Her father’s chin dipped in defeat. “I do not like to see you resigned to being an old maid when you are still so young, my dear. I don’t like the idea of you giving up your dreams for children and a home and a life of your own. I know you’ve done that since you-”
“Made the worst mistake of my life?” Felicity said softly, filling in her father’s hesitation. “So you would rather see me married to someone who does not care for me? Who I could never care for?”
Gabriel flinched. Her hatred of him thanks to his family ran very deep. He understood that, but he still despised it for all it represented. This was the kind of prejudice he would be fighting to overcome for years. A judgment based on two men he had hardly known, despite their shared blood.
He wanted to prove her wrong. Prove everyone wrong.
Lord Stoneworth tilted his head. “You are angry now and surprised by this, as I am. But I don’t think it wise to dismiss it out of hand. Not until you’ve given this man a chance to prove he is not like his brother.”
“Or prove he is exactly like Jonathon,” Felicity barked, her gaze snaring his with heated anger that ripped through him.
Slowly, Gabriel got to his feet. He clenched fists at his side as frustration threatened to overwhelm him. “I have told you, my lady, I am not like my brother.”
“Do I take your word on that?” she sneered. “Like I did in the past?”
“No. Give me a chance to prove it to you,” he snapped back before he tempered his tone. “Give me a chance to show you I’m worthy of your trust. I’m certain you would not like to be judged on the mistakes of one night. Please do not judge me based on the actions of another man.”
Felicity jolted back, as if his words had actually affected her. She shook her head like she was shaking off the effects, then turned on her father and Gabriel saw tears sparkling in her eyes.
“Please, Father,” she whispered.
“Felicity, you cannot throw your life away based upon one night,” he answered. His gaze snagged Gabriel’s. “I won’t allow you to do that any longer. The young man has asked for a chance to prove his worthiness. You will allow him to do so. I won’t force you to marry him, but I will not let you refuse him until we’ve all had a chance to judge his worth based upon his own actions. His own words.”
Her eyes grew impossibly wide and her mouth opened and shut in mute shock. Then she turned and ran from the room without so much as a glance in his direction.
Sudden exhaustion overtook Gabriel and he sank back down into the chair with a long sigh. He looked up to find Lord Stoneworth watching him. Appraising him.
“She will not make it easy for you,” he said softly and Gabriel couldn’t tell what her father thought of that.
“Nor should she,” he replied, ignoring the throbbing of his head. “I would not expect anything different.”
“Give her a day, then call again,” Stoneworth said as he got to his feet. “I’ll make certain she at least takes tea with you. The rest will be up to you.”
The other man began to leave the room, but at the door he hesitated. “Five years ago when I first approached your father about her ruination, I was not willing to destroy her reputation in order to force your brother into marrying her. Your family all but dared me to go public and challenge him. But if you harm her, if you bring her pain, if you touch her in any way that is inappropriate… I will have your blood. I’ll have your head.”
Gabriel got up with a nod. “I understand.”
“Good afternoon.”
Chapter Four
“I’m not really sure what it is you want from us, Felicity.” Jane Hughes sipped her tea as she looked to her husband’s grandmother with a shrug. “But you know I adore you and I’ll do anything to help you.”
“Yes, dearest,” Lady Stanton said with a nod. “But don’t keep us in suspense any longer. Your note was so strange.”
Felicity sighed as she set her untouched tea cup to the side. Clenching her fists in her lap, she looked at the two women before her. Jane had been her best friend for as long as she could remember. Long before she had met and fallen in love with Wesley Stanton, Lady Stanton’s grandson. Felicity had a hand in their very happy union and had never been happier for her friend.
But now she needed Jane’s help and Lady Stanton’s, too. But for the opposite reason. She didn’t want them to help her find true love. She needed them to help her avoid Gabriel Morrison’s advances. And they could never know the true reason why.
“Felicity,” Jane said softly. “What is wrong? Why do you look so troubled?”
