Ending 2 (Charlotte)

The farewell dinner unfolded much as the previous evenings had.

Fine food. Good wine.

Laughter echoed around the table as old hunting stories gave way to promises of future visits and invitations to neighbouring estates.

There was an unmistakable sense of conclusion in the air. Tomorrow, Kingsmere Hall would begin to empty.

As always, you remained behind Sir Edward's chair, quietly attending to your duties whenever required.

From time to time, your eyes wandered towards Lady Charlotte.

She seemed thoughtful that evening.

Her smile appeared when courtesy demanded it, yet it never lingered quite as long as before.

You found yourself thinking ahead to later that evening.

To the invitation she had made.

As the final course was cleared away and fresh glasses of port were poured, Lord Ashcombe slowly rose from his seat.

The conversations around the table gradually faded.

"My friends."

A warm smile spread across his face.

"Before we conclude another wonderful gathering at Kingsmere Hall, there is one final announcement I wish to make."

Several guests exchanged curious looks.

Lord Ashcombe looked towards his daughter.

Then towards Nathaniel Blackwood.

"It gives me great pleasure to announce the betrothal of my daughter, Lady Charlotte Ashcombe..."

He paused only briefly.

"...to Mr. Nathaniel Blackwood."

A murmur spread around the room before giving way to polite applause.

Blackwood rose smoothly from his chair, wearing the satisfied smile of a man who had expected precisely this moment.

He bowed first to Lord Ashcombe before turning towards Charlotte.

She accepted his offered arm.

Her smile was graceful.

Perfectly proper.

Yet something about it felt rehearsed.

Only someone watching her closely would have noticed how briefly it faltered before returning.

Guests quickly gathered to offer their congratulations.

Blackwood accepted each with effortless confidence.

Charlotte thanked everyone politely.

You watched the scene unfold in silence.

Unlike Sir Edward...

...you knew exactly what Charlotte thought of the man now standing beside her.

You had seen enough over the past few days to recognise the difference between genuine warmth and dutiful politeness.

Whatever smile she wore now...

...it wasn't happiness.

The evening continued.

Toasts were raised.

Music resumed.

Conversation gradually returned.

Yet you found yourself watching Charlotte whenever you could.

More than once, you caught her looking in your direction.

Each time, she looked away before anyone else could notice.

By the time the dinner came to an end, there was remarkably little uncertainty left in your mind.

If Charlotte had invited you...

...she would still be waiting.

Whatever obligations had been placed upon her that evening had not changed the woman herself.

Quite the opposite.

If anything, you suspected she might need you now more than ever.

Without another thought, you slipped quietly from the dining room and made your way towards the guest wing.

Charlotte's chambers lay ahead.

This time, there was no hesitation in your step.

Charlotte stood by the heavy oak door of her chambers, leaning against the frame with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. She had shed the formality of the dinner dress, now wearing a sheer, cream-colored silk robe that clung to her curves and dipped dangerously low at the neckline, offering a tantalizing glimpse of her full breasts. A playful, knowing smile played on her lips as she watched you approach, her gaze sweeping over you with an intensity that spoke of a hunger she had suppressed all evening.

"I wondered if you had the courage to actually find me," she murmured, her voice dropping to a sultry hum. She stepped closer, the scent of jasmine and warm skin wafting from her, and reached out to trail a slender finger along your chest, pressing lightly against your heartbeat. "The dinner was an absolute nightmare, and the thought of Blackwood's touch makes my skin crawl... I find myself craving something far more... potent."

Charlotte let out a soft, breathy laugh, noting the slight tension in your frame even as you maintained your composed facade. She found the contrast between your steady gaze and the rapid thrum of your heart beneath her fingertips utterly intoxicating. Moving with a fluid, predatory grace, she stepped into your personal space, the silk of her robe brushing against your trousers.

"Such a disciplined man," she whispered, tilting her head back to look up at you, her long lashes fluttering. She shifted her weight, allowing the fabric of her robe to slide slightly off one shoulder, exposing the pale, creamy curve of her skin. Her eyes darkened with a bold, unmistakable heat as she leaned in, her lips hovering just inches from yours, teasing you with the promise of a kiss. "But soon we are behind closed doors. I suspect that your composure is merely a veil... and I am very eager to see what lies beneath it."

