How to Turn a Frog into a Prince - Bree Wolf Page 0,31

the terrace toward the gardens beyond.

“Pardon me, Mr. Caswell,” Charlaine called softly. “But do you have a moment?”

At the sound of her voice, Nathanial stilled and his shoulders slumped in what seemed like defeat. Clearly, he had never been pursued by a determined female before!

Then he breathed in deeply and slowly turned to face her. By the time his blue eyes settled on hers, Charlaine had crossed the small distance between them. “What do you want?” he snarled, that muscle in his jaw twitching sharply as he fought to remain in control. Quite obviously, he was a lot more furious than he let on.

Certain that there was nothing she could say to sway how he felt about her right here and now, Charlaine decided to be bold. “Come with me,” she whispered with a teasing smile and then looped her arm through his and pulled him along.

His body tensed, and she could feel his reluctance in the way he kept trying to fight her. However, short of digging in his heels, there was little he could do. It would seem she had caught him off guard, and Nathanial Caswell was a gentleman, nothing if not accommodating to a lady’s wishes.

To fight her, he would have to fight his own sense of right and wrong and he was not quite up to the task yet. Charlaine knew she was using his weakness against him. However, there would be no point in talking to him surrounded by the English ton.

Indeed, open words were needed, something the English upper crust seemed altogether incapable of.

“Where are we going?” Nathanial gritted out as she all but dragged him down the path and then made a turn that would no doubt lead them to a more solitary spot. Thick bushes grew into tall hedges, and the sounds of the ball began to dim as they moved onward.

Satisfied, Charlaine stopped, released his arm and turned to face him. “I’m so very sorry,” she said as her voice broke and her jaw began to quiver for she finally realized how much losing him would hurt her. “I’m so, so sorry. Please, forgive me.”

Chapter Fifteen

A Promise Given

Caught off guard for the second time that night, Nathanial stared at Miss Palmer.

Thick tears stood in her eyes and a slight tremor gripped her jaw as she held his gaze. Her arms had wrapped around herself, and her hands were gripping her upper arms with such force that Nathanial felt certain she would find bruises come morning.

His heart went out to her. Nathanial could not prevent that any more than he could prevent the sun from rising. Still, he willed himself to stand his ground, remembering the tears Abigail had cried upon finding herself betrayed by Lord Mortimer.

Back then, she, too, had apologized to Nathanial, voiced her regret and asked for his forgiveness. But it had only been regret for the disappointment of her own hopes, not for betraying him.

“Very well, I forgive you,” Nathanial said, his tone flat and emotionless. “May I leave now?” His brows rose in question, in challenge, in…curiosity. Would her tears be dried that easily? Or would she fight for more?

Abigail had not.

Miss Palmer drew in a slow breath, then quickly wiped at her tears. “I cannot believe I’m crying,” she whispered as a disbelieving chuckle escaped her lips. “I barely know you, and yet…” She drew in a deep breath and then stepped toward him. “Nathanial, I’m deeply sorry because I understand now how deeply I hurt you last night. I should have told you who I was, but…”

Nathanial knew he ought to leave, that it was foolish of him to stay and give her the chance to lie to him again. Still, his feet would not move. “Then why didn’t you? You knew who I was the moment you spoke to me, did you not?”

Miss Palmer nodded. “Pierce told me that you were accompanying him to the masquerade.” A smile teased her lips. “I instantly decided I needed to go as well and so I sent a message to Caroline, to Miss Hawkins.”

Leave! Now! His mind urged, afraid of the warmth that teased his heart at her words. And yet, Nathanial stayed. “Why?” he gritted out.

Her dark eyes lingered on his for a long moment. “Because I wanted to see you.”

Nathanial swallowed. “Why?” Suspicion rang in his voice, and yet, there was no reasonable foundation for it, or was there?

Of course, Nathanial had become aware of the whispers and stares that followed Miss Palmer whenever