The Actress and the Aristocrat by Katie Ashley
Chapter Seventeen: Charlie
As sunlight began to poke pinpricks through the darkness around me, I began to realize that every bone and muscle in my body ached. No, I take that back. I’m pretty sure every molecule in my body ached. “Oh God,” I groaned as the pain overwhelmed me.
“I’m pretty sure it’s too late for prayer,” came Rand’s terse reply.
Popping open one eyelid, I searched to find where his voice was coming from. It was then I realized I was crumpled into a ball on the seat. My further surprise widened when I realized Rand wasn’t cradling my head. Instead, his body was pressed up against the passenger door as far away from me as possible.
“Where are we?”
“Almost to London.”
“Are you taking me to the hospital?”
“I don’t think your present ailment necessitates that.”
When I opened my mouth to argue with him, the darkness overcame me again. I don’t know how long I was out again. The next thing I knew I was being slowly slid across the car seat. “Come on, Charlie. We have to get you inside,” Rand said.
The moment my feet hit the pavement I lunged to the side, knocking into the door. My fingers gripped the top of the window to keep me upright. Rand swept an arm around my waist and jerked me against him. “After everything that has transpired today, could you possibly not make a scene on the way into the house?” he hissed into my ear.
I blinked up at him. “Huh?”
He gritted his teeth and pulled us forward. I couldn’t imagine what he was talking about, least of all why he was suddenly acting so angry. When we reached the top step, Maude was standing in the doorway. “Is everything all right, sir?” she questioned, her face creased with worry.
Instead of answering her, Rand replied, “Please bring Ms. Monroe some water and an ice pack.”
“Yes, sir.”
The sound of her heels rumbled through my aching head. Rand led me into the sitting room before depositing me unceremoniously on the couch. As I pulled myself into a sitting position, the room swam around me. It was slightly less trippy than when I’d come up the path. With a groan, I swept my hand to my forehead. “I fainted, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” Rand bit out.
Slowly, I shook my aching head back and forth. “I don’t understand. Was it the heat?”
An icy chuckle bubbled from Rand’s lips. One that sent a chill down my spine. “How I wish it were the heat and not your pissed state.” After throwing back a drink, he gave me a tight smile. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot I was dealing with a Yank. You were drunk.”
“Drunk?” I repeated his words lamely.
“Oh, I’d say it was bloody plastered more than anything.”
“That can’t be.”
“But you were.”
“I only had one glass of champagne with you. Remember?”
“Bollocks.”
My eyes bulged at his disbelief. “I swear to you.”
“There is no need to lie. It is very apparent what transpired.”
“I’m not lying, damn you!” I winced as a brass band echoed through my head. A knock at the door interrupted us. After Rand called to enter, Maude appeared with water and compress along with some aspirin.
“Thank you, Maude,” I replied as I tossed back the medicine.
She nodded. “I hope you feel better.”
“I appreciate it.”
After shooting a glance over to Rand, she hurried from the room. With a grunt, Rand turned away from me and stalked over to the liquor table. “The truly unfortunate thing of it is you’d didn’t just make an inebriated spectacle of yourself in front of me. You did it in front of the bloody society and press.”
My anger at him momentarily dissipated and was replaced with mortification at what I might’ve possibly said or done. “What happened?”
“Why don’t I spare us both from having to relive it all?”
Pinching my eyes shut, I murmured, “I don’t remember any of it.”
“Lucky you,” he grunted.
It was then as I meditated with my eyes shut that I remembered a key detail. And suddenly, I felt completely sober. “I had cranberry juice because I didn’t want to be tipsy when I met some of the Royal Family.” At Rand’s grunt, I knew he remembered. “At lunch, I had still water. Then I had some sparkling water with the canapes in the Royal Box. I remember that because the bubbles made me burp.” Rand grunted again in acknowledgement, or it could’ve been disgust at my mention of gas.
Then my eyes popped open at an important realization. “Lydia gave me champagne.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
I stared pointedly at him. “She must’ve put something in it.”
Rand laughed maniacally. “Now you’re going to blame someone else for your behavior?”
“There is no way one glass of champagne got me in this state.”
“I can’t believe you would actually stoop so low as to blame Lydia.”
“Think about it, Rand. I’ve had champagne every night with dinner since I’ve been with you. Never once has it got me remotely inebriated.”
“Perhaps that is because you were eating a meal with it.”
