Caroline patted her hand. “But you no longer see him as only a friend, do you?”
Admitting defeat, Charlaine hung her head. “I’m afraid I don’t.” She looked from Caroline to Emma. “I…I’m not certain when it happened, but now when I look at him, I…” Utter joy filled her heart and teased her lips into a wide smile.
“You’re in love,” Caroline observed with a chuckle.
Shocked to hear those words, Charlaine shook her head. “No. No. No.” Her head kept going from side to side. “I can’t be. Perhaps it’s only a passing infatuation…because he almost kissed me, because I kissed him, because…”
Emma stilled. “Wait! He kissed you?”
“Almost,” Charlaine corrected, then frowned. “Perhaps it was only in the moment. Or perhaps he wouldn’t have and I misinterpreted the situation. He seemed tense after as he did when I kissed him.” She sighed. “I think it is clear to say that he only sees me as a friend.”
“Are you certain?” Caroline asked gently, her blue eyes whispering of disappointment.
Charlaine looked away. She would not entertain these thoughts for they would only lead to a place of regret. “Yes, I’m certain. He is the best friend I’ve ever had and I will not risk what we have.” She looked from Caroline to Emma. “Please don’t say anything to him.”
Both women assured her they would not. “But what of—?” Caroline began.
Charlaine immediately interrupted her. “It is not about what I might want, but about what he needs.” She managed a small smile. “And he needs me to be his friend.”
Caroline met her gaze. “But friends are honest with each other.”
“Brutal honesty,” Charlaine whispered with a heavy heart.
“Pardon me?” Caroline and Emma said as one.
Charlaine shook her head. “It’s nothing. I will be as honest with him as I can, but I don’t think he’d still feel comfortable being my friend if he knew that…” She cleared her throat and determinedly pushed all thoughts of Nathanial away. “Now,” she turned to Caroline, “how about we fetch Pierce and you share your good news with him?”
Blushing slightly, Caroline nodded. “Very well.”
“I’ll go,” Emma offered immediately and was out the door a moment later.
“I will not push you,” Caroline said then, her blue eyes imploring as she looked at Charlaine, “however, I urge you not to turn a blind eye to what may be right in front of you.” She took Charlaine’s hand. “You don’t know why he tensed or why he was upset. There might be a different reason altogether. Perhaps you should speak to him.” A soft smile played over her face. “In my experience, there is a fine line between friendship and love.”
Charlaine’s shoulders slumped. “But if I speak to him, he’ll know, and once said, these words cannot be taken back.” Still, the dishonesty that now hung over them like the sword of Damocles brought a deep sadness to Charlaine’s heart. It seemed no matter what she did, their friendship would never be the same again. What if he saw her dishonesty or her feelings for him as a betrayal? What if he turned from her?
Not only would Charlaine herself be devastated, but the thought of what the loss of their friendship might do to him caused her great pain. More than anything, Nathanial seemed to believe that he was not worthy, that he did not measure up in comparison, that if there was a choice, he would always be left behind. He did not dare open his heart to another for fear of having it crushed yet again.
Charlaine could not allow that to happen. If he needed her to be his friend, then she would be his friend! That at least was not a lie. It was not the whole truth, but neither was it a lie.
Before Caroline could say another word, the door opened and Pierce walked in, followed by Emma, a barely concealed grin upon her soft features.
Pierce’s dark gaze swept the dim room, a slight frown upon his face. “What is going on here?” he asked, looking from his wife to Charlaine and back at Emma, who stood by the door, almost dancing on the spot. “It seems a plot is afoot,” he observed with a chuckle. Charlaine noted the tension that rested in his posture as he approached Caroline. “Are you all right?” His gaze slid over her. “You look pale.” His eyes narrowed. “You have been looking pale. What’s wrong?”
Both Caroline and Charlaine rose from the settee. While Charlaine walked over to join Emma, their arms linked as they watched with utter fascination, Caroline turned to her husband. Her hands slipped into his as she looked up at him, a smile playing over her face. “This is about our ongoing project,” she finally said, unable to rein in the joy that shone on her face.
Pierce stilled, his eyes slowly going wide. His hands tightened on hers, and Charlaine could see that he understood with perfect clarity what Caroline was telling him.
“You are…?” he whispered, awe giving his voice a breathy note.
Grinning, Caroline nodded. “I think I am.”
For a moment, time seemed to come to a standstill as husband and wife stared at one another, unspoken words passing between them, before a shout of joy burst from Pierce’s lips. He all but yanked Caroline into his arms and then spun her around, both laughing. Her feet dangled in the air as she clung to him, his arms wrapped safely around her.
Then Pierce set her back on the ground, his eyes seeking Caroline’s. One arm remained wrapped around her while the other brushed over her cheek and then slipped into her hair. “Are you well?” he whispered gently.
Caroline nodded. “I am. Only my stomach and my head seem to be at odds every once in a while.”
Pierce glanced at the half-drawn curtains. “Perhaps you should rest. I’ll take you to your chamber.”
“I don’t want to be alone,” Caroline replied, holding on to him as he made to step back. “I’d rather stay with you.”
Pierce grinned at her. “Who said I would leave?” And then he swept Caroline into his arms and marched straight for the door. “If you’ll excuse us, ladies,” he said to Charlaine and Emma as he passed by them, a wicked gleam in his dark eyes.
Charlaine chuckled as they looked after them, a new longing growing in her heart. “Have you ever loved anyone like that?”
Beside her, Emma shook her head, an equally wistful sigh leaving the young woman’s lips. “No, not like that.”
The reply made Charlaine wonder.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Inspiration Strikes
As Nathanial walked across the drawing room toward the French doors opening onto the terrace, voices drifted to his ears. He recognized not only Pierce’s low baritone, but also the calm, calculated authority of Lord Ashhaven. Although Nathanial had only been introduced to him in passing at Pierce and Caroline’s wedding, he remembered well the man’s rather unusual appearance.
Once, Lord Ashhaven had probably possessed raven-black hair, not unlike Pierce’s, for his roots still shone in that color. However, the majority of his hair looked as though bleached by the sun, shining in a silvery glow whenever light reflected upon it. His dark green eyes stood in stark contrast, and his tall stature made him tower over everyone. He was broad-shouldered, with a strong chin and eyes that appeared watchful no matter what he was doing. He rarely laughed, the expression upon his face generally whispering of a most serious nature.