A Gentleman's Promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

“ Amelia and I are over the other side of the room. Come and sit with us there .”
    He gave her a dismissing look and pulled his arm from her hand. Charlotte let him go and followed as he swayed toward her friend. Embarrassment threatened to choke her. It felt as if everyone watched the spectacle that was their marriage. A prick l ing of heat suffused her cheeks and Charlotte lifted her chin , n ot willing to cower under t he collective mocking and curious gazes.
    James flopped into a chair and sprawled like a man who was about to go to sleep. Charlotte sat beside him , summon ing a footman for some water .
    “James, you need to sit up. You’re at Lord Venning’s home and you know how he detests drunkenness and rowdy behavior .”
    “Bite your tongue, woman. Who are you , a commoner , to tell a Viscount how to behave ? ”
    Amelia sat beside James and smiled. “She has every right , as your Viscountess. Furthermore, your sickly pallor and untidy attire is hardly appropriate for polite society. You ought to be ashamed of yourself embarrassing your wife in such a way , Lord Remmick .” Amelia stood. “I will seek you out later, my dear.”
    Charlotte nodded and waited for James’s temper to take hold. Amelia had every right to hate him, why she hated him too now. There was no affection left in the ir marriage. James had extinguished that the first time he hit her.
    “How dare that bitch speak to me so? I ought to – ”
    “ Remember where you are, James. ” Charlotte hand ed him a drink. “ S it up and drink this and try and look the gentleman. You do know your cravat is untied ? ” Charlotte smiled at two passin g matrons and tried not to imagine what they must be thinking.
    James looked down at his shirt and laughed. “Well, I’ll be. Seems I didn’t tie it up after. Well, let me just say she had the longest legs, wrapped them nicely about my hips while I gave it to her up against a deserted lane’s wall.” He smirked and met Charlotte’s gaze. “You don’t mind do you, my lady. Since you no longer spread your legs for me, I have to find my enjoyment elsewhere.”
    Charlotte shuddered and looked about to ensure no one was within hearing range. “What you do in your spare time is no concern of mine, but you must , when appearing a t social events , at least look like the Viscount you were born to be.”
    “She was a ripe beauty as well. New to London from up north somewhere. With just one touch I was able to make her as wet as the Thames between her legs. The sweetest woman I’ve tasted in an age. Would you like to kiss me and find out, my dear? ”
    “You’re a vile, piece of human flesh and I’m ashamed to call you my husband.”
    James clasped her jaw and Charlotte stilled before he gathered his wits and sat back laughing. “You’ll pay for that later.”
    Tears threatened and Charlotte bit the inside of her lip. Hard. Why wouldn’t he just leave? Go back to the cesspit he was so f ond of in the East end of town and let her be ?
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Mason watched Charlotte and Lord Remmick argue from across the room and the blood in his veins ran cold when he saw his lordship clasp Charlotte’s delicate jaw as if to hurt her in some way.
    He nodded but did not comment on the conversation going on around him , while he waited to see what Lord Remmick would do next. So the rumors were true . Charlotte was in a marriage of the worst kind. If Lord Remmick was willing to grab his wife in public, one shuddered to think of what the man could do behind closed doors.
    A simmering anger boiled in his blood at the thought of his childhood friend Charlotte, th is beautiful woman she had grown into , being a punching bag for h er husband’s woes and disappointments.
    It was not to be borne.
    Mason downed the last of his brandy and strolled toward Charlotte and her husband . He couldn’t help but smile when she stood, her large eyes full of welcome and also, he noted, apprehension.
    He