Gentleman of Her Dreams
after. Before he could think about that further, she took his arm and began pushing him towards the door.
    “We’re running behind schedule,” she said.
    He blinked. There was a definite edge to her tone, as if he’d done something yet again to annoy her, but really, all he’d done was tell her she looked beautiful, and what woman would take issue with that?
    “Enjoy your evening, Mr. St. James, Miss Wilson,” Mr. Lewis said as he opened the door and ushered them through it.
    Henry helped Charlotte into the carriage and then followed, tapping on the roof to let his driver know they were ready to proceed. Silence settled over them as the carriage began to move, and he couldn’t seem to keep his gaze from Charlotte’s face.
    What was she thinking?
    Why was she so disgruntled?
    He didn’t like seeing her disgruntled. He liked seeing her laughing and joking and driving him to distraction.
    “I’m sorry I’ve been rude,” she suddenly said.
    He smiled. Charlotte had never been a lady who could remain silent long. “Do you want to tell me what’s gotten you in such an evil temper?”
    “Do you want to tell me why you claimed to be in a foul mood?”
    This conversation was certain to turn dangerous.
    He had no intention of admitting to her his mood had been foul ever since he’d come to the conclusion she was not meant to be his.
    He shifted on the seat and felt the small box that had been his constant companion ever since he’d returned home press against his leg.
    He should have left the ring at home.
    He never should have purchased it in the first place, but the gypsy woman who’d been hawking her wares had shown it to him, cautioning him against buying it. She told him the ring had been the possession of a daring princess who’d fought convention a hundred years before and taken flight to marry, not a prince, but a commoner with whom she’d fallen in love and didn’t want to live without. The gypsy said the ring should only go to a woman who was wild and free and wouldn’t conform to society dictates, and he’d known that such a ring was destined for Charlotte. She was the love of his life and the untamed spirit he wanted to have by his side forever.
    Why he’d been lugging the ring around with him every time he’d been with Charlotte, he really couldn’t say, especially since he’d decided to leave her to Hamilton and go his own way.
    “What is the matter?”
    He blinked out of his thoughts, stuck his hand in his pocket to readjust the box to a more comfortable position, and then froze when he noticed her gaze on his movements.
    “What is that?”
    For a second, just a second, he considered pulling out the ring and presenting it to her. Sanity returned as he retrieved his empty hand and shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
    “Oh,” Charlotte said, “I thought it might be something you picked up on your travels, something unusual.”
    The ring was unusual all right. It would suit her perfectly.
    Maybe he should just give it to her, not as an engagement ring, but as a ring to remind her of their friendship after he’d gone.
    His fingers twitched as he moved them toward his pocket, but then stilled when she looked out the window and back at him.
    “We’re here.”
    Mr. Hamilton Beckett would certainly find it hard to resist Charlotte as she looked now, absolutely beautiful even with the slight trace of sadness in her eyes. Knowing that tonight would have her firmly out of his life, Henry sent her a smile and waited while the carriage rolled to a stop. He moved to the door, stepped to the ground, and turned to offer her his hand.
    As they moved into the Watsons’ house, the thought came to him that he hadn’t bothered to inquire about the sadness lingering in her eyes.

5
    H enry was an idiot.
    There was absolutely no other way to describe him at the moment.
    Charlotte exchanged the expected pleasantries with Mr. and Mrs. Watson at the door, absently noticed that Mrs. Watson seemed more rattled than

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