“Yes. It does,” Charles said from his position on the floor.
“Would you mind introducing me to this gentleman you just engaged in fisticuffs with?” She walked farther into the room.
Apparently, Lottie missed the ‘and obey’ part of the marriage ceremony when the vicar said, ‘love, honor, and obey.’
“I am the Viscount Hastings.” Charles climbed to his feet and brushed his clothing off. “Your brother-in-law, I am sorry to say.”
Carter leaped over the sofa, grabbed his brother by the throat and they both went down.
Lottie stamped her foot. “Stop this. Stop this now!” She ran to a small table and picked up a vase, holding it in the air. “I shall smash both of you on the head with this.”
Carter rolled off his brother and stood. He stumbled over to Lottie. “Dear heart, please go back upstairs.”
She shook her head. “No. I want to know what’s going on in here. If this is your brother, why are you both rolling around on the floor, fighting like a couple of school boys?”
Charles tugged on his jacket sleeves and looked over at Carter. “Are you going to tell her, or do I have to?”
“Tell me what?” Lottie looked concerned, and Carter knew his brother was about to break her heart.
He tried once more. “Lottie, this is between us. Please forget what you saw and go back upstairs.”
“You’re starting to scare me,” she said. She looked over at Charles. “Say what my husband is reluctant to have me hear.”
“Fine. I will do this because I love my brother. I love my entire family and frankly, him marrying you will cause a great deal of harm to our name.” He turned to Carter. “There. It’s been said. I’m sorry, Miss Danvers, but that’s what the situation is.”
Lottie drew back as if she’d been slapped. “It’s Mrs. Westbrooke,” she muttered, then with her chin raised, made her way out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Carter turned on his brother. “Don’t ever come to my house again. You are not welcomed. And if Mother and Father feel the same way, that goes for them as well. I love my wife. She is a wonderful, kind, caring, intelligent woman.” He pushed Charles out of the way and made his way to the door. “You can see yourself out.”
As expected, Lottie was sitting on the bed, staring at the wall. One lone tear tracked down her cheek. “I knew this would happen.”
Carter sat next to her and took her hand. “My brother is a nodcock. He was always a hot-headed youth and never thinks things through before he opens his mouth.”
Lottie wiped her cheek and shook her head. “No. Your brother was correct. I told you before we married that your family name would be besmirched.” She turned and smiled softly. “But I hate being right.”
Carter wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “You are not right. My brother doesn’t matter. Everyone here in Bath has been more than pleasant to both of us. He lives in London. We never need to see him again.”
“And the rest of your family. Will you write them off that quickly, as well?”
He tucked a curl behind her ear and cupped her chin. “You are my family now. We will have children and build a life for ourselves that we’re happy with. We don’t need anyone else.”
Lottie closed her eyes and then pulled him in for a kiss that ended in an explosion of passion. They made love twice and finally fell into an exhausted sleep.
Carter awoke at dawn the next morning and reached over to pull Lottie to him. The space alongside him was empty. And cold. A search of the house proved it to be empty, as well.
His wife had left him.
14
Carter pounded on the Berkshire residence’s front door. He didn’t care if he woke the entire neighborhood. He was certain his wife had fled to Addie and he wanted, nay needed, to coax her back home.
His life was nothing without her. In the short time they’d been married, he knew that in his heart. Hell, he was prepared to move to France and spend the rest of his life there if that was what it took to make her comfortable.
He pounded once again, and the door was finally opened by Berkshire’s butler. “Good morning Penrose. Is his lordship up and about yet?”
It was quite early, and Carter knew Berkshire would probably not be ready to receive company, but he was sure Lottie was here.
“I’m afraid not, sir. If you will wait in the drawing room I will see if he can receive you.”