How to Turn a Frog into a Prince - Bree Wolf Page 0,84

informed of all the countries through which they were traveling.

A few steps carried Nathanial back to the door, his hand reaching for the envelope the moment his eyes settled upon his name written on the front. The delicate handwriting, curved and expressive, stole the air from his lungs for he knew it well.

Had seen it many times.

Abigail.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Disappointed Hopes

“What do you mean he is gone?” Her own voice sounded shrill to Charlaine’s ears as she stared at Caroline. “He can’t be gone!” Her head spun around, her eyes searching the drawing room as though she simply had to look hard enough to spot him.

Caroline sighed, her blue eyes looking at Charlaine with compassion and regret. “He spoke to Pierce late last night. Pierce tried to detain him, but Nathanial wouldn’t hear of it.” She reached for Charlaine’s trembling hands. “Pierce said he seemed…haunted somehow…as though he was running from something.” Her eyes searched Charlaine’s. “What happened?”

Shaking her head, Charlaine turned away, then began to pace up and down the room, her thoughts drawn back to the moment at the lake only the day before. Had only a day passed since then? “How could he simply leave without a word?” She turned to look at Caroline, feeling tears prick the backs of her eyes. “He didn’t even say goodbye.”

A few quick steps carried Caroline to Charlaine’s side, her arms coming around the young woman, offering comfort. “Something must have rattled him. Perhaps he received word from home. Perhaps something happened. Perhaps there is a very good reason for why he left.”

Charlaine wished she could believe Caroline’s reasoning. “Even if there was some kind of urgency, he would have said something.” She pulled back, meeting Caroline’s gaze. “He’s not the kind of man to leave without a word.” She shook her head. The thought that he cared so little for her felt like a crushing weight upon her shoulders. “I thought he was my friend.”

Caroline grasped her hands. “He is your friend.” The certainty in her friend’s voice eased the pain in Charlaine’s heart. “He cares for you greatly. There can be no doubt about it.” Again, Caroline searched Charlaine’s face. “What happened?”

Closing her eyes, Charlaine sighed. “I wanted to swing and drop into the lake like Pierce told us he and Lord Ashhaven did when they were young.” She opened her eyes to look at Caroline and found an amused smile upon the other woman’s face. “What? You think I’m mad, too, don’t you?”

Chuckling, Caroline shook her head. “Oh, I don’t mean it like that, dearest.” Her hands squeezed Charlaine’s, a warm glow in her eyes. “You are an unusual woman, that is all.”

Charlaine hung her head. “Perhaps that is why he left.”

“No,” Caroline objected without a second’s hesitation. “It is why he became your friend. He was in a dark place when he came to London. We all could see it.” She shook her head, a smile dancing onto her face. “But he is not anymore, and that is because of you. You saved him from himself, and I do believe he knows it.”

“Then why did he leave?” Charlaine snapped, jerking her hands free from Caroline’s grasp and beginning to pace again.

“What else happened at the lake?” Caroline inquired as she watched her through narrowed eyes. “Something had to have or he would not have left in the night.” She stepped forward and grasped Charlaine’s arm, stopping her. “Tell me.”

Charlaine swallowed, and a trembling breath left her lips. “He kissed me.”

“He kissed you?” Caroline’s gaze widened.

Charlaine nodded. “I kissed him back. We…” A small smile stole onto her face. “It was wonderful. I didn’t see it coming. We were in the lake, splashing each other. He was laughing.” Remembering the moment they had ended up in the grass by the shore made her ache, for if she closed her eyes she could still feel his hands on her, tracing the line of her neck and slipping into her hair. She could still feel the soft brush of his lips against hers, the way he had cradled her in his arms, his heart beating fast against her own.

“What happened then?” Caroline asked quietly, her voice soft, almost cautiously. “After you kissed?”

Charlaine sighed. “He pulled away. He looked…haunted.” Was that not the word Pierce had used when Nathanial had taken his leave? Had it been their kiss that had sent him away? “He said he wished it had never happened, that it had been a mistake.” She swallowed. “He said he needed