Without breaking eye contact, Charlotte suddenly gripped your hand, her fingers interlocking with yours in a firm, demanding clasp. She didn't wait for a response, instead pulling you backward into the dim warmth of her chambers with a sudden, spirited urgency. As soon as you crossed the threshold, she swung the heavy door shut with a decisive thud and turned the key in the lock with a metallic click that echoed through the room.

"Now," she breathed, leaning her back against the closed door, her chest heaving slightly from the exertion. The silk of her robe shifted with her breath, the fabric straining against her voluptuous curves as she looked you up and down. The playful teasing from the hallway had evolved into something more visceral, a raw hunger that shimmered in her blue eyes.

She stepped toward you, her bare feet silent on the plush rug, until she was so close that you could feel the radiating heat of her body. She reached up, her hands sliding up your chest to coil around your neck, pulling your head down toward her. "No more games, and certainly no more polite conversation. I can feel you wanting me, and God knows I am aching for you."

Charlotte pressed her body firmly against yours, the friction of the silk robe barely acting as a barrier between your clothes and her warm skin. She arched her back slightly, molding her voluptuous breasts against your chest in a way that left no doubt about the desire she felt. A small, needy moan escaped her throat as she tightened her hold on your neck, her fingers tangling in your hair to pull you closer still.

"Tell me," she whispered, her lips brushing against your jawline, sending a trail of heat wherever she touched. "How long have you been imagining this? While I sat there listening to Blackwood drone on about his estates, I was imagining your hands on me... exactly where I want them."

“All day my lady”

She shifted her hips, grinding them slowly against you in a provocative rhythm that was both a question and a command. The boldness of her movements was a stark contrast to the poised lady she played in the dining hall, and the sheer desperation in her gaze suggested she was far past the point of wanting patience. She tilted her head, offering the sensitive curve of her neck to you, her breath coming in short, jagged gasps. "Don't be a gentleman tonight," she urged, her voice dropping to a commanding, husky tone. "I don’t want to leave anything for Blackwood. Take what you want."

A low, primal growl rumbled in your throat, and for a moment, the mask of the polite guest vanished completely. You gripped her waist, your fingers digging into the soft silk and the yielding flesh beneath, pulling her against you so she could feel the full, rigid extent of your arousal.

"You have no idea how many times I've imagined stripping that poise right off you," you murmured, your voice thick with a hunger that mirrored her own. You leaned in, your lips grazing the shell of her ear as you added in a harsh whisper, "Blackwood may have the contract, but tonight, you belong entirely to me. And now that you’ve admitted it, there is nothing you can do to prohibit me from taking everything I want now."

Before she could respond, you gave a sudden, powerful shove, pushing her back away from the door and deeper into the dimly lit room. Charlotte gasped, a sound of pure shock and excitement, as she stumbled back a few steps, her eyes wide and shimmering with anticipation. She didn't try to regain her balance; instead, she let herself sink back onto the edge of the oversized, velvet-canopied bed, her robe sliding open further to reveal the creamy expanse of her thighs. She looked up at you, breathless, her chest heaving as she waited for you to close the distance.

The suddenness of your movement caught her off guard, a thrill of fear and desire flashing across her face as you lunged forward. With a forceful thrust, you drove her back into the plush velvet of the bed. The impact forced a sharp gasp from her lungs, her chestnut hair spilling across the pillows in a chaotic wave. Before she could utter a single word of protest or pleasure, your palm slammed over her mouth, muffling her voice and pinning her head back against the bedding.

Charlotte’s eyes flew wide, shimmering with a mixture of shock and intense arousal. She didn't fight you; instead, she arched her spine, pressing her chest upward, her breathing becoming erratic and heavy against your hand. The sight of her—powerful, refined Lady Charlotte reduced to a breathless, silenced creature beneath you—was intoxicating. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm that you could feel vibrating through the mattress.

