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would tell James. And if James knew, it was only a matter of time before Alex discovered. That wasn’t a risk I could take.”
    “But even if Alex did discover you had fallen in love with someone else, it would not have been the end of the world. You didn’t have to run away.”
    Charlotte couldn’t very well tell her it would indeed have been the end of the world as they all knew it. Alex would have seen right through her lies and gently coerced the truth from her. Following would have been a Rutherford family scandal that would have sent earthquake-like tremors through the ton , and made their illegitimate birth a trivial matter by comparison. And Alex’s titles would have been tarnished by his association with her. Everyone would have suffered. And then of course there was Nicholas….
    “But why—”
    “Katie darling,” Charlotte implored, taking her sister’s hand in hers. “No more questions on this subject for now. Please.”
    “Forgive me if I assumed as your sister, your twin , I would receive more consideration.”
    “Later, I will explain it all. Why I allowed so much time to pass. Why I didn’t tell you about Peter and Nicholas earlier. I promise I will.” Charlotte gave her sister’s hand a gentle squeeze. “But please, don’t press me on it now.”
    Impatience and exasperation flashed in Katie’s eyes. A sure sign she would continue to press the issue. Surprisingly enough, instead of a relentless push for answers, a welcome silence pervaded the room.
    “From your maid’s accent, I gather you’ve been residing in America?”
    Charlotte gave a brief nod, relieved her sister had opted for a safer topic.
    “James had investigators searching throughout the Continent but I don’t believe he ever thought to look there.” Katie spoke as if to herself. “Have you come to stay?” she then asked, her cerulean eyes anxious and hopeful.
    A heavy sigh escaped Charlotte’s lips. That was a question she had yet to answer herself. She would like nothing better than to remain. The only person she would truly miss if she left America was Lucas, and he traveled to London on business often enough for them to remain in contact.
    “I’m not certain.”
    Katie opened her mouth, and then quickly snapped it shut.
    “Katie, will you tell me about Alex?” Charlotte asked in an abrupt change of topic. The question had festered inside her for too many years. She had to know.
    Her sister’s gaze sharpened just enough for Charlotte to don her mask and exclaim defensively, “What? I may not have married him, but I did care for him deeply. Naturally I care how he fared.”
    After a pause, Katie’s features softened. “Well, to say your leaving hit him hard would be a vast understatement. He was like—well, like I’d never seen him before. Frankly, he turned into a man I never care to see again.”
    A needlelike sting of pain accompanied every beat of Charlotte’s heart upon hearing those words. She’d wanted to know but now she wasn’t certain. But her insatiable need to fill the gaps of those years without him urged her to delve in true masochistic fashion.
    “What did he do?”
    Katie swallowed, momentarily looking down at their joined hands. “The truth isn’t pretty and may be difficult for you to hear. Are you sure you want to know?” she asked, looking Charlotte in the eye.
    Charlotte held a breath and nodded, steeling herself for what was to come.
    After a prolonged sigh, Katie began. “He was already at the church when James told him. He left soon after. Derek described him as catatonic. James was the one to inform the guests the wedding was off. Of course, he was also frantic with worry. We all were.” Katie lowered her gaze as if reliving the pain of that moment. Charlotte gave her hand a comforting squeeze, attempting to convey just how sorry she was to have caused them even a moment of distress.
    “After a day or so, Alex joined James, Thomas, Derek, Mr. Wendell and Lord Bradford in the