Rosalind didn’t hear his response as she and Penelope descended the stairs though she hoped he was cooped up with Lady Jillian and her brother because she wasn’t certain she could bare to be in a carriage with him for so long. It would hurt too much to be so close and know he was meant for another.
“Poor Noah,” Penelope said once they were settled against the squabs. Demetrius had taken the seat across from him and the carriage lurched forward. “I think he would rather ride with the driver than be inside with her.”
Rosalind shot her a look. “They are to be married.”
Penelope leaned in. “Not if he has any say.”
“I don’t understand.” Rosalind glanced from Penelope to Demetrius and back again. “Lady Jillian practically announced it to everyone yesterday.”
Demetrius snorted and turned to look out the window.
“Noah will not tell me, or anyone, the details or the reasons, but she is basically blackmailing him.”
Rosalind gasped. “Blackmail? Whatever could Felding have done that she could use against him?”
“I don’t know,” Penelope shrugged. “He will not say.”
Rosalind bit her bottom lip and stared out at the passing countryside. She had known Felding most of her life. He was a good gentleman kind and trustworthy. Whatever could he have done?
* * *
Noah’s head was pounding by the time they stopped for a late meal, and he was ready to throttle both Broadridge and Lady Jillian. He had never met two more self-involved and selfish people in his life. If they had stopped as often as those two had wished, they wouldn’t reach his home until Christmas. Instead, he insisted they continue. He wanted this trip over with quickly and only need to spend one night at an inn.
He stretched as his feet struck the ground. Though His Grace’s coach was the most comfortable conveyance he had ever traveled in, the tension of his current situation and being imprisoned with those two had led to his current headache and tight muscles. Hopefully by the time they stopped for the evening, the inn would have enough available rooms so that he did not have to share with anyone. Right now, all he wanted was peace and quiet and a bottle of brandy.
Lady Jillian stood in the center of the courtyard and glared back at him. “Are you coming, Felding?”
He bit back a curse and sauntered over and allowed her to link her arm with his and direct him inside the posting inn for a meal. The carriage holding Rosalind, Penelope, and Demetrius just arrived, and as much as he wished to see Rosalind, it was best if he kept his distance. At least until he was free of Lady Jillian.
Noah glanced back over his shoulder as the ladies emerged from the carriage. Rosalind was pale her face drawn. What must she think of him? He had kissed her, asked to call on her, and then his betrothal to another was announced. And, if Demetrius could be believed, she had been in love with him since she was still in the schoolroom. If he was Rosalind, he would be experiencing the biggest betrayal of his life. Hopefully she would understand once she learned the truth, which he had forbidden Demetrius from telling her, until it was all over, and only if he was able to extract himself from the betrothal.
Lady Jillian tugged on his arm, and Noah focused back on the door looming before them. It was best Rosalind didn’t know. If he ended up being forced into marriage to the lady on his arm, Rosalind would only know guilt. He was rather she was hurt and angry at him and carry on with her life even if she came to hate him.
The public room was full to almost overflowing. They had stopped so late in the day, Noah assumed it would not be busy.
“I apologize, Lord Broadridge, but we have only a small private room remaining.”
“We will take it,” Broadridge announced.
The owner turned and wove his way through the patrons and tables to a door on the opposite wall. The three of them stepped inside. “There is only room for four,” he said apologetically.
“There are six in our party,” Noah said. Though he could tell that even four would be a close fit in this space once everyone was seated around the table.
“Mr. Valentine and his sister can dine in the common room,” Lady Jillian suggested. “It isn’t as if they are family.”
“There is no room out there either,” Noah ground out. If Demetrius and Rosalind were to be sequestered, he would join them.
“I do have a small table at the back,” the owner offered glancing between Noah and Lady Jillian.
“How many does it seat,” he barked.
“Two or three,” the man shrugged.
“See.”
Lady Jillian’s smiled made his teeth ache.
“They will be perfectly fine out there.” She gestured to the crowd. “Where they belong,” she leaned in and whispered.
“No worry, Felding,” Demetrius clapped him on the back. “Rosalind and I would prefer it out here.” He glared at Lady Jillian. “The company is more pleasant.”
Before Noah could argue, Demetrius led Rosalind to the one empty table at the back of the room. Noah turned to who he assumed was the owner of the inn. “Make sure they are served when we are. I will settle the accounting before we leave.”
The man nodded and quit the room closing the door behind him. Lady Jillian waited beside a seat. Instead of pulling the chair out for her, he saw to Penelope first. Broadridge rushed to his sister’s side so she was not left standing.
Lady Jillian’s eyes narrowed for a moment, and Noah simply looked away. Soon, very soon, she would be out of his life. He just needed to find a way to make it happen.
A bottle of wine was delivered and food quickly followed. Noah said nothing and let Lady Jillian prattle on with her brother offering his thoughts as it had been for the entire trip. Penelope was equally quiet and picked at the food on her plate. She didn’t like this anymore than he, and Noah was just as certain she was considering ideas to rid them of Lady Jillian as often as he.
