by Dawn Brