Charlotte stared at him for a moment in frustration. What was going on here? Suddenly the light dawned. Alex must have met her father and asked for her hand in marriage this morning. And somehow he talked his way out of her father’s absolute refusal of the idea. So now her father was relaying whatever story Alex came up with to her mother. Charlotte threw Alex a brooding look.

“Hmmm,” she said, nonplussed for a moment.

“I should leave now,” Chloe interjected. She really didn’t enjoy all this strained conversation, especially as she had no idea what was going on. “My mother was very clear about the fact that she needed me to return this morning.”

Charlotte turned to her, her face falling. “Oh, but surely …”

Alex intervened. He took Chloe’s hand and smiled at her genially. “We all know what mamas are like when they want you to return on time,” he said. “I promise not to interrupt your next sitting with Charlotte.”

Chloe looked at him silently for a minute. My goodness, but this man was confident. She couldn’t deny his incredible attractiveness, but was there no chink in his assurance? Well, he is a man, and a peer of the realm, and handsome, and rich, she thought with some resentment. Why should there be?

“Of course,” she replied hastily, aware that she had been mute too long. Chloe withdrew her hand and turned to Charlotte. Then she gave an involuntary smile. Perhaps the earl’s comeuppance was at hand. Charlotte looked as mutinous as a mule, in her mother’s term. Chloe smiled with genuine warmth, and curtsied to Charlotte.

“Oh, Lord,” Charlotte said. “Here we are, curtsying and addressing each other formally. Are you sure you want to do this, Miss van Stork? We’re going to be locked up in this room with each other for almost six weeks—you’ll have to call me Charlotte.”

Chloe twinkled at her. Little fits of temper didn’t bother her, given that her father indulged in them all the time. “Oh, no, Charlotte,” she said, holding out her hand. “I am looking forward to this portrait, even if I can’t see it until I get married!”

“Oh, I let Sophie see her portrait,” Charlotte said. “She just doesn’t understand it yet. Her only comment was that she thought her teeth were too large.” They shook hands with total understanding.