When they finally emerged from the never-ending meal, Noah found Demetrius and Rosalind standing in the courtyard. Upon seeing them, Rosalind turned away and walked to the carriage.
“Penelope, you must ride with us,” Lady Jillian called rather loudly and linked her arm with Noah’s sister. “We are practically sisters, and I insist we become friends.”
The only indication that Rosalind had heard was a slight pause in her step and tightening of her shoulders.
“A word, Felding,” Demetrius nodded to the side of the building.
“I’ll be with you in a moment, Lady Jillian.” He turned and sauntered to Demetrius and stopped. They waited until Lady Jillian, Penelope, and Broadridge had entered the coach.
“This is not right,” he ground out.
“It is until I can find a way to break her hold,” Noah said.
“You do not need to protect my family. Rosalind is miserable. Have you looked at her?” Demetrius gestured to the carriage she had disappeared into.
Noah winced. “I hate that she is hurt, but this is for the best.” He looked Demetrius in the eye. “You will not tell her. I would rather Rosalind hate me than suffer the guilt if I find myself married to that woman.”
“She has a right to know,” Demetrius roared.
“That is my decision,” Noah insisted.
“She is my sister,” Demetrius shouted back before striding for the carriage. After entering it, he slammed the door before the footman could close it properly.
Noah marched to the coach cursing under his breath. Demetrius had better not say a word to Rosalind, or everything would be ruined.
Twenty-Eight
Rosalind stared at her brother. He had been brooding since they first entered the carriage at the Meadows’ estate. He spoke little while they ate, and now he had just had an argument with Felding. She tried to hear what the two were saying, but they were too far away.
This was not at all like her brother. She had seen Demetrius angry before, but never to this extreme.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing,” he b
it out and turned toward the window.
“What did you and Felding just argue about?”
He focused on her; his jaw clinched and anger lit his eyes. For a moment, she thought he was going to tell her. But, he simply shook his head and returned to glaring out the window.
The carriage pulled away from the coaching inn. Demetrius sighed and let his head fall back against the squabs.
“Tell me,” Rosalind insisted. “If it is serious enough to put you in this state then I should know.”
Demetrius lifted his head, and his eyes bore into hers. “He ordered me not to tell you.”
“Who? Felding?”
“Yes,” he ground out.
What would Felding not want her to know? “What right does he have to tell you not to share something with me? I am your sister.” She was affronted that Felding was giving orders to her brother when he was the one who quickly discarded what they briefly shared to become betrothed to another unless he still wished for her to be a part of his life. That is, the non-respectable position if what she had earlier assumed was correct.
Anger began to build, and Rosalind grasped onto it. It was a much healthier emotion than self-pity. “I demand you tell me. He has no right to tell either of us what to do.”
The corner of Demetrius’s mouth quirked. Slowly he began to nod and leaned forward. “Until he can find a way out of the soon to be betrothal, Felding must do what Lady Jillian demands.”
Felding had been catering to her needs allowing her to order him about though he certainly did not seem happy. In fact, ever since he had marched into Meadow’s home from outside yesterday, he had practically been glowering. Not that she had seen him the evening before, but it was certainly Felding’s disposition today. “Why?” she finally asked.
“Because she is blackmailing him.”
“That is the second time blackmail has been mentioned. What could she possibly have on him?” Rosalind was exasperated. Tired of the guessing of what everyone was alluding to.
“It isn’t anything Felding has done,” Demetrius said. The smile fell from his face, and his eyes grew hard. “Lady Jillian is blackmailing Felding with her knowledge of us.”
Rosalind stilled. “What knowledge?” she asked slowly. Surely she didn’t know the truth.
By the time Demetrius had finished telling her of the conversation between Lady Jillian and Felding and her demands, she was shaking. Rosalind wasn’t sure if it was from fear, anger, or a combination of both.
One matter was for certain, she would not allow Felding to offer himself up as a sacrifice for her and her family. “You explained that we anticipated that this may happen one day.”
Demetrius nodded. “Felding insists that if and when the information does become known, it won’t be because of something he did or didn’t do.”
“That blasted man,” she bit out and beat her fist in to the seat.
Her brother lifted an eyebrow in humor.
* * *
Noah fell back against the wall, his legs out before him on the bed, and brought the bottle of brandy to his lips. The moment they arrived at the coaching inn he arranged for rooms for everyone. There weren’t enough, but Penelope suggested sharing with Rosalind which suited him fine. At least he knew neither his sister nor Rosalind would be alone though he cautioned Penelope to keep the door locked.
When asked, Noah refused Lady Jillian’s request that he dine with her and Broadridge in the private room. He already had his fill of the two. They could celebrate the pending betrothal without him.
Rosalind had said nothing upon their arrival while they waited to be shown to their rooms. If anything, the color was high in her cheeks which he found more reassuring than the paleness of her skin earlier in the day. But instead of downcast eyes, she glared at him. At least she wasn’t hurting any longer and on her way to hatred. If he didn’t find a way out of this situation, he deserved that and more for kissing and holding her and for basically turning his back on her as if she was of no consequence.
Noah tipped the bottle back and took a deep drink. He had asked to call on Rosalind when they returned home, and in less than a day, Lady Jillian was practically announcing her betrothal to him. He prayed that when he finally extracted himself from this situation, Rosalind would forgive him though he feared she wouldn’t.
His head jerked up at the quiet knock at the door. “Bloody hell,” Noah muttered as he pulled himself from the bed. He now only wore his pants and shirtsleeves and glanced at his watch on the dresser as he padded across the room in bare feet. It was nearly midnight.
Noah jerked the door open expecting to find Lady Jillian on the other side because nobody else would disturb him at this hour and barked out, “What?”
“Goodness,” Rosalind squeaked and took a step back.
Noah stilled. “Rosalind,” he whispered. “What are you doing here?”
She took a step forward. “I need to speak with you.”
He glanced down the hall in both directions. Nobody else was about. Noah grasped her hand and drew her into the room. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t allow her to be seen standing in the hall outside of his door at this hour nor should she be wandering about a public inn wearing her nightclothes. Anything could happen to her.
“Is something wrong with Penelope?”
“No, she is asleep.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked again trying to gain control of his frustration. Rosalind stood in her nightdress and had her wrap drawn around her body. He couldn’t have her, and he wasn’t free to ask for her. Yet her she was in his room, and a bed was but a few feet away.
“I know about the blackmail.”
He anchored his fists on his hips. Demetrius would pay for this. He ordered the man say nothing to her. “I will take care of it.”
“By marrying Lady Jillian to keep her silent?” Rosalind cried. “You will be unhappy, and I will not allow it.”
“It is not your choice,” he ground out.
“Then I will reveal my family’s sordid history before Lady Jillian has a chance.”
Noah narrowed his eyes. “I will not allow you to ruin your family for me.”
Rosalind brought a hand up to his cheek. “And I will not allow you to be miserable for the rest of your life for me.”
Noah closed his eyes and swallowed. Her hand was so soft, delicate, and warm against his cheek. All he wanted to do was pull her against him, hold her tight, and forget the ugliness that Lady Jillian brought to his life. “I don’t plan on marrying her,” he finally said quietly. “I have been trying to find a reason to make the break without the truth being learned.”
“Felding, this will be taken care of by my family,” Rosalind said quietly. “We anticipated this day may come, and we are prepared.”
Noah placed his hand over hers, and his eyes studied her deep blue depths. He loved her. Why hadn’t he realized it before? “I will not see you ruined or your family disgraced.”
Tears sparkled in her eyes. “It is not for you to decide.” She pulled away, but Noah couldn’t let her go . . . not now. Not now that she was here with him. All the tension from the day melted away the moment she touched him. He needed her here, beside him, with him, forever.
The pain in her eyes from this morning flashed in his mind. He had caused that. “I wanted to explain, but I thought it better you hate me. I am sorry if I hurt you.”
She smiled sadly. “It has passed.”
He wasn’t going to let her dismiss what he had done so simply. Penelope had told him that she suspected Rosalind had cried herself to sleep by the tears stains on her face when Penelope retired. “I can’t imagine what you were thinking after the time we had spent together and my asking to visit and then to hear Lady Jillian claim a betrothal.”
A blush spread across her cheeks, and Rosalind looked away. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me. You must have thought I was toying with your affections, and that wasn’t my intention.”
“If only that was all,” she said quietly looking to the floor.
Noah placed a finger beneath her chin forcing to her to look up at him. “What did you believe my intentions were?”
A tear slipped down her cheek. “I thought…well…because of what we shared, I thought you wished to…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“Tell me,” Noah bit out.
“I feared you only saw me in the same light as Broadridge.”
Noah simply stared at her. Did Rosalind think so little of him that she thought he would wish to make her his mistress? Noah pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration tamping down his anger.
What was she supposed to think? He had practically seduced her in the snow, never made an offer, simply wished to call on her, and then Lady Jillian made a mess of everything.
“I will leave you now.”
“No!” Noah grasped her arm and pulled her flush against his body. “I would never disrespect you in that manner. Yes, I desire you and want you, but I would never consider...”
Rosalind placed a finger against his lips and smiled gently up at him. “You do not have to explain.”
“Yes, I do, dammit.”
Her eyes widened at his curse.
“I apologize, but you and this situation have me beyond frustrated.”
Rosalind caressed his cheek again. “It will all work out in the end. After Christmas, I will return to the Sandlin home. If they will have me after the truth becomes known, you will hunt for your bride in London.”
Noah turned his face in and kissed her palm. “I won’t be hunting for a wife in London.” He snaked his arms around her waist and brought her flush against his body. “I’ve already found her.”
Twenty-Nine
Felding crushed his mouth against hers. It wasn’t gentle but demanding. He took and devoured her mating his tongue with hers. She clutched his shoulders as her knees grew weak, and her head spun. This was unlike any kiss he had given her before. This was pure possession as if he were branding her as his.
His Christmas Match (A Gentleman's Guide to Once Upon a Time) Page 22