With your weight holding her immobile, you reached down with your free hand, gripping the silk tie of her robe. With one sharp, decisive tug, the knot gave way. The robe slid open effortlessly, spilling apart to reveal the pale, moonlit expanse of her skin. You didn't waste time with delicacy, your hand sliding down to grip the delicate fabric of her chemise. With a slow, deliberate motion, you began to peel the garment away, exposing her voluptuous breasts to the cool air of the room. They were firm and full, tipped with dark, peaking nipples that reacted instantly to the sudden chill and the heat of your gaze.

A muffled, needy moan vibrated against your palm as she strained against your grip, her hips subconsciously twitching in a desperate search for friction. She looked up at you, her blue eyes clouded with a raw, unfiltered lust, pleading for you to finish what you had started.

You slowly withdrew your hand from her mouth, though you kept your weight pressing her deep into the mattress, ensuring she felt every inch of your strength. Charlotte immediately gasped, a loud, shuddering intake of air that sounded almost like a sob of relief. Her lips were parted, damp and trembling, and she didn't waste a second, reaching up to claw at your shoulders, pulling you down to meet her desperation.

"Yes..." she whimpered, her voice cracked and breathless. "God, yes... don't stop. Please, don't stop."

You shifted your focus, lowering your head to capture one of her straining nipples in your mouth. You sucked hard, your tongue swirling around the peaking tip, tasting the salt and sweetness of her skin. Charlotte let out a sharp, piercing cry, her back arching violently off the bed as a jolt of pleasure shot through her. Her fingers dug deep into your back, her nails scratching through the fabric of your coat as she bucked instinctively against you.

"I can't... I can't bear the wait," she gasped, her legs instinctively winding around your waist, pulling you deeper into the crook of her thighs. The thin silk of her remaining undergarments was already damp, clinging to the folds of her heat. She began to grind her pelvis up against you with a frantic, mindless urgency, her breath coming in short, ragged pants that echoed through the quiet of the bedchamber.

"I want you inside me. Now. I want to feel you claim me before I have to pretend to be anyone else's."

You shifted your weight, sliding down her body with a slow, deliberate purpose that made Charlotte let out a soft, whimpering cry of anticipation. She reached down, her fingers blindly searching for you, her hips twitching with an urgency that was almost painful to behold. As you reached the junction of her thighs, you gripped her legs, hauling them wide and pinning them back toward her shoulders, leaving her completely open and exposed in the dim candlelight.

The sight of her was breathtaking—her pale skin flushed a deep, hot pink, her folds glistening and swollen with need. You didn't rush; instead, you leaned in, the heat radiating from her core hitting your face in a wave of intoxicating musk. You started with a slow, teasing lick, your tongue tracing the outer lips from bottom to top, savoring the sweet, salty taste of her arousal. Charlotte let out a strangled gasp, her head tossing from side to side against the pillows as a shiver of pure pleasure racked her slender frame.

"Oh... oh god," she breathed, her voice a shattered whisper. She gripped the velvet sheets, bunching the fabric in her fists as you dived deeper.

You pressed your face firmly against her, your tongue flattening and pushing deep into her soaking heat. You began to lap at her clitoris with rhythmic, wet strokes, alternating between broad, sweeping motions and sharp, focused flickers that sent bolts of electricity through her. You could hear the wet, slopping sound of your tongue meeting her drenched flesh, a sound that seemed to drive her into a frenzy. Charlotte’s hips began to buck wildly, her back arching as she tried to push herself closer to your mouth, her breath hitching in ragged, desperate sobs of pleasure.

"Please... right there... just like that," she cried out, her eyes clouded and unfocused, her body trembling on the verge of collapse. She was completely undone, her dignity forgotten, reduced to a shaking mass of desire as you continued to drink from her, preparing her body for the intrusion she so desperately craved.

Charlotte was spiraling, her breath coming in short, sharp hitches as her clitoris pulsed frantically against your tongue. She was hovering on the very edge of an orgasm, her thighs shaking violently and her fingers digging into the mattress as she sought some kind of anchor. A high, keen moan began to build in her throat, the sound of a woman about to be shattered by a climax.