“Um, well I’m certain you noticed the Duke of Windsworth’s presence at my recital two days ago,” she began, willing the quell in her voice to cease without success. She arched a brow at Lady Stanton. “I know you did. You abandoned me to the man’s company!”
A ghost of a smile turned up the older woman’s lips. “Abandoned to the company of a handsome, attentive man. What horrors.”
“They are horrors to me, I’m afraid,” she said with a sigh. “The Duke wishes to pursue my hand and my father, for some unknown reason, has decided to allow that.”
Jane rose to her feet, raising clenched hands over her heart. “Oh, Felicity! That is wonderful. I’ve often wondered why you never accepted the advances of any of the men in our acquaintance.”
Felicity winced. No, she had kept her secret very well. It was too humiliating to admit she’d surrendered her virtue to Jonathon, even to Jane or Lady Stanton.
“Well, I have no intention of accepting Windsworth’s advances either!” she declared with more heat than she had intended. Both Jane and Lady Stanton stared at her.
“Why ever not?” Lady Stanton asked blankly. “What is so terrible about Gabriel Morrison that you would deny him before he even has a chance to court you?”
Felicity bit her lip. “You know how he is viewed. His family absolutely destroyed their name. I could never align myself with such a man.”
Jane’s face suddenly paled and she sank back into her chair with a frown. “You aligned yourself with me despite my family’s reputation.”
Felicity spun on her friend in horror. She hadn’t even thought about how her declaration would sound to Jane, who had been punished for her own family shames not that long ago. Now she saw the flicker of self-doubt in Jane’s brown eyes that hadn’t been there since Wesley Stanton declared his devotion to her.
“I never meant that, Jane,” she said as she rushed to Jane’s chair. Sinking down before her, she clasped her friend’s hands and squeezed.
“You ought not judge Gabriel Morrison on his family’s habits,” Jane said softly. “Wesley says he’s made it clear he will not behave as his father and brother. In fact, he seems to already be trying to make reparations for things they did. You should give him the same benefit of friendship as you gave me. Perhaps he’ll surprise you.”
Felicity froze. Jane’s words mirrored Gabriel’s own a two nights before. He had asked her not to judge him on two stranger’s actions, as she would not like to be judged for her foolish surrender to his brother. When he said those things, with a strength and inner power lighting his striking green eyes, she had been surprised by how moved she’d been. How drawn to him.
But hadn’t Jonathon done the same thing? Brought her in with his seemingly earnest declarations about a future and then tossed her aside. She had been afraid to let another man close to her ever since, and for more reasons than that her lack of innocence would come out if a man asked for her hand and she accepted.
“There are things I cannot tell you about my reluctance to allow Windsworth too close,” she finally admitted on a low whisper. She cast a glance at Lady Stanton.
“I wondered why your reaction to that name was so strong,” she said with a tilt of her head. “There is more to all this than meets the eye.”
Felicity nodded as hot blood burned at her cheeks. “Yes. I can’t tell you why, though. I… I just can’t. But I do need your help. I asked my f
ather to allow you two to be my chaperones today and have Gabriel come here for his call on me, rather than my own home.”
“Why?” Jane asked, her gaze still clouded by her own thoughts and memories.
“Because I want to give him every reason not to pursue his notion of marrying me,” Felicity admitted, surprised that shame filled her at that statement. “And my father would put a stop to it.”
“Oh, Felicity,” Jane breathed as she pulled her hands from her friend’s, got to her feet and paced to the fireplace.
Felicity rose, watching her friend with even more guilt gnawing at her soul. She could simply explain, but… no… no, she couldn’t bear to say what she’d done to Jane and Lady Stanton. It was bad enough Gabriel knew. It was bad enough anyone knew about her lack of control.
“Please!” she begged, turning to Lady Stanton. “Please, believe that I know best in this matter.”
Lady Stanton stared at her and there was an unreadable expression in her gaze. Finally, she nodded once. “I think you are making a mistake, but I learned long ago that a young person is difficult to steer from whatever she thinks her destiny to be. What can we do to assist you?”
