Her hands clenched into fists. “I’m here, aren’t I? In this bed, letting my feelings out instead of running from them.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “So you are.”
“What do you want?”
He shook his head. “I hate how we left things between us. Despite what you think, I care for you and I want the best—”
A loud knock filled the room. Chase yelled from the hall, “Charlie. Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” she called back, turning toward the door. “I’ve just got a headache. That’s all.”
“Open the door,” Chase said, even louder. “I need to see you.”
She spun back around to Raithe. “You’d better go,” she whispered.
He gave a stiff nod but as he turned, Lord Craven entered the bedroom from the same balcony Raithe had just come through. “I beg to differ. Lord Balstead isn’t going anywhere.”
Raithe closed his eyes for just a split second. This was perfect.
It wasn’t his most courageous move in his life, but being caught here, they’d force the match. Somehow, being forced to marry Charlie was different from making the choice. He didn’t decide to move on from Jenni. Fate would take care of the decision for him. His shoulders slumped as he let out a long breath of air. “Open the door, Charlie. Let His Grace in.”
Craven cleared his throat. “At least you’re being a man about it.”
“You expected less?” He turned back to look at Craven. He’d never been fond of the man in their meetings in London, but here, he found he admired him at least. Like might be a bit strong, but Craven was direct, a man’s man willing to fight for what was his.
Craven dropped his chin, staring at Raithe. “Not after seeing you box.”
The Duke of Rathmore entered the room, followed by Lord Crestwood. Rathmore stepped in front of Charlie. “What are you doing in my cousin’s room?”
Raithe knew he was about to take a beating. He wasn’t scared, just prepared. “Well, most recently, I was apologizing.”
“For?” Craven asked behind him.
He cleared his throat but Charlie skirted around Rathmore. “For hurting my feelings. I declared my affection and Lord Balstead informed me he wasn’t the sort for me.”
Something inside Raithe melted. Even now she defended him, trying to protect him. The little minx. He scrubbed the back of his neck. He was in love with her. She was beautiful and innocent but brave and strong too.
“By coming into your room?” Rathmore’s lip curled. “You’re not actually going to make a case that he is a gentleman?”
Color flared in Charlie’s cheeks as she raised a finger into Rathmore’s face. “Don’t you even, Chase. I know there was a picnic where you and Ophelia snuck out and went down to the beach.” Then her finger swept across the other men. “What would happen if I asked your ladies how well you upheld your gentlemanly duties? Did you wait until you were engaged to steal a kiss?”
To his complete amazement, he watched the other men’s heads drop. Was she shaming them into backing down? “It’s all right, Charlie. You don’t have to defend me.”
“That’s right,” Craven answered. “It’s different because Balstead isn’t a man who can be redeemed. And you’ve painted yourself into a corner by having to wed him. He’ll never be a good hus—”
“Enough.” Charlie slashed her hand through the air. “You don’t know that.”
“You don’t know,” Rathmore answered. “Even among rakes, Balstead is…” The other man looked at Raithe. His insides tightened because he deserved every word.
“I have been as bad as they come, but that does not mean I am beyond redemption.” He drew up his shoulders. “I’d like to offer for Charlie. I’ll make my offer to you, Rathmore, in Hartwell’s place.”
“No.” The word didn’t come from Rathmore but from Charlie herself. High and feminine the single word cut through the air. “I refuse the offer.”
“You don’t have a choice, Charlie,” Rathmore grated out. “You were alone with this man. It’s that or ruin.”
“Which one of you is going to tell society about my indiscretion?”
No, no, no. He silently pleaded. Just let it happen, Charlie. It’s better this way. But she didn’t seem to hear him, even in the silence as not one man responded to her question.