
“Why should that matter? The earl will make an excellent husband with his title and his wealth.”
“It matters to your father.” Genny plucked at the grass between them. She shouldn’t tell her cousin this, but really, what good would it do to hide the full truth from her when Charlotte would find out eventually anyway. “Your father told me to avoid Lord Barrington completely. He specifically said I could never be caught in the earl’s company again.”
Charlotte sat up, a scowl on her face. She was obviously displeased on Genny’s behalf. “Then why did he let us come to the Carleton house party? Surely he knows Lord Barrington is in attendance.”
“Because of the exclusivity of this party. To ignore or refuse the invitation would have been a slight toward the Carletons.”
“We were only invited because you know Lady Carleton.” Charlotte folded her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins. She pressed the side of her face against her raised knees.
“I think she’s taken a great liking to you and Ariel.” Genny sat up and toed her slippers off. “Let us cool off before anyone can catch us being indiscreet.”
“An excellent idea.” Charlotte removed her shoes and rolled her stockings down. “Why would Papa refuse a courtship between Lord Barrington and you?”
“Quite frankly, they despise each other.”
“I don’t think Papa likes anyone. He’s getting grumpier as he ages. He’ll be an old curmudgeon soon and liable to beat anyone with his cane if they get too close.”
They both laughed at the image of Charlotte’s father doing just that.
“I don’t think anyone would believe Lord Barrington’s intentions were pure if he were to court me. So I kindly refused him.”
They waded into the cool water, holding their skirts above the stream. There was a cluster of large boulders three feet out from the shore that they could perch themselves against, so they headed toward them.
“He’s liable to settle down with a wife soon, considering his age,” Charlotte said.
“He’s not yet thirty. And unlike us mere women, men can sire children at any age.”
“True. But I still think you should ask Papa. Or maybe Lord Barrington can present his case? That would be utterly romantic.”
“Who would look after you if I am focused on a courtship?”
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. “If I’m to wed as soon as the fall, Grandmamma can attend events with me.”
“I’m not sure your father would agree with this plan of yours.” Genny rested her head back on the rocks and let the sun heat her face.
“You will never know unless you ask.”
But she’d never ask. Barrington had proven no better than his reputation. Not that she would reveal that to her cousin. That was her secret to bear alone.
“Maybe I will ask your father after you are wed,” she said, lying easily. That should pacify her cousin and put off the conversation until a much later date. “Come on, we have to head back; we’ve been cooling in the water a good half hour.”
They gathered up their stockings, stuffing them in their pockets, and slipped back into their shoes.
“Don’t mention this conversation again. I don’t want anyone to know that Barrington and I might have been more than friends.”
“That you have so little faith in me goes to show you don’t know me well.” Charlotte looped her arm through Genny’s on the long walk back to the house. “Your secret is safe with me.”
She knew her secrets would be safe with her cousin, but she could never reveal the ugly truth about Barrington and Castleigh. Why should she crush her cousin’s heart? Charlotte would eventually figure out that both men were no longer interested in being a part of their lives.
When they reached the back entrance, Lady Hargrove informed them that Lord Barrington had urgent business to attend to in London and had left while they’d been on their walk.
Though she’d expected him to leave, the news still made her heart splinter right down the center. It was better this way, she argued to herself. It would be easier to forget him if he wasn’t constantly in her presence.
When they went to their own rooms to freshen up after their walk, Genny tossed her hat on her bed and slumped down on the chaise longue near the fireplace and stared at nothing. She wished she could take one day for herself before having to play the perfect chaperone in two hours’ time for luncheon. She’d have to settle for a short nap and hope that her emotions didn’t bombard her at an inconvenient time.
When she focused on the mantel clock, she saw a small blue box that hadn’t been there when she’d left. Genny tilted her head to the side, spying a folded piece of paper next to the box, which looked vaguely familiar.
She stood and grabbed both items from the mantel and sat back down on the chaise. She held the box in her hand, turning it over, recalling the first time she’d seen it back at her uncle’s house.
She set it next to her, not sure she should even open it, and peeled through the wax that sealed the letter.
Princess,
Before you toss away this letter or the present that I bought you all those weeks ago from the jeweler’s, please hear me out. I cannot walk away from us with my heart intact. I cannot leave you to a life of uncertainty even if it seems better to find your own way than to ever trust me again.
Everything between us these last two weeks has meant more to me than you can ever know. I love you. I have always loved you and I know that we can start over even if I’ve been the biggest ass there ever was.
Without you, my life is nothing. I need your smile, your laughter, your very presence. You alone make me a better man, and that is the only reason I confessed what needed to be said. I’m sorry I hurt you. That I broke your trust in me. But know that no matter how long it takes, I will win you back.