“It is.”
“No. But once, when I was about sixteen and needed help with investments, I lay right about this spot and unpacked all my worries to him. A star streaked across the sky in the very moment, and a part of me believed he answered. The logical part knew it was possible only a star or dust particles. After that night, I became more serious about the constellations. I started a study of it, reading works by Ptolemy and Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galileiin in Greek and Italian. It developed into a hobby or more like a passion.”
Staring at the vast beauty of the night sky, she softly said, “I still believe your father could have hurtled whatever it was through the sky,” Charity pointed out. “It could have been his way of reassuring you.”
The earl chuckled low and soft. “Somehow, I believe you might be the only person to hear this unlikely tale and have some sort of understanding. You are romantic and whimsical.”
Charity smiled. “That might be true, my lord.”
“Do me the honor of calling me, Ethan.”
A hitch found its way into Charity’s heart. “As friends, it is also permissible for you to call me Charity…Ethan.”
She felt rather than saw his smile. Another gust of wind had her shivering.
“It would be permissible for you to curve into my arms and allow me to shelter you from the wind.”
Her gasp sliced through the air, and she stilled. “I will do no such thing.”
“Afraid of my tempting scent?”
She groaned, and he chuckled. He had heard her ridiculous talk that night.
“Tell me, how did you meet the Duchess of Hartford.”
“Theo?” Charity asked, astonished.
“She is the ringleader of 48 Berkeley Square, is she not?”
Now she understood his curiosity. “I met Theo a few years ago at a ball. It was friendship at first conversation, and our sense of adventure drew us close together. It was refreshing to speak with someone with whom I felt a kinship. When she had the idea of forming a salon of sorts, I promised her I would be one of her very first members,” Charity said with a smile. “How do you know of our club. It is highly secretive. Did Jenna tell you?”
“Not directly. More than once, she behaved clandestinely. One day I followed her.”
“Never say!” Charity gasped, outraged.
“Of course I did. Many rakes have convinced ladies to meet them to their detriment. I admit that night when I saw her sneaking out, I thought she was eloping. I planned to kill the bounder when I found him. So, I broke into Berkeley Square.”
“You broke in?”
“Yes.”
“And we did not notice?” Charity’s thoughts whirled. “You could have killed us all. Not one of us suspected someone had entered our haven.”
“Considering what I found, I believe you ladies would have had me trussed up in no time at all.”
She laughed, delighted with his dry humor. “Was Jenna very upset when you confronted her?”
“I had no need to. I observed silently for a bit and thought such a group of like-minded ladies would more likely keep her safe and out of trouble. That was before I discovered you read erotic picture books. Now I must rethink the matter.”
Charity shifted onto her side and came upon her elbows. How devilishly handsome he appeared with the moonlight caressing almost lovingly across his face. His eyes seemed even darker, and now they were pinned on her face almost with a dare.
I like dares, she silently said to him, allowing her mouth to curve into a smile.
One of his brows winged upward in a questioning arch. “Ah, she plots.” She laughed as he managed an expression which was a parody of a sinister melodrama villain.
“I am wondering how you came to know of the book. Jenna was not there when we looked at it.”
“Ah, for that, I am relieved.”