Free Midnight Temptations With a Forbidden Lord by Tiffany Clare Page B

lady’s company. “Loathe” wasn’t a strong enough word for what she felt as she forced her smile back on her lips and widened her eyes so they were bright and beguiling and not pinched in anger.
    She would play this game of courting a while longer.
    “Thank you, Mr. Warren,” Genny said for them both.
    Mr. Warren took Charlotte’s arm and led her safely across the wide, busy road where carriages and men on horses clipped along at a quick pace and urchins and passersby strolled away from the mud-strewn road, men near the curb and women toward the shops.
    By taking her arm, Mr. Warren made his claim on her clear to all those who were present. This was very different from a simple ride in his carriage, though. True, that too reeked of courtship, but his actions today made it seem as though she approved because she could not defy him publicly. And Gunter’s being one of the few places a lady could visit without a chaperone in public with a man who was not her relation didn’t help matters. The gossips would be busy saying her name tonight. She had no desire to read her name in the rags next to his; she had envisioned another man’s name with hers.
    She held her shoulders back and blocked out the faces of everyone around her, ignoring the small voice in her head that demanded she yank out of his hold. No one would know of her shame for allowing Mr. Warren to take her arm. No one.
    “Lady Charlotte,” someone called.
    She released a sigh of relief on seeing Mr. Torrance greet them just inside the entrance of the tea and ice shop. He was a welcome sight, flowery prose and all—if he wanted to wax poetic as he often did.
    “Mr. Torrance. How fantastic to find you enjoying ices, too.” Charlotte smiled at him, hoping she looked grateful for his company and not desperate for a companion other than the one on her arm.
    Mr. Torrance took her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles gallantly without actually touching his lips to her gloved hand. Charlotte didn’t fail to see the look of disgust that curled Mr. Warren’s lip. Good, she hoped he was so put out that he couldn’t bring himself to touch her again.
    Reluctant to quit Mr. Torrance’s company now that it was obvious Mr. Warren would like nothing more than to order their ices and be rid of the man, she lingered. This was a grand payback for the way in which he practically claimed her as his own in front of the many noteworthy people sitting across the street in the park.
    “The weather seems to have brought everyone of good name to this fine establishment,” she noted to Mr. Torrance.
    “And who are you here with?” Genny asked.
    “My sister, Miss Camden.” He nodded toward the park. His sister, a thin, shorter woman wearing a white-sprigged walking dress with a pink ribbon sash about her waist and a winning smile, waved back at them.
    Before Charlotte could offer to have a longer conversation over ices, Mr. Warren said, “A pleasure to see you, Mr. Torrance. But we must bid our adieus, as we are for the counter. Perhaps another time we can arrange a picnic party.”
    Mr. Torrance backed up with a bright smile. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I simply had to say good day.” Mr. Torrance tipped his tall hat at both her and Genny. “I will see you ladies soon enough.”
    Most certainly they would since he seemed to follow Ariel about in the evenings.
    “Good day, Mr. Torrance. It was really lovely to see you,” Charlotte said just as he turned and made his way back across the street, dodging carriages and horses alike to return to his sister’s side.
    Mr. Warren pulled her forward before she was ready to take a step and she stumbled into his side. He didn’t apologize for his rough handling, just carried on as though he didn’t notice her body colliding into his.
    When they reached the polished mahogany counter, he ordered a lime ice for her—did he do so because he knew she secretly hated the tart flavor?—and a bergamot water ice for