Just as she reached the edge, just as her hips gave one final, desperate surge upward, you abruptly pulled away. The sudden loss of contact left her gasping, her eyes snapping open in wide-eyed shock, her body still vibrating with the unresolved tension of an imminent orgasm. She let out a soft, wounded whimper, her legs still splayed wide, her chest heaving as she looked at you with a desperate, pleading hunger.

"No... why... why did you stop?" she managed to choke out, her voice a broken thread.

You didn't answer with words. Instead, you moved with lightning speed, hoisting yourself back up and stripping away the last of your barriers in one fluid motion. Your cock, thick and rigid, throbbed with an intensity that matched the heat radiating from her. Without a moment's hesitation or a gentle warning, you grabbed her hips and drove yourself forward, burying your full length inside her with one hard, unapologetic thrust.

The impact was visceral. The sudden, deep intrusion hit her precisely where the tension had peaked, triggering the release she had been fighting for. Charlotte’s entire body stiffened, her back arching into a rigid bow as a loud, primal scream tore from her throat. Her internal muscles clamped around you with a crushing intensity, milking your shaft as the first wave of her orgasm crashed over her like a tide.

"Oh god! Oh—YES!" she shrieked, her head snapping back into the pillows. Her eyes rolled back as she was plunged into a blinding white light of pleasure, her walls pulsing in frantic, rhythmic contractions that threatened to pull you under with her. She was completely possessed by the sensation, her legs locking around your waist to keep you pinned deep inside her, refusing to let a single millimeter of space open between you as she shuddered uncontrollably beneath you.

As the peak of her orgasm slowly subsided, leaving Charlotte limp and trembling beneath you, the air in the room remained heavy with the scent of sex and desperation. Her breasts were still heaving, and a glazed look of sheer bliss lingered in her blue eyes. But as she began to relax, you shifted your grip, your hands clamping onto her hips with a brutal firmness that snapped her back to attention. You didn't give her time to recover; instead, you began to drive into her again, the pace shifting from a plunge to a relentless, hammering rhythm.

Each thrust was a violent collision, the sound of skin slapping against skin echoing sharply through the silent chamber. You were no longer courting her; you were conquering her. You hammered into her mercilessly, driving deep enough to jar her entire frame against the velvet mattress. Charlotte’s eyes flew open, her breath returning in ragged, fragmented gasps as the pleasure was overtaken by a fierce, overwhelming intensity that left her breathless.

"Oh! God... you're... you're taking me... so hard," she whimpered, her voice small and strained. She tried to keep pace with you, her hips bucking wildly to meet every crushing blow, her body humming with a new, raw kind of electricity.

Seeking more control, you shifted one hand upward, wrapping your fingers firmly around her slender throat. You didn't squeeze to harm, but you applied enough pressure to restrict her breath, forcing her head back into the pillow and her chest to heave in a struggle for air. The sensation of being dominated, of being completely at your mercy, sent a new jolt of submission through her. Her pupils dilated until her blue eyes were nearly black, and a look of absolute surrender washed over her face.

"Yes... please..." she managed to choke out, her voice a husky, desperate rasp. She looked up at you with a gaze of pure, unadulterated devotion, her pride fully stripped away. She sounded broken and needy, a far cry from the noblewoman of the court. "I am yours... just yours... do whatever you want with me... break me... please, just don't stop..."

You tightened your grip on her throat, leaning your weight further onto her until she was completely pinned, unable to move a single muscle without your permission. The dominance was intoxicating; her chest labored beneath yours, the pale skin of her breasts flushed a deep crimson. Every relentless thrust of your cock was designed to push her further into the mattress, overwhelming her senses until the only thing she knew was the feel of you filling her to the brim.

Charlotte’s eyes were unfocused, swimming with a mixture of desperation and raw, carnal need. As the friction increased, her internal walls clenched and fluttered around you, signaling that she was slipping toward another peak. However, instead of letting her slide over the edge, you slowed your pace, teasing her with shallow, grinding strokes that left her whimpering in frustration. She began to sob, a small, broken sound, her legs shaking as she fought to pull you back in deeper.