I waved my hands in front of my face, which caused me to stagger back. Once I recovered, I said, “Okay, let’s just stop and suspend disbelief for a moment. I’ve worked too hard and come too far to screw this up by getting plastered at such an important event. You’ve spent the last few weeks with me. Have I ever appeared drunk like I have today?”
As I could see the wheels turning in his head, Rand’s livid expression slowly faded. “No, you haven’t.”
“If I didn’t get shit-faced here in the comfort of your home, then why in the hell would I choose a public event to do it? One in which there was so much at stake?”
“I don’t know.”
“There is no other plausible explanation.”
Rand jerked a hand through his hair before turning away from me. “But why would she do such a thing?”
“Because she’s jealous of me and the attention I’ve been getting in the press. She wanted to find a way to humiliate me and turn everyone against me.” I sighed resignedly. “More importantly, she wanted to turn you against me.”
Shaking his head, Rand whirled around. “Lydia has her faults, but she would never stoop so low.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh yes, the woman who screwed your best friend is a real stand-up gal.”
“What Lydia did to me is irrelevant is this situation.”
“The hell it is!” At Rand’s aghast expression, I continued on. “You know what I think? Deep down you know I’m telling the truth, but you wouldn’t dare to believe your precious Lydia could ever do anything so underhanded.”
“That’s preposterous.”
“No, it isn’t.” I curled my lip at him in disgust. “After everything she’s done and continues to do, you’re still in love with her!”
“Enough,” he growled.
“This arrangement wasn’t just about having someone to go around the season with, was it? It was some pathetic attempt at trying to get her back!”
“I said ENOUGH!” Rand blared as he slammed his fist down on his desk.
“Whatever,” I muttered under my breath.
We stood there staring each other down for what felt like an eternity. Finally, Rand shook his head. “After today’s fiasco, it is obvious to me that we cannot continue this charade.”
My heart jumped into my throat. “I thought we were just arguing.”
“This is far bigger than a mere argument.”
“And because of that you don’t want to continue with our arrangement?”
“No. I don’t.”
“What about my debt?”
“I think you’ve done enough to clear it.”
He swept around the side of his desk. Without looking at me, he pressed a button on his phone. “Maude, please make the necessary flight and transportation details for Ms. Monroe to return to America as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir. And when shall I book for return?”
Rand’s icy gaze met mine. “It’s a one-way ticket.”
Silence echoed from the other end. A few seconds ticked by before Maude replied in a resigned tone, “Yes, sir.”
After Maude hung up, Rand eased down in his desk chair. “If you’re still feeling unwell, I can have Bonnie help you pack.”
“So that’s it?”
“Excuse me?”
“After everything we’ve been through the last few weeks, I’m being unceremoniously sent away.”
“There’s no need for theatrics. We’re simply ending a business arrangement because of incompatibility.”
“How can you sit there and say that?”
“Because it’s the truth.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You know, I thought you were a gentleman. But it’s obvious you’re nothing more than the stuck-up prick I once believed you were.”
“Once again, there’s no need for theatrics.”
“Yes, there bloody well is.” I stumbled off the couch and lurched over to stand before him. “You and I both know there was more between us than just a business arrangement. I’m not saying we were keen for each other, but we were at least friends. I can’t imagine any friend treating me with such contempt.”
“While I’m inclined to agree with you on our friendship, it only extends so far.”
“No wonder you’re all alone. You refuse to let anyone in. God forbid you let your guard down and actually open up to someone. Because then you have to deal with your vulnerability and you shut right back down.”
“Thank you for your observation,” he said drily.
“You know, I’m glad you showed your true colors.”
“Is that right?” He smirked.
“Yes, it spared me any concern I might have felt for you had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner." I shook my aching head. “Okay, it’s really time to go when I start paraphrasing Austen although, the sentiment is pretty much the same.”
Squaring my shoulders, I gave him a tight smile. “Goodbye, Earl Whittingham.”
“Goodbye, Charlotte.”
And with his parting words, I turned slowly on my heels. It wasn’t quite the exit I wanted since my inebriated state caused me to swagger like John Wayne. But I held it together with a steely resolve the Duke would’ve been proud of. The tears didn’t come until I reached the stairs where Maude waited on me. “Oh, Ms. Monroe.”
“Just don’t let me lose it until we’re in my room.”
With a bob of her head, she swept an arm around my waist. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone be so honest with Randall since his mother died.” When I looked up at her, she smiled. “He needed to hear each and every word, and you certainly gave him something to stew on.”
“I wish that made me feel better.”
“One day it will. But for now, all you can do is have a good cry.”
And with those words, she swept me inside my suite, and the waterworks began.