But? Charles' thoughts caught upon the word having expected anything but a but from her, especially after how she'd started the sentence. She'd been the one impatient for him to propose, had all but given him an ultimatum over a week ago, and yet she wasn't prepared for it? He couldn't believe it. She was all but saying 'yes', that much was true, but what possible 'matter' could she have to see to? She hadn't needed to ask two of his relatives for his hand, she hadn't had to buy a house, procure a ring, plan the date, or duel her cheat of a cousin! What possible impediment did she have that she couldn't have taken care of by now?

He'd done all he could to make this as perfect as she was and it was already tainted by his injury but now she wasn't even giving him a whole-hearted 'yes'? Merlin, he needed to sit down, he needed to process this, he needed someone to fucking take care of the bullet hole in his stomach before he bled out and none of this mattered anyway.

Charles couldn't help the fact that his face had fallen like a ton of bricks it was the least of his concerns now. "Dare I ask?" He didn't mean to let an undertone of snark ripple through his words but his composure was slipping now that he'd lost control of the situation. Fuck this wasn't how it was supposed to happen, this had gone from vaguely nightmarish after losing the duel to full on hellscape now that he didn't technically have the answer he'd wanted, the answer he'd expected. Was this too Macnair's doing? Was his sly little proposal at fault for this?

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He was not overjoyed—nor would she have expected him to be—but it was not uncommon for a lady, young or not, to delay giving an answer by a day, even two or three. And besides, he had her answer—the cool part of her was quite resolved that he could be content with it as he had required her to be content with his not-proposal until now.

"I am a woman of my word, Charles," she spoke softly, placatingly, though there was a glint of flint in her gaze, "and I gave my word that I would not accept another offer until I had refused that of the man who first asked me. It will be the work of but a day."

  

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Her words, 'the man who first asked me', echoed around his skull tauntingly. Fucking Macnair, he'd pay for this, he'd pay big time. A pity he worked in a grubby little hospital so he couldn't destroy his career. He had a mind to march right down to whichever hospital the bastard worked at and... Well maybe he'd request some medical assistance first but then he'd make him wish he'd died in their duel.

It was at least ever so slightly reassuring that she was more than implying that Macnair was out of the running now that he'd officially asked for her hand. Nor could he truly resent her for being honest to a fault. At least she was not dishonest like her cousin. "I understand." It was a little short but he'd managed to at least temper his words so he didn't sound overly bitter. "Your honesty is only to be admired." He forced a small smile to counteract any sharp edges in his voice though he tried his best to smooth them over.

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"You must call tomorrow evening," she replied before moving to brush her lips demurely against his cheek. "You will find my answer eagerly awaiting you."

  

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It was almost too much. His hand moved to hover over his wound as the pain worsened, at the same time he was in a different sort of agony because he had felt her lips upon his cheek. Over all he was relieved that Miss Lestrange seemed to be on the verge of excusing herself, he didn't think he could hide his sorry state for much longer and the final nail in the coffin would be letting Miss Lestrange seeing him in such a pitiful state.

"I shall." Now to gently conclude the meeting before he did so by embarrassing himself. He extended his right arm for her to take, intending to start escorting her to the door. "And for now I will take up no more of your time, it would be ungentlemanly of me to keep you away much longer." Charles would have kept her there as long as was proper had the day not been an utter disaster but he now had his own business to attend to and it would not wait.

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