Felicity sighed, though she was surprised that relief didn’t wash through her like she thought it would. But she shrugged off her odd disappointment and said, “I have brought another gown to wear. I hoped I could take my maid and use one of your rooms to prepare myself. When I return, we can discuss my plan in further detail.”
Lady Stanton nodded once and directed her to a guest room upstairs. After Felicity had gone to collect her maid, Jane turned on her grandmother-in-law with an aghast expression.
“Oh, Grandmother! How could you?”
Lady Stanton smiled as she reached a hand out to Jane. “Dearest Jane, all I said was that a young person was difficult to steer, not impossible. Let us simply observe the Duke and Felicity for a little while. And then, when the moment is right, we will simply give her a shove toward what is best for her. Even if it is the thing that makes her look like a frightened deer.”
Jane caught Lady Stanton’s hand with a smile lightening her pretty face. “Ah, you are a schemer, my lady. Which is why Wesley and I love you so. Yes, any man who weds Felicity will need the patience of a saint. It will be good to see how the poor man reacts to her games. But I must tell you, knowing what I do, I tend to take Lord Windsworth’s side in the war.”
“So do I, my dear.” Lady Stanton smiled. “So do I.”
#
Gabriel paced the length of Lady Abigail Stanton’s parlor, watching the door with every step. He had not expected to be called here for his scheduled meeting with Felicity, and he knew from bitter experience that the unexpected was often equated with the unpleasant.
The parlor door opened and Lady Stanton was wheeled into the room by a pretty young woman with sparkling brown eyes.
“Ah, Lord Windsworth,” Lady Stanton said with a mischievous grin that made Gabriel’s stomach clench. What was he walking in to? “I am so glad you could join us today. Felicity will be with us momentarily. Have you met my grandson’s wife?” She motioned to the young woman behind her.
“No, I haven’t had the pleasure.” Gabriel stepped forward, girding himself for the censure he often found in members of the ton.
“Lady Jane Stanton, may I present His Grace, the Duke of Windsworth.”
“Your Grace.” The young woman surprised him by stepping around her grandmother’s chair and offering him a hand with no hesitation. “How lovely it is to make your acquaintance.”
Gabriel stared for a moment before he recalled his manners and brushed a kiss across the lady’s glove. The welcome and understanding in her eyes wasn’t something he was accustomed to. “Thank you.”
“I know you have been out of Society for a long while,” the young woman continued. “I wonder if you and your mother would honor my husband and me at a small party we are hosting Wednesday next? There will only be ten or so couples in attendance, but I can tell you they are lords and ladies that you may wish to make an acquaintance with.”
Gabriel swallowed hard. Was this an angle? A trap? No, he didn’t see anything disingenuous in her smile or stare. Only a genuine desire to… help. Like she understood his position on some level.
“Thank you, my lady. I would be greatly appreciative.”
“Wonderful,” the younger Lady Stanton said as she stepped back to assist the elder Lady Stanton. “I will send an invitation round in a few days.”
Before he could thank her again for her kindness, the door to the parlor opened and Felicity stepped inside. Gabriel’s words fell away as he took in the sight of her. She was wearing a pink gown that clashed rather badly with her auburn hair, but it wasn’t the color that caught his eye. It was the cut. A swooping neckline that came from a more daring era teased along the slope of her cleavage. And she wasn’t wearing gloves, either.
Rouge, however, she did have in abundance, along with reddened lips either from more make up or… God help him… nibbling.
Instantly he knew what she was doing. Since he was trying to recover his reputation, she was presenting herself in a most scandalous fashion, probably in the hopes of frightening him away. And it should have.
Unfortunately, his immediate reaction was quite the opposite. Seeing her in such a daring, sensual way made him want to cross the room, tangle his fingers in her red locks and bring his mouth down on hers. He wanted to make her groan like the wanton she was trying to pretend she was.
