Cocky Earl - Annabelle Anders Page 0,98

sure you’ll be happy to return to your home. It’s always nice to be surrounded by familiar people and places.”

It was also nice to be with the person she loved more than anyone else in the world. The thought astonished her.

Loved.

She pictured Jules in her mind as he’d appeared that morning, seated beside her and declaring that she was more important than the contract his father had signed.

She never could have imagined feeling this way for any man, let alone an Englishman, when she’d first set foot on English soil. Now she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

The thought sent ice coursing through her. Because keeping him was by no means a certainty.

So many things could go wrong.

“Ah, well,” Charley sighed and crossed the room to the large trunk that had sat mostly empty since her arrival. “If I’m to be stuck in here, I might as well entertain myself.” Inside, she located a small box. She nonchalantly opened it, eyed the stack of notes that represented more money than most ever saw in a lifetime, and pushing it aside, removed a deck of cards before closing it again.

“Very good, Miss Jackson. Very good.” Crabtree watched Charley for a while as she shuffled the cards easily and pretended to play a game of solitaire. Only after Daisy returned did the woman return her attention to her knitting, allowing Charley to get serious with her exercises.

If allowed into the game, she’d be forced to use the cards at the table, so she practiced her mucking, which involved keeping cards back that she appeared to be discarding or slipping cards off of the dealer’s discard pile. Onto her lap. Into her sleeve. She’d learned the tricks from her father a very long time ago and had only ever used them for fun.

When the card fell onto the floor for the third time in a row, she cursed under her breath. She had no idea how skilled the players at the table might be. Panic warred with determination until she was interrupted by yet another unexpected visitor.

Bethany smiled painfully as she stepped inside and Daisy closed the door behind her. She clutched her hands in front of her and then, taking a deep breath, rushed forward, taking Charley’s hands in much the same manner Jules had earlier.

“Oh, Charley! Felicity doesn’t even want to marry Julian now. She said that before all of this she had thought that she did, but not if he was in love with someone else and now she feels absolutely horrible.” Charley went to speak but Bethany went right on talking, “She told her father this, but he insists he knows what’s best. Oh, poor Westerley.”

“Have you seen him today?”

Aside from playing her plan over and over in her mind, Jules was all that Charley could think of.

“He met with Brightly but then went to the stables. I imagine he’s gone for a ride. I hate that my mother is keeping you locked away like this. And I hate what people are saying about you.”

“What exactly are people saying?” Daisy had known what other servants were saying, but Charley would feel better knowing what she would face that evening.

Bethany frowned. “Initially, it wasn’t that bad. It was storming outside and it wasn’t fair to expect the two of you to ride home through the worst of it. But…” Her nose scrunched as she winced. “The fact that neither you nor my brother have made an appearance today makes everything so much worse. It isn’t fair of Mother at all. But she is terribly disappointed. Felicity’s mother is one of her closest friends.”

“I suppose it would help if I wasn’t an American.” Charley sighed, giving Lady Westerley some benefit of the doubt. She herself had held preconceived ideas about the English when she’d arrived. It was only natural that the countess did the same about her.

Bethany glanced toward where Mrs. Crabtree sat, no doubt listening to their every word, and then leaning forward, whispered, “Do you love him?”

“Your brother?” Charley hedged.

Bethany nodded.

“Have you ever been in love?” Perhaps Bethany would understand. Perhaps she could be of some help if she did.

The girl dropped her gaze. “Unfortunately.” Her voice came out low. “But he…” And then she smiled. “This isn’t about me, though. Do you love Westerley?”

She didn’t even have to think before answering. “More than anything.” Charley leaned in closer and lowered her voice as well. “I’m not giving up so easily.” She studied the oldest of Jules’ two sisters