"Please... I can't... I need more," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper against the pressure of your hand. She looked up at you, her expression one of absolute need.

Sensing that you were nearing your own limit, you abruptly withdrew from her with a sudden, wet pop that left her gasping in the sudden void. Before she could process the loss, you shifted your position, hauling her upward by her waist and flipping her over so she was on her knees, face towards you, arched and trembling. You pinned her against the edge of the bed, her hips pushed high and her chest pressed into the velvet.

You didn't let her settle; you gripped her hair, pulling her head back to expose her throat and mouth. Charlotte didn't fight; she opened her mouth instinctively, her tongue flickering in anticipation as she looked back at you with a gaze of pure, hungry submission. She could see your cock, glistening and throbbed with a looming release, and she let out a needy, pathetic little moan.

"I want it," she begged, her words slurring with lust. Her eyes pleaded with you, her voice a desperate, hushed command. "Please... I want to taste you. Put it in my mouth... give me your cum, please! I want every drop... I want to feel you fill me up... let me have it!"

You intended to grant her, her wish. You gripped her hair with a punishing force, yanking her head back until her spine arched into a steep curve. With a sudden, violent motion, you shoved your cock deep into her throat, barely giving her time to open her mouth before you bottomed out. Charlotte let out a muffled, choked sound, her eyes widening as she gagged, her face flushing a deep scarlet. You didn't let up, establishing a relentless, rhythmic drive that pushed her head back, treating her mouth as nothing more than another hole for your dominance.

Pinned and breathless, Charlotte’s only outlet for her mounting tension was below. Her breath came in jagged, nasal wheezes, her throat straining against your thickness, but her hands moved with a frantic, mindless urgency. She reached back, her slender fingers diving between her thighs to find her swollen, dripping clitoris. She began to rub herself with a violent intensity, her nails digging into her own flesh as she sought the release you were withholding from her body.

The sensation of being choked and filled, combined with the friction of her own hand, drove her over the edge in seconds. Her hips began to jerk rhythmically, and a muffled, desperate moan vibrated against your shaft as her walls clamped shut in a powerful, searing orgasm. As she shuddered violently, her internal muscles pulsing in a desperate rhythm, the sight of her utter surrender finally snapped your last thread of control.

You let out a low, guttural groan, gripping her hair even tighter as you drove yourself in one final, crushing time. You felt the sudden, hot explosion trigger in your gut, and you unleashed yourself. Thick, hot ropes of cum surged from your cock, firing deep into the back of her throat in powerful, rhythmic bursts. Charlotte gasped around you, her throat working instinctively to swallow the torrent as you filled her, pumping your seed into her in great, heavy volumes that threatened to overflow.

She whimpered, her body still trembling from her own climax, as she took every single drop, her eyes fluttering shut in a daze of absolute submission. When you finally pulled away, a thin trail of white spilled from the corner of her mouth, glistening in the moonlight.

As you withdrew from her mouth, the sudden vacuum left Charlotte breathless and utterly spent. With the tension that had held her body rigid finally snapping, she collapsed forward onto the velvet mattress. She landed with a soft thud, her chest heaving, her chestnut hair a tangled mess across the sheets. She lay there for a moment, shivering in the cooling air, her body still humming with the aftershocks of her climax, completely vulnerable and open.

You didn't allow her the luxury of a quiet recovery. Gripping her waist, you hauled her upward and flipped her over your lap as you sat down next to her with a rough, decisive motion. The sudden shift in position elicited a startled, airy gasp from her. Before she could even regain her bearings, you raised your hand and delivered a sharp, thunderous crack of a spank across her flushed, rounded cheek. The sound echoed loudly in the quiet chamber, leaving a bright red print on her fair skin.

"Ah!" she shrieked, her body jolting. The sting was immediate, a sharp contrast to the bliss she had just felt, and it sent a fresh surge of adrenaline through her. Instead of recoiling, she arched her hips instinctively, her blue eyes shimmering with a mixture of shock and longing as she looked back at you.

You followed the blow with another, and another, the rhythm steady and commanding, marking her skin with the evidence of your ownership. Charlotte whimpered, her voice a broken, needy sound, as she leaned into the discipline. When you finally stopped, you leaned down, your voice a low, predatory rumble against her ear.