With a start, he shoved those feelings away. Damn her for daring the rake he didn’t want to be to show himself, even for a moment. He smoothed the reaction from his face and stepped forward. He would not play her games.
“Good afternoon, Lady Felicity,” he said, offering a hand.
She hesitated, her blue gaze darting to her bare fingers as if she hadn’t thought through her plan that well. Bare skin would touch bare skin. Utterly inappropriate, despite her gaudy costume.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” she managed to croak out as she took his hand.
Heated lightening struck him at the touch, rocking him back on his heels and making that unwanted rake roar out desire that echoed in his bloodstream.
Immediately he released her hand and let her pass. She took a place on one of the chairs beside the fire. The Ladies Stanton placed themselves side by side on the settee, leaving the chair beside Felicity as his only option.
“Aren’t you going to compliment me on my appearance?” Felicity asked, arching a brow in challenge as he sat.
Lady Jane’s eyes went wide and Lady Stanton choked on her tea, but neither said anything to interfere. Gabriel cast them both a quick glance. So, Felicity had brought him here so she could do and say outrageous things without her father’s intervention. So be it.
He turned toward her and let his gaze slip up and down her form in a lazy perusal that was as much a torment to himself as an embarrassment to her. By the time he met her eyes, her cheeks were blazing and that had nothing to do with her rouge.
“You look lovely, Lady Felicity,” he said, swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat. “Very unique.”
He could have sworn Lady Stanton choked on a very unladylike laugh, but Lady Jane intercepted before he was certain. She smiled at him.
“My husband mentioned that you were raised in Shelton, Your Grace.”
Gabriel nodded, though he didn’t take his eyes from Felicity. She was glaring at him openly. He held her eyes until she moved her stare away.
“Yes, it is a lovely part of England. I miss it,” he said, smiling that he had won that little mini battle, at least. The larger war was another factor entirely. He sighed. If only there didn’t have to be a war. If only Felicity could see that he was trying to do the honorable thing. That it was best for her.
Her resistance was so utterly frustrating.
“What did you do up in the wilds, Your Grace?” Felicity asked as she lifted her cup of tea to her lips with a
n unladylike slurp. “Garden?”
He arched a brow. Her tone was aggressive and confrontational, her dress utterly inappropriate, but when he searched her stare he didn’t see a calculating woman. He saw a frightened one. Though Felicity Ellis might pretend to be strong and untouchable, she wasn’t. He had a feeling much of her fear had to do with Jonathon. His brother’s betrayal had touched her deeper than she would possibly ever admit.
And seeing the terror in the bright depths of her eyes gave him the most unexpected reaction of all. He wanted to comfort her. Despite the fact that she was behaving badly, despite the fact that she was attempting to thwart his careful plans… he still had a strange urge to whisper to her that everything would be all right.
That he would never, ever hurt her as she’d been hurt in the past. And that he would never allow anyone else to hurt her either.
“Your Grace?”
Her snide tone brought him out of his haze and Gabriel forced a smile. She had weapons in her arsenal. Clearly, he would have to challenge her with weapons of his own.
“Yes, I do admit my mother’s estate had a very nice garden and I did occasionally enjoy strolling in it.” He turned and smiled at Lady Stanton. “I noticed your gardens were very lovely, as well. Would you mind if I took a turn about them with Lady Felicity? We would stay within your line of sight, of course.”
Felicity’s eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to protest, but Lady Stanton was already nodding. “Of course, my lord. No one could protest the appropriateness of such a thing. You may exit through the French doors there and if you turn left at the bottom of the terrace stair, you’ll find my favorite rose garden awaiting you.”
Jane clasped her hands together. “A very romantic spot for courting, indeed.”
Felicity’s nostrils flared slightly and she gave her two friends a look that could have frozen hell itself, but when Gabriel got to his feet and offered her an arm, she did not refuse him. Her lips thin and pursed, she got to her feet and gingerly pressed her fingers against his inner elbow and allowed him to take her outside.
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