How to Turn a Frog into a Prince - Bree Wolf Page 0,108
But what?
Never had Lord Ashhaven paid any attention toward Charlaine beyond expected niceties. Now, however, he stepped close—too close for Nathanial’s liking—and addressed her in a hushed voice.
Turning around, Charlaine looked up at the tall man suddenly towering above her. Her gaze never veered from his face. Her eyes took on a somewhat odd expression, one Nathanial didn’t understand. Then she suddenly smiled at the tall lord, a smile that made the blood boil in Nathanial’s veins.
What sent him over the edge, though, was the way Lord Ashhaven reached for her in the next moment, drawing her arm through his, holding her close, before he led her away, the look in his gaze almost predatory.
A moment of stunned paralysis passed agonizingly slowly before Nathanial found himself rushing after them. He knew not why, did not dare to wonder, but still could not bring himself to stop.
*
After speaking to Abigail, Charlaine had searched high and low, looking for Nathanial. However, the man seemed to have disappeared, and with each minute that ticked by, Charlaine’s annoyance grew.
After the last few weeks tiptoeing around one another, never speaking their minds openly, always afraid of how their words would be understood, Charlaine wanted clarity above all else.
No, she needed clarity above all else.
“Don’t turn around.”
Charlaine almost flinched at Lord Ashhaven’s deep voice right behind her. She had not even heard him approach. Had he always been this stealthy? “Why?” she inquired a little breathlessly, nonetheless doing as he had demanded.
“I can help you if you do as I ask,” he replied ominously, inching closer until she could all but feel this broad chest brushing against her back.
“This feels strange,” she said, not certain what he was up to. Still, the tone in his voice somehow reassured her.
His hand touched her arm. “Now turn and look at me.”
Doing as he had asked, Charlaine looked up into his guarded eyes. “What is going on?”
His gaze held hers, the hint of a warning lingering there. “Mr. Caswell is currently standing across the room, staring holes into the back of my head. Don’t look!” he rushed to add when her gaze was inevitably drawn past his shoulder. “Now smile at me.”
“Why are you doing this?” Charlaine inquired, an amused smile coming to her lips. “Are you…?” She paused. “Are you trying to help me?”
His expression remained mostly unrevealing. Then the ghost of a smile teased his lips. “I admit I have grown annoyed with the way the two of you dance around one another.”
Her smile deepened. “How did you know?”
“It is rather obvious.”
Charlaine swallowed. “Do you think he cares for me?” Only this morning, she would never even have imagined asking Lord Ashhaven such an intimate question. However, right here, right now, he all but felt like her most trusted confidante. There was something utterly trust-inspiring about him.
Again, the corner of his mouth twitched. “That is an understatement. The man is utterly besotted with you.” The corner of his mouth twitched again. “As you are with him.”
Charlaine felt a slight blush come to her cheeks. Lord Ashhaven’s words warmed her heart. “Then what now? How do you suggest I proceed?”
“Simply do as I say.” Then he slipped her arm through the crook of his, pulled her close—too close to be considered appropriate—and then guided her out of the hall and toward another sitting room off the corridor that led to the back of the house.
Charlaine went along, her heart beating faster and faster as her hopes rose higher with each step they took. However, when they passed the curved staircase leading to the upper floor, she almost cringed when she caught sight of Emma’s shocked face, staring down at them with wide, unblinking eyes.
It would seem Daphne’s observation had been spot on!
Charlaine, however, had no time to worry about her friend’s feelings in that moment for Lord Ashhaven opened the door to the nearest room and pulled her inside, closing the door behind them with a swift kick of his boot.
A giggle escaped Charlaine, which she thought rather effective considering that this was meant to make Nathanial jealous, was it not? That was Lord Ashhaven’s plan. To confront Nathanial with the possibility of losing her to another if he didn’t act.
Charlaine knew only too well how that felt for the moment she had seen him kiss Abigail had been devastating. She could only hope that Nathanial would respond as Lord Ashhaven assumed. What if he simply bowed his head and left?