So with only a couple of hours to spare before Blayne arrived, Charlotte made her way along the fashionable side-streets immediately behind Oxford Street with Daisy in tow. As they approached Bond Street, a gentleman exited a shop up ahead and stepped onto the pavement.
“Mr. Cooper?” Charlotte quickened her step. She’d been hoping to meet him again before he left England, but with her own daily schedule now packed to the brim, she’d not known if it were possible.
He halted in response to his name and turned. “Miss Russell. How perfectly serendipitous that I should find you here. I’ve been meaning to call – or at the very least send a note – to congratulate you on your recent engagement. I saw the announcement in the paper a few days ago but I must confess, I’ve been a bit busy, what with my wedding tomorrow and the ensuing journey back to New York. Please forgive me.”
“Of course.” Charlotte drew closer, until he was able to fall into step beside her. “I’ve been meaning to call on you for similar reasons, but have been unable to spare the time. This is my first day off from all the wedding frenzy.”
“And I’m sure you’ve only been allowed it because your mother had other plans.”
“I believe there was a charity meeting she could not possibly miss.” Charlotte allowed a brief moment of silence to settle between them before she said, “You’ve made an excellent match for yourself and I just want to tell you that I wish you every happiness.”
“No hard feelings?”
“None at all.” Charlotte smiled. “Considering what you came here for, I’d say Lady Fiona is much better suited to be your wife than I ever was. She’ll make an excellent Society hostess without going off-script, as it were, whereas I’m a lot more unpredictable.”
“So I learned,” he said, dropping a glance in her direction. “I’m still impressed by your negotiating skills.”
“And I am immensely grateful to you for agreeing to make a new deal with me.”
“I never pass on a good opportunity, Miss Russell, and in the end I did snag myself a better wife. If you’ll excuse me for saying so.”
“You also offered Papa compensation.” Having almost reached the end of the street, Charlotte drew to a halt and waited for Mr. Cooper to do the same. “Had you not done so, my father would still be in financial trouble and not nearly as forgiving of me as he has been. And since you had no need to do so, I feel I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.”
Mr. Cooper frowned. He took a deep breath, expelled it, and Charlotte realized he looked extremely uncomfortable all of a sudden – like his clothes were starting to itch.
He cleared his throat. “I did promise Mr. MacNeil I wouldn’t say anything, but I’ve never been one to take credit for something I haven’t done. It feels wrong – deceitful – even if I’ve been asked to do so.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I didn’t offer compensation to your father. To do so would have gone against my principles since you were the one who broke the initial agreement.”
“So then?”
“You may want to ask your fiancé about the part he played in all of this.” Retrieving his pocket watch, Mr. Cooper glanced at the time. “Please excuse me, Miss Russell, but I really must run. I’m due at the Earl of Dervaine’s residence in fifteen minutes.”
“Of course. Good luck with the wedding.”
Mr. Cooper tipped his hat before striding away. Baffled by what he’d told her, Charlotte stood utterly still for a moment while trying to gather her wits. The promissory note her father received was from Blayne? She hadn’t considered the possibility because… Well, for one thing Mr. Cooper had been the one to deliver it and for another, she’d not imagined Blayne had the means to provide such a sum unless he’d taken out a loan or…or… Good grief, one thousand pounds would surely be a staggering amount for a man in his position.
“Are you all right, miss?”
Charlotte flinched in response to Daisy’s voice. “Not quite. Let’s purchase that plant we came to buy so we can get back to the house.”
Later that day, Charlotte told the butler she would receive Blayne in the garden when he arrived. The weather was pleasant – warm with a gentle breeze – and she had a need to be out of doors where the air was less confining.
“Charlotte.” Blayne’s voice whispered close to her ear, sending lovely shivers across her skin. Somehow, in spite of his size, he’d managed to sneak up behind her as she stood admiring the roses. She turned and was instantly in his arms. His mouth settled firmly on hers, kissing her with a wonderful blend of love and longing. “I’ve missed ye.”
She smiled against his lips. “I’ve missed you too. So much I’m starting to regret not taking advantage of that special license you procured.”
Laughter rumbled through him, filling her heart with warmth. He stepped back a little, just enough to add an appropriate amount of distance and to allow Charlotte a glimpse of Daisy and another maid, named Jane, who both looked remarkably interested in the branches of a nearby tree.
Heat flared in Charlotte’s cheeks. She pressed her lips together. It was so easy for her to forget herself when she was with Blayne. His eyes twinkled with roguish humor – enough to prompt her to give him a playful slap on the arm.
“Do you prefer tea or lemonade?” she asked him.
“Is coffee an option?”
“Certainly.” Charlotte tore her gaze away from his and asked Jane to bring two pots – one with coffee and one with tea – along with some biscuits. As soon as she was gone, Charlotte turned to Daisy. “I’m sure you would enjoy the view of the garden more from the bench over there.”
Daisy bobbed a quick curtsey and retreated to the spot Charlotte indicated. It was within respectable distance of the table where Charlotte intended to sit with Blayne, yet far enough away for Daisy not to hear their conversation.
“There’s something I must ask you,” Charlotte said once she and Blayne were seated and their drinks had been served. She knit her brow. “I ran into Mr. Cooper this morning.”
“Oh? And how is he?”
“Happy with his new bride, it seems.” She sipped her tea while he drank his coffee. “Would you care for a biscuit? The ginger flavor is quite tasty.”
Blayne picked one off the plate she offered and bit into it. A sound of approval followed. “These are good, but I feel like ye’re stalling. What is it ye wish to ken?”
Charlotte had been trying to figure out how to ask him about the money he’d given her father and the possible state of his finances. It wasn’t easy since such matters were generally considered taboo, but they were getting married, so she ought to know if he’d put himself in debt by helping her out. Right?
She cleared her throat. Took another sip of her tea. “When I attempted to thank Mr. Cooper for the promise note he gave Papa, Mr. Cooper informed me that it hadn’t come from him but rather from you. Which does pose several questions since I would not have thought you were in possession of one thousand pounds.” When Blayne said nothing, she had to ask, “Did you borrow the money from Guthrie?”