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Charles was rather certain it wouldn ’ t be the last. No matter what Charles hoped for...with that one look from Hugh, the game was afoot. Such as the game was, one-sided and all.
    It would be a long summer, he knew then, obsessing over his shoes and socks, the placement of things in his wardrobe, checking his sheets and his hats. It would be a tedious—but necessary—fact of it.
    Charles didn ’ t understand what Amelia saw in Hugh. Hugh was a mean-spirited trickster, always getting her into trouble with her family. But Charles knew, in the smile he saw her give Hugh as forgiveness, that she adored him. And in the quick wink Hugh returned, Charles understood that feeling to be mutual.
    The following summers had been more difficult for Charles as his mother changed. The tincture of laudanum had become her dearest companion, first fending off the night terrors she ’ d always had. Then once his father died, any hint of emotion and the laudanum was in her hand, ready to calm her nerves.
    Amelia and Hugh treated him carefully. He became the Castleberry, and Hugh became the Endsleigh, but Amelia was still, forever, Amelia. Strange that, that the young men grew into titles and presence, whilst the girls were commended for staying young…innocent.
    Amelia and Hugh spent their summers avoiding his mother and attempting to avoid him. Even as children, they seemed to know just how horrid it all was. Hugh… Ender played no pranks, and Amelia didn ’ t defend him. In truth, Charles was unsure which he preferred. At least the pranks had been normal, the defense heartfelt. The care they took with him after—that was painful. A constant reminder that life had forever changed, that he was now something more. And possibly something less.
    There wasn ’ t anything to be done about it, and the pain of the fact had faded, even though the truth of it was still shrouded in shades of gray.

    Charles opened his eyes and leaned forward on his knees, considering the current predicament, which was…well, truth be told, he was the problem for Amelia and Ender. It didn ’ t have to be so. He didn ’ t have to pursue the marriage claim discussed over brandy by two men twenty years prior. But he knew he still wanted this. Charles wasn ’ t sure if his motivation was because of the frogs…or because of the frogs. That ’ s to say, he wasn ’ t sure if he wanted her or hated him .
    Charles also wondered if her acceptance of his pledge was more pity-laced with necessity than want. As well, he wasn ’ t sure he cared either way on that front, but there were certain things that bothered him still.
    Things he hoped to resolve.
    Charles had watched as Ender and Amelia, now Lord Endsleigh and Lady Amelia, returned to the ballroom from the balcony. He knew the ton talked about her. He knew they suppressed the rumors because her father was still a powerful duke—regardless of his illness—and he also knew the minute the duke wasn ’ t there to guard her she would be fodder for the masses. Unless Charles stepped into the fray.
    Whether the rumors were true, Charles knew not. He didn ’ t remember anything terribly odd or different about her, but that was many years ago. Any visits he ’ d had once he and Ender had gone off to school were often cut short, citing propriety or her need of rest. It bothered him that Endsleigh had often been allowed to stay while he had been turned out, but he’d believed it was because Endsleigh was a friend to the family, and Charles, the Castleberry…well, nobody needed a duke hanging about even if that duke was somewhat betrothed. Charles had been more like a mouse in duke ’ s clothing at that point, and simply had done their bidding, afraid to have all permissions revoked. Of course, that wasn ’ t who he was now, and if anyone came between them, between Charles and what he wanted…well, woe to them.
    A childhood infatuation could mask many things about a person, irreconcilable behaviors being the least