By allowing more time, he would also have a better sense of whether or not the life he hoped for would be possible. A few additional weeks would give his uncle plenty of time to hear of his nephew’s reappearance and for Blayne to learn if the man would leave him in peace.
His heart gave a hard thump. He’d no idea what he would do if the bastard suddenly showed. Or rather, he didn’t want to accept what he’d have to do since that would mean giving up Charlotte. Torn between the desire to bind her to him forever as soon as possible and taking the time required to assess the danger he might be placing her in if they married, he simply stood there, attempting to breathe.
There was a different kind of danger if they didn’t marry of course – one in which her reputation could easily be destroyed.
Christ, what a mess!
He wanted to punch something, tear his own bloody hair out. How the devil could he have let this happen? The answer to that was all too simple – she’d crept under his skin, taken up residence in his heart, and tempted him with a dream he never should have allowed.
And now it was too late. They were both in too deep.
All he could do was pray their upcoming nuptials wouldn’t be mentioned alongside a sketch of them in a Scottish paper, and that his uncle would overlook it if it were.
“Let’s have the bans cried,” Blayne heard himself say.
Charlotte blinked as she gazed at him through watery eyes. “I suppose the urgency has been slightly diminished now that we have my parents’ support. But are you certain this is what you want?”
More uncertain than ever before, he forced out a confident, “Yes.”
“It’s settled then,” Lady Elkins said with a smile so wide it stretched across her entire face. “Charlotte, your staying here with the Windhams is perfectly fine with us if you wish to continue your visit, but you should know that we would be happy to have you home again. And of course, it will make all the arrangements easier.”
“I shall return tomorrow, Mama,” Charlotte said. She glanced at her father who seemed to be doing his utmost to tamp down whatever opinions he might be having. “Hopefully, in time, we can put the recent weeks behind us.”
Lord Elkins knit his brow and for a moment Blayne feared he would say something to earn a punch in the face, but then the frown eased and he slowly nodded. “I’ve wronged you, Charlotte. I see that now. I’m ashamed to confess my decisions were based on a mixture of stubborn blindness and greed.”
“I appreciate your saying so,” Charlotte told him.
The Elkinses took their leave and Blayne turned to Charlotte. “Are ye all right?”
“A little shaken to be perfectly honest, but I will be fine.” She gave him a wobbly smile. “I’m glad they came to see me. The discord we’ve shared in recent weeks made me most uneasy. Being back on more cordial terms is a relief.”
“Good, because I cannae bear for ye to be unhappy in any way, Charlotte.” He cupped her cheek with his palm, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear – anything to simply touch her – before allowing his fingers to trail down the side of her neck and across her shoulder. “We should probably rejoin the others before they start on dessert.”
“I quite agree,” she said, though not before rising up on her toes and pressing a kiss to his lips.
Of course he wanted more, but he also had no desire to let them get carried away in the Windham parlor while three other people sat in the next room. So he let the caress remain chaste and instead told her slyly while walking her back to the dining room, “There is one downside to a delayed wedding.”
“And what would that be, I wonder?”
Her flirtatious tone made him chuckle. “I’ve a niggling feeling ye’re well aware, Miss Russell, but just in case ye cannae figure it out, I’d best inform ye that it does involve a bed and fewer clothes than what ye’re currently wearing.”
He opened the door to the dining room before she had a chance to respond, effectively stopping their conversation from getting too out of hand. As it was, he could not recall the last time he’d lain with a woman, so with their future as husband and wife now decided, he was more than eager to make her his.
Delighting in the flood of color pinkening her skin, Blayne discreetly slid his hand over her lower back while helping her into her seat. She sucked in a breath, alerting him to her keen responsiveness.
God, how he longed to get her out of her dress and underthings so he could taste every glorious inch of her body. Aware such provocative thoughts would only lead to discomfort and possible embarrassment, Blayne forced himself to listen to Marcus who was speaking of his newly developed plans to travel to Edinburgh in pursuit of the medical education he wanted.
“But you will be so far away from us if you go there,” Regina said. “Can you not take the same courses here in London?”
“Edinburgh has the best medical schooling,” Marcus said. “If I’m serious about it, then that is where I must go.”
“Are you acquainted with the Duke of Redding and Mrs. Henry Lowell, the former Duchess of Tremaine?” Guthrie asked.
“Only vaguely,” Marcus confessed. “I know they run St. Agatha’s Hospital but I’ve never actually met either one.”
“I can make the introduction if you like,” Guthrie said. “Redding should prove especially helpful as a trained surgeon. I’m sure he’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.”
“Thank you,” Marcus said. “I appreciate that.”
The rest of the dinner progressed with talk of Charlotte’s and Blayne’s decision to delay their wedding, which somehow morphed into a most peculiar debate about fabric and shoes.
“Are you sure postponing is wise?” Guthrie asked Blayne later that evening when they were alone.
The hour was getting late. Marcus had already retired a short while ago, and Blayne himself was beginning to think about heading home. His intention was to go find Charlotte so he could bid her farewell before taking his leave.
He met Guthrie’s gaze head on. “I dinnae ken.”
Guthrie nodded with pensive slowness. “Have you told her of your fear?”
“Nae.”
“Maybe you should.”
“For what purpose?” Blayne shook his head. “What can telling her possibly accomplish at this point? We have to marry in order to safeguard her reputation.”
“And if your uncle decides to put in an appearance?”
“Then I’ll figure something out.” He took a long sip of his drink and prayed he’d know what to do if Seamus showed up, because at the moment, he’d no bloody clue.
17
When Charlotte set off from home five days later, she did so with purpose. Since returning to Russell House, her days had been impossibly busy, filled with back and forth conversations regarding wedding-related topics. At least today, she would get to see Blayne again.
After sending him a note the previous afternoon, he’d agreed to visit for tea. Considering how much time they’d spent in each other’s company prior to their real engagement, she missed him dreadfully. To Charlotte’s relief, her mother had agreed to give her a reprieve from planning the wedding, which probably had more to do with the viscountess’s own prior engagements than anything else.