"You were absolutely amazing, Charlotte," you murmured, your breath hot against her skin. "A perfect, filthy little thing. I suspect Blackwood will never even imagine the kind of creature you truly are beneath that silk and lace. You’re far too much woman for a man like him; you need someone who knows exactly how to break you."

A soft, shuddering sigh escaped her at the praise, her expression one of pure, adored submission. You let her slide back onto the bed, where she curled into a ball, eyes half-closed and glazed with affection. Without a word, you stepped away, the sound of your clothing being hastily donned cutting through the silence—the snap of a button, the rustle of trousers. The transition back to the world of nobility was swift, but as you tightened your cravat in the mirror, you could still see her in the reflection, flushed and ruined, watching you with a hunger that promised this was only the beginning.

Charlotte watched you from the depths of the pillows, her eyes tracking every precise movement as you restored your outward appearance. The sight of your composure returning—the straightening of the waistcoat and the tightening of the cravat—seemed to panic her. The stark contrast between the man who had just demolished her and the polished man now standing before her was too much to bear. She couldn't let the moment end; she couldn't let the wall of etiquette rise back up between you.

"Please..." she whispered, her voice still raspy and broken. She reached out a slender, trembling arm, her fingertips barely grazing the hem of your coat. "Don't go. Not yet. I cannot bear the thought of this room becoming empty and silent again, of remembering the coldness of my father's house... or the shadow of Blackwood."

She shifted, the silk robe swirling around her hips, and looked up at you with a vulnerability that went far beyond a simple plea for pleasure. Her blue eyes were wide and glistening, filled with a genuine, raw longing for the comfort that only your presence could provide. She looked utterly small amidst the velvet expanse of her bed, a ruined goddess seeking sanctuary.

"Stay with me," she urged, her voice trembling. She shifted her weight, making a space for you beside her, her expression a desperate blend of love and need. "Crawl back into this bed and hold me. Just for tonight... let me forget that the rest of the world exists. I don't want to be a Lady, or a daughter, or a betrothed... I just want to be yours."

For a long moment, you remained still, the silence of the room thick and heavy. But as you looked at her—the red marks on her skin, the tangled waves of her hair, and the sheer, heartbreaking hope in her gaze—your resolve crumbled. With a slow, deliberate exhale, you reached up and loosened your cravat once more, tossing it carelessly aside. You stepped toward the bed and slid beneath the covers, the cool sheets contrasting with the radiating heat of her body.

The second you were within reach, Charlotte let out a soft, shaky sigh and practically collided with you, winding her arms around your chest and burying her face in the crook of your neck. She clung to you as if you were the only solid thing in a world of shifting sands, her breath warm and steady against your skin as she finally closed her eyes, a look of absolute peace settling over her features.

Charlotte clung to you tightly, her breathing gradually syncing with yours. The silence of the room felt intimate, a sanctuary built from the wreckage of her composure. She shifted slightly, pressing her cheek against your chest, her voice a mere velvet whisper that vibrated against your skin.

"I shall be dreaming of this for months," she murmured, a soft, content smile curling her lips. "The thought of Blackwood's tedious company will be quite bearable, knowing that there is a secret we share—a darkness that belongs only to us."

She tightened her hold, her fingers grazing your skin with a lingering fondness. She tilted her head back, her blue eyes shimmering with a newfound determination as she looked up at you. "I want this to be our tradition. Every year, when the hunt brings us back together, I want you to find me in my chambers and ruin me all over again. And until then... I shall find every possible excuse to seek you out. I cannot go back to being a porcelain doll, not after you've shown me what it means to truly feel."

You felt a low, satisfied chuckle rumble in your chest, the sound vibrating through her cheek as you tightened your arm around her waist, pulling her even closer until there wasn't a whisper of air between your bodies. The warmth of the room, heavy with the lingering scent of their encounter, seemed to envelop them both in a cocoon of illicit comfort.

