Page 43 of A Perfect Engagement
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore,” Charlotte decided. “What I need is to change clothes and get my head focused on the fact that Hawksridge, the real Hawksridge, is most likely arriving today. I need to push this thing with Daniel out of my mind. I have a real fiancé who I need to pay attention to.” Charlotte swiped her face once more. “Where were you ladies heading?”
Her friends exchanged a look between them. Then Susanna said, “The stables. I wanted to say hello to the new foal.”
“New foal?”
“Yes, last night a new foal was born. Ellie was coming along to keep me from getting into trouble for traipsing around unchaperoned.” She winked.
“Have fun. I am going to attempt to make it to my rooms unseen by my mother.” Charlotte gave a wave and headed down the grassy path toward the house.
She was approaching the gazebo when a voice rang out. “Oh, there you are! We have been looking all over for you.” Sophia’s voice sounded strangely high-pitched.
And no wonder, because right beside her stood Lord Hawksridge, impeccably dressed in a navy jacket and buff-colored breeches, his boots polished to a high shine and his cravat a bright white in the afternoon sun. His face so similar to Daniel’s, except his brows furrowed as he stared at her, dressed in riding attire. Oh, for goodness’ sake, would this day ever stop throwing surprises into her path?
“Miss Grisham! Look who has finally arrived. Lord Hawksridge’s brother, Lord Weston. He and I have been all over attempting to locate you.” Sophia tilted her head and winked while tipping her parasol to block Hawksridge’s view of her face.
“Yes, I’m sorry to be so delayed. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Grisham. I’m glad to be here finally to celebrate your engagement to my brother.”
Charlotte curtsied automatically. Yes, finally here! Her temper flared. Finally here. If Hawksridge had just arrived at the party as he was supposed to on Sunday, she would have spent the week getting to know him. All these confused longings for his brother; this was really all his fault.
“Speaking of, do you know where my brother is? I’m eager to greet him. We haven’t seen each other in months.” Hawksridge spoke too loudly, as though lying did not come easily to him.
This was ridiculous.“For heaven’s sake. Hawksridge, I know the truth.” Miles’s expression of shock was comical. “Mrs. Kingsley knows also. I asked her to keep an eye out for you.”
“Thank goodness this charade is done.” Sophia let out a long sigh.
“You know he is not me?” Miles asked.
“She figured it out within hours,” Sophia told him.
Charlotte crossed her arms in front of her chest. Did he really think her such a dunce? She needed to set a few things straight with her future husband.
“Hawksridge, may I have a word with you privately? Over there?” She pointed at the gazebo.
“Of course,” he replied.
“Good luck,” Sophia shot at Miles. She gave a curtsy and a small wave before sashaying away.
Charlotte entered the gazebo and sat down on one of the whitewashed benches. She smoothed her skirts and prepared what she wanted to say. Miles stood silently, his hands grasped behind his back.
“I’m very disappoi—” she started.
“I must apologi—” he began.
Both of them stopped.
Charlotte would not be deterred. “I cannot believe you thought sending in your brother as a substitute would work. Do you think me dim-witted?”
“No, of course not! I was needed elsewhere, and I wanted to spare your feelings. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.
“You did hurt my feelings. First, by not bothering to show up at our engagement party, and then by trying to fool me by having Daniel pretend to be you. What sort of marriage begins with deception? I thought we were both sensible people. I’m very disappointed you did not just write and tell me you had a conflict.”
Miles sighed. “You are absolutely right. I guess I assumed you were a typical female, prone to flights of foolish romantic notions. But I am glad to hear you will be approaching this marriage with a level head. There will be times when my duties in Parliament or at my estates will take me away for short periods. I promise not to try to spare your feelings but to be upfront from now on.”
She knew he wanted to compliment her, but somehow, Charlotte did not feel as though she had won in this scenario. “Daniel agreed to keep pretending, so I wouldn’t suffer any embarrassment in front of our guests. You owe him a debt of gratitude.”
“Indeed.” His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “You know, most people can’t tell us apart.”
“It wasn’t so hard. He has a scar which runs through his eyebrow, and he played the pianoforte beautifully.”
