“Aidan tells me you are an avid reader. Poetry, is it?”
The tea she had been expertly pouring a moment before sloshed out of the cup in a tidal wave. She practically dropped the pot in her haste to stem the flow. “Oh!”
“Oh, dear, Eliza. Let me help you with that.” Lainey mopped up the tea and handed the cup to Elizabeth, whose face was flaming with embarrassment. “Gavin, must you pester her like that? You're making her nervous!” Lainey scolded.
“I'm not trying to make her nervous, I'm just trying to get to know her. For heaven's sake, Lainey, it was an innocent question.”
Elizabeth glanced at Aidan. He looked like he was going to throttle Gavin, who now wore a devilish grin on his face. Aidan shifted his gaze to Elizabeth, and she sent him an accusatory glare. You told him. Aidan had the grace to look away, hiding his smile behind his teacup.
“Aidan has also told me you’ve confessed you love gardens,” Gavin continued. “My father has quite an extensive one at our home in Nottingham.” Elizabeth stilled. She had grown up in Derbyshire, the next county over. She fervently hoped she wouldn’t give herself away if he started speaking of familiar things.
“He calls it his escape,” Gavin continued, oblivious. “He saw some terrible things during his years of service—he’s a retired colonel, you know. He's served for most of his life, to some great sacrifices, and he's suffered a great deal of loss. I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to be on the battlefield…or even in India, for that matter. I think that's why he tries so hard to surround himself with beauty.” Gavin sipped his tea. “He has a most extensive rose garden that he tends to himself. I, however, am not allowed to touch them,” he chuckled. “I did not inherit his green thumb. Give me twenty-four hours, and I would kill them.”
Elizabeth’s teacup clattered to her saucer, spilling tea in her lap. She gasped and shot off of the sofa, sending the cup and saucer flying.
“Elizabeth! Are you all right?” Aidan was on his feet instantly. “What's wrong?”
She shifted her gaze to Aidan, unable to find her voice. She tried desperately to act as normal as she could after having just flung tea across the Aubusson carpet. Her stomach instantaneously knotted itself, and she put her hand to it as if to will it to settle. She looked back at Gavin, beginning to tremble. It wasn't his face that had been familiar at all. It was his voice. It was softer now that he wasn't speaking angrily, but it was still the same. Kill them. The second she'd heard it, she'd known. Gavin was the man who had given the order that night. Aidan's best friend had killed her family and destroyed her life.
Chapter 13
“Elizabeth?”
She snapped her gaze back to Aidan. She couldn't let him know. It would destroy him, too. “I…I’m so sorry. I'm so clumsy…I…I’m afraid I'm suddenly not feeling very well.” She glanced around her, and they all saw the fear in her eyes. “Ex…excuse me. I'm s-sorry.” She fled the room.
The three exchanged worried glances. Gavin looked completely baffled. “What was all that about?”
”I don't know,” Aidan replied. “But I mean to find out. Would you excuse me?”
Aidan strode out of the room. Damnation. What was with this girl? His quiet, orderly life had taken on more twists and turns since he had met this woman than he had seen in the last five years. He listened for her footsteps or a slamming door to indicate where she’d gone, but no sound met his ears. However, a cold breeze swept over him, and he turned to see that the door to the verandah was open. Beyond it, he could see Elizabeth stumbling through the gardens as fast as she could move.
Of course she’d gone outside.
Because it was raining.
Really, really hard.
“God have mercy on me,” he sighed, pausing at the door. A second later Elizabeth was tumbling toward the ground as her legs gave out beneath her.
“Bloody hell.” He took a breath and charged out into the rain after her. He was by her side in less than a minute.
“Elizabeth.”
She was on her hands and knees, gasping for air. He knelt down beside her, touching her shoulder. “Elizabeth,” he repeated.
She screamed and shrank back from him, startled.
“It’s me, Elizabeth. It’s all right. What is it? What's got you so upset?”
“I’m…sorry,” she choked out. “I…” She couldn’t finish. Her ragged breaths came harder now, hot tears mixing with the rain on her cheeks. Sobs tore from her throat, and Aidan did the only thing he could.
He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms, cradling her head against his chest. She clung desperately to him while he spoke to her in soothing tones, smoothing her sodden hair back from her face. Her breathing calmed eventually.
“Come now, we need to get out of the rain before you catch cold.” He stood, extending his hand to help her up. “Are you hurt?”
“No...I don't think so.” But she didn't move.
“Elizabeth, I will carry you if I have to.”
She blinked at him, and Aidan wasn’t sure she’d heard him. Her eyes looked vacant, and quite frankly, it scared him. Without another thought, he bent down and swept her into his arms.
“Oh! You mustn’t—” The rest of her words died on her lips when he scowled at her. He stared at her for a moment, then she slipped her arms around his neck and let her head fall against his shoulder as he moved toward the house.
He hadn’t anticipated that a cold, rain-soaked woman could feel so good in his arms.
