The Charmer

eobal

d by most gentries from many other affluent towns such as Willowfair and W

attended a few herself until she had

i continued from the bed. "Margaret can eas

"It will be challenging to

ttended some yourself. You know ver

orially. "Very well,

d, "Now, remove your

to the door, "when there are other rooms out there-" Tori paused when the

f," he said, his voice

terly serious.

med. Try one

s not turning." She tried knocking on the door,

off the bed to rush to her side. He reached

r hands on her hips and fixed him a hard

ered, giving the knob anot

why your servants would a

do you ken would be-" he paused, his gaze connecting

m," he gritted out as h

are you

hout offering a reply and

it is very wise to jum

are not welcome. I am not going to stay here with you for another five

you can survive it!" Tori said, sud

used me to fal

t it seems the idiot here is the one s

ide," he

tly. He looked down once more. Tori knew he

is shoulder. "What are you l

ing for yo

g leap. I

care be

wled a

his desk. She took a blank piec

ll, about to jump to my death, and yo

breath. "Although writing a good adulation will be very hard indeed," she added. She finished

to climb down, not jump, pinhead," he said, jump

he snapp

," he r

as she walked to the

re you

eone would come by and pick up this note." She slipped it through th

to his bed and sat down. She folded her hands

tered as he started

waited i

*

walking down the hallway wh

ked insi

kept by the housekeeper. Without informing the rest of the family, the old butler managed to unlock Levi's doo

t, Jefferson decided to disappear into the kitchen. Moments later, he realiz

ery angry voice of a man roared, causing the cook to

his time?" asked Charl

Silas, Lord Benedict's valet, offered as he

information with anyone else, they heard Lady Alice shrill

s, the twin's insistence that they were innocent, and finally Benedict's au

e with me," Benedict

their governess," Jefferson heard Charlotte murmured under her breath. He had to agree for if

of you!" Lady Alice Everard's voice called out. "And you, Levi, give me a pr

evi answered his mother and s

servants continued their work with a sigh

d come to pa

*

here the opening ball for the party was held. She had worn her newest gown and Tori could only roll he

hinking how she could spend Tori's for

she was quite certain Clarice would device a plan for her to meet the bastard. Neither

tling both Tori and her stepmother. "Oh, Lady Clarice, I did not see you there," a

ha

n could even protest. "Levi is waiting for you at the end of that corridor,"

Clari

r into the corridor. "I will wait here a few minutes,

t, what

stern look. "Do you wa

I do, but I

rn left and then right. Levi will be wait

excitement and apprehension. Oh, bother! She was eight and twenty.

mpty corridor. Everyone seemed to be already at the party

she turned left. Margaret was stil

ng wary as the emptiness and eeriness of the place started to creep in. The

bly ghosts as well. She hastened to th

L

bastard be? Tori wond

tori

ar because instinct was faster and she turned aro

ca

ridor. Had he been follow

interpreted to be close to a sneer, h

he nearly slapped herself. She ought not to h

ying, "Where are you goi

." She picked up he

ave you talked wi

do not believe we've discusse

ou about ou

. "I do not think it is proper

t? We are to be wed. Do not be an

eed! And I am n

t bet you can have-you can ever have. Do you

at he took three more steps forward bef

is family's money, he might have the best chance of marrying someone better. But he was an arrogant, obnoxious bastard and he was nearly at his last townsend that Tori thought she was his best chance, not the other way around. "But considering my family's history with yours and your curre

ther chase one myself. Thank you for your kind consideration to our situation. Know it has not passed my know

f following her, she might just resort

ctoria!" he cried after her, his tone

, searching for Levi now c

was sharply pulled to the side by the sleeve of h

e familiar voice a

e

ct ti

g. Her response was

ha

ed they were under a dark staircase. Her heart still beating wildly in he

glorious, handsome face was barely visible

uc

pmother's

tared at him. "Now, where is this Lord Chat

moment before he spoke, "Are y

ucas? I cannot ma

or, giving Tori a chance to study him. He was wearing a black suit and blue cravat a

l," he whispered to her, stopped and took a step back to stare h

uled me off the corrid

Tori was surprised at the weird, tingling sensation that passed through her. She did not realize sh

muttered, staring at

t the austerity of his action. His brows lift

he will get it once we are marrie

h, but a man wou

vi. And besides, a good fellow would certainly h

will have an idea of what he is getting should he

nt

oor. He reached for the door handle and looked at her. "Are y

er, revealing a bit of flesh he was talking about just mere seconds a

room, at least ten of them,

ete!" exclaimed a woman, c

ri heard Levi

more people. You two are the answer to our prayers." H

y. He was indeed wearing a green cravat and he was the only one with da

i by the hand and pulling her to the cente

vi asked f

ame, dear," said t