"A dangerous game, Charlotte," you murmured, your voice returning to that low, possessive tone as you pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "But I have always had a fondness for danger. And the idea of you longing for me, counting the days until you can be broken once more... that is a thought I shall treasure."

Charlotte let out a soft, shaky sigh of contentment, her body finally losing its last remnants of tension. She nuzzled closer, her head resting perfectly in the hollow of your shoulder, her eyes fluttering shut as she succumbed to the crushing weight of exhaustion and satisfaction. The rhythmic thrum of your heart served as a lullaby, drowning out the distant sounds of the manor and the stifling expectations of her rank.

Slowly, the world outside the heavy oak door ceased to exist. The politics of the gentry, the looming shadow of Lord Blackwood, and the rigid constraints of noble propriety faded into a distant, irrelevant haze. In the dim, moonlit glow of the chamber, there were no titles or contracts—only the shared warmth of two people bound by a secret and a hunger that transcended society's laws. As the silence of the night deepened, you both drifted off into a heavy, dreamless sleep, locked in an embrace that whispered of a promise for the future.

MORNING [DAY5]

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, slowly drawing you from sleep.

For a few peaceful moments, neither of you moved.

Charlotte rested quietly beside you, her hair spilling across the pillow, one hand still lightly clasping yours beneath the blankets.

She noticed you watching her and smiled.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"I was beginning to think you'd sleep through your journey home."

You laughed softly.

"I was considering it."

"I'm afraid my father would notice."

"And Sir Edward certainly would."

The thought sobered you both for a moment.

Charlotte slowly sat up, drawing the bedcovers around herself before looking towards the window.

"It all feels rather different in daylight."

"It does."

She turned back to you.

"I don't regret any of it."

"Neither do I."

Another comfortable silence followed before the reality of the morning finally caught up with you.

"I should go."

"You should."

Neither of you made any move to stand.

Eventually Charlotte reached for your hand once more.

"Promise me something."

"If I can."

"Like I said last night. When next year's hunt is held..."

A hopeful smile appeared.

"...find your way back to Kingsmere Hall."

You couldn't help smiling in return.

"I'll certainly try."

"No."

She squeezed your hand gently.

"Promise."

You met her eyes.

"I promise."

"And not just next year."

She laughed quietly.

"Any excuse will do."

"A harvest celebration."

"A Christmas visit."

"My father's birthday."

"I don't much care."

"As long as I see you again."

"You will."

The certainty in your own voice surprised even you.

Only then did the two of you finally rise.

You dressed quickly before opening the chamber door just enough to ensure the corridor was empty.

Charlotte stepped beside you.

"I suppose this is goodbye."

“For now."

She leaned forward just enough to brush a brief kiss against your lips.

"For now," she agreed.

Moments later, you slipped quietly into the corridor.

Kingsmere Hall had already come alive.

Servants hurried through the house carrying trunks and travelling cases, while outside the courtyard filled with departing guests preparing for the journey home.

By the time you reached Sir Edward's chamber, everything was ready.

His luggage stood packed beside the door.

His travelling coat waited neatly folded.

He looked up as you entered.

"There you are."

"My apologies, sir."

Edward smiled faintly.

"I assumed you had been seeing to some final errand."

"I had."

"Well."

He fastened one glove.

"We'd best not keep Lord Ashcombe waiting."

Outside, farewells were already underway.

Lord Ashcombe shook each guest's hand personally, thanking them for another successful gathering.

Charlotte stood beside him - graceful as ever.

No one watching her would have guessed she carried a secret known only to the two of you.

When Sir Edward approached, she greeted him warmly.

"I hope you have a pleasant journey, Sir Edward."

"My thanks, Lady Charlotte."

"You shall always be welcome at Kingsmere Hall."

Edward smiled.

"I hope to accept that invitation again."

Charlotte's eyes drifted briefly to yours.

"So do I."

The words could have been meant for anyone.

You knew otherwise.

As you climbed aboard the carriage, she offered you the slightest smile.

It lasted only a heartbeat.

Yet it carried a promise.

This would not be the last time you saw one another.

Whether at next year's hunt...

...or long before then.

The horses started forward.

Kingsmere Hall slowly disappeared behind you.