An hour and yet another doctor’s visit later, Elizabeth sat on the floor of her bedchamber drying her hair in front of the fire. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to best proceed. She couldn't very well tell Aidan his best friend was a murderer, and Gavin had shown absolutely no sign of recognizing her. She had to avoid him at all costs. The less she was around him, the less likely she was to do something that would give herself away. She was still too weak to be on the run again. She would have to be extremely careful…which suited her fine, because after her dramatic exit this afternoon, she was quite sure she wouldn't be able to show her face outside of her room again.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal Aidan lurking on the other side, a dark expression on his face. His hair was damp and tousled, adding to his dangerous aura. Elizabeth's heart fluttered in her chest. She couldn't blame him for being angry with her.
“I hope I'm not intruding,” he said, an ominous note in his voice. “May I come in?”
His tone suggested that she had no choice. Elizabeth's heart began to pound in earnest. She didn't want to be alone with him, particularly in her bedchamber. “Of course.”
He stalked into the room, leaving the door open behind him, she noted. He sat on the sofa facing her, leaned his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together, looking down at her. “The doctor says you seem to be unhurt except for a minor ankle sprain. Is he correct in that statement?”
“Yes.”
“He also says he believes you have suffered a past trauma that set off your episode today.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Is that statement also correct?”
Elizabeth forced herself to swallow. “Yes,” she admitted.
Aidan sighed. “Do you want to tell me what happened today?”
“No.”
“That wasn't a rhetorical question.”
“I know, my lord. It was just…something Mr. Mayfield said…stirred a memory that I was unprepared for,” she said softly. “Forgive me, but I cannot tell you more.”
“That was a very powerful memory.” He studied her a moment. “Elizabeth, are you in danger?”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. How to answer that? “I…I don't know, exactly. Please, my lord. Do not ask me any more questions. I do not wish to involve you.”
“Are you in trouble with the authorities?”
“No! No, it's nothing like that.”
“Then what is i
t?”
I don't want to be found. All she had to do was say it. He would find out eventually anyway, so why couldn't she just admit it?
He was staring at her. She felt like a trapped animal. Goodness, what could he be thinking looking at her like that? He leaned forward just slightly. “If you tell me the truth, perhaps I can protect you.”
“At what cost to me?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“What is it that you want in return for your protection?” She pinned him with her cerulean gaze and folded her arms over her chest. “Men usually want something in return when they offer to grant me a ‘favor’,” she said, bitterness lacing her tone.
Aidan visibly stiffened, and for the first time, Elizabeth thought she might be mistaken about this particular man. He was quite clearly insulted.
“I simply want to help you, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth shook her head, confusion and question in her eyes. “Why would you do that?”
“Because it is becoming apparent to me that I care about what happens to you. For whatever reason, I feel the need to set your life right again without even knowing what has caused it to go wrong in the first place. You saved my life, Elizabeth,” he said, straightening. “I must owe you at least one favor.”
“But you have done so much for me already, my lord.”
“Hardly.” He stood to go, and Elizabeth watched the graceful way he moved as he headed for the door. He paused on the threshold, then stalked back to her. He knelt in front of her and watched the play of firelight across her face. “I changed my mind. I do want one thing in return.” He rested his fingers under her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.
His face was so close, his gaze so heated. Surely, surely he was going to kiss her this time. “What is that, my lord?”
“Your trust,” he whispered. His fingers were so warm on her skin, his touch so gentle. “Perhaps someday you will trust me enough to tell me the truth.” He gave her a small, sad smile. “I look forward to that day with great anticipation.”
He stood abruptly. An alarming stab of disappointment zinged through her when he withdrew his touch. “You’ll be joining us for all meals from now on, Miss Townsend. No more hiding in your room. You are a guest here and will be treated as such.” He paused at the door and looked back at her. “And my name, Miss Townsend,” he said gruffly, “is Aidan.”
Elizabeth stared after him as panic rose in her chest.
She was actually starting to care for this man.
Worse yet, she was beginning to trust him.
Chapter 14
“You mustn’t dawdle, Miss Elizabeth. His Lordship is waiting.”
“I know, Mary.” Elizabeth hadn't left her room at all yesterday after she had made such a fool out of herself. She couldn't bear to face Aidan, and the feeling hadn't lessened overnight. She had hoped her ankle would be swollen and unusable so she could hide in her room longer, but to her dismay, she had awoken to a perfectly good ankle.
She glanced nervously at her new gown in the mirror and shook her head. She would have to find some way to repay Lainey’s kindness. Elizabeth admired the white and blue muslin, glad she had finally filled out enough to give her some sort of curve. An amused smile crossed her lips as she wondered how she was holding up all of this clothing. She'd gotten used to the simple wrapper she had borrowed from Lainey. Now she was clad in a pale blue underskirt and a white and blue pin-striped polonaise with fitted sleeves and an enormous amount of draped material that started at her backside and continued down to the end of the train. She'd lost half her freedom of movement, but she had to admit, she felt attractive for the first time in many years. She smoothed her hand over imaginary wrinkles in her gown.
“You look perfect, Miss Elizabeth,” Mary encouraged, grasping her by the shoulders and turning her away from the glass. “Off you go.” Elizabeth sighed as Mary shooed her out the door. She dragged herself down the stairs and to the dining room, where Tibbs met her at the door.
“You're looking especially comely this morning, Miss Townsend. The gown brings out the blue in your eyes.”
“Thank you, Tibbs. Does it show off my nervousness as well?”
“You have nothing to fear, Miss. It's only breakfast.”
Elizabeth giggled. He was right, of course. Perhaps a glass of juice would help to wash down her embarrassment at her behavior yesterday.
Aidan sat at the head of the table, reading a newspaper, and wondering if Miss Townsend was going to be brave enough to have breakfast with him. He couldn’t begin to imagine what had set her off yesterday, but it made him distinctly uncomfortable. He’d never seen someone so terrified in his life.
The door opened and the lady in question appeared. He flicked his gaze up to her, and his lungs practically seized. Damn. When the hell had she gotten so beautiful? “Good morning, Elizabeth.”
“Good morning, my lord.”
He stood and waited for her to take her seat. She reminded him of a cautious doe the way she reluctantly crept into the room. Once seated, she fidgeted with the silver that rested by her plate, clearly quite agitated. Aidan used the paper to hide his amusement. A faint but becoming blush stained her cheeks as she stared at her empty plate.
“I trust you slept well?” Aidan said, folding his paper and putting it aside.
“Yes, my lord.” She glanced nervously about the room. “Will Lainey be joining us?”
“She's having brunch with Miss Sutherland, and she wanted to stop at the market first.”
“Oh.”
He watched as Elizabeth's hope of his sister's being a buffer between them died instantly.
“She can't save you, you know,” he said, barely able to keep his laughter at bay. Her head snapped up, alarm in her eyes, and he lost his battle. Laughter burst forth from his chest.
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open.
“Don't look so offended, Miss Townsend. You'd laugh, too, if you could see your own face.” Merriment sparkled in his eyes.
“You're not cross with me, then?”
Aidan's face grew more serious. He sighed. “Elizabeth, I cannot pretend your behavior yesterday was not troubling, and the cause of some discomfort to my guest and myself, but I am not angry with you. At least, not anymore.” A footman filled Elizabeth's plate, and when he stepped back, Aidan continued. “I apologize for losing my temper with you. I am not accustomed to having my questions avoided—I get an answer when I pose a question. You have mystified me from the beginning with all your secrets, and I dislike not knowing anything about you. You are a guest in my home, and I need to know that my family and my staff are safe in your company. Since you promised me yesterday that you are in no trouble, I will let the matter drop for now until you feel that you can confide in me. I understand your unwillingness to trust someone after the life you have led, and I shall endeavor to earn that trust.” He reached for his coffee and resumed eating. Elizabeth sat motionless for a good half a minute, apparently struck mute by his words. “Elizabeth? Are you going to eat today? You must build up your strength, you know.”
Elizabeth blinked. “I…I’m sorry.” She picked up her fork and bent her head over her plate. “You aren’t going to question me about my past?” she asked the plate softly.
“For now.”
“You trust me?”
He nodded once. “I do.”
She turned her eyes to his. “How do you give your trust so freely?” she asked in wonder.
“I suspect I haven’t been hurt as badly as you.”
They looked at each other in silence for a long moment.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth finally said into the silence. She smiled faintly, then stabbed at a piece of meat.
She was so damned exquisite. Aidan suddenly found that the appetite he had this morning was not for what was on his plate. His body was remembering how she’d felt pressed up against him, how he’d delighted in having her arms around his neck. How she always smelled like lilacs.
He
stood abruptly, startling her fork right out of her grasp.
“Oh!” She gasped, desperately gathering the bits of food that had been strewn across the table. “I'm so sorry.”
“My fault entirely. I didn’t mean to startle you.” If Aidan didn’t get out of this room right now, he was going to haul her out of that chair and have her for breakfast. “Elizabeth, would you feel up to a tour of the portrait gallery this morning? I fear I have an appointment, but I have time to share a little of my family’s history with you if you are so inclined. Then you may break your fast in peace.”
“That sounds lovely, my lord. I would enjoy that.”
Aidan sighed. “Aidan.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Aidan. My name. It's Aidan.”
“Yes, I know.”
Aidan smiled. “You have no intention of using it, do you?”
“None whatsoever.” Elizabeth grinned, a sparkle in her eye.
“You will.” It was not a command, but rather a promise, softly spoken and delivered with a look that caressed her. He offered her his arm and they left the room.
They walked in companionable silence for a bit. “Tell me about your parents, my lord.”
“Ah, my parents.” He absently covered Elizabeth's hand with his, sending a jolt through her. His hand was warm, reassuring on hers. “My father was a brilliant man. I, of course, told you the story of how he married my mother. Theirs was an unusual sort of marriage in that they actually loved each other deeply, something that is not always the case, particularly for their generation. He had a passion for three things in life: family, numbers, and astronomy. But nothing was more important to him than his family. As I said, he began to import fabrics in the late 1830s, and then a distant cousin died and the earldom came to my father unexpectedly. People scoffed at him for continuing with his business, but he loved it so much he couldn't think of staying away from it. He was a bit of a restless man, I think.”
All That I Am: A Victorian Historical Romance (The Hesitant Husbands Series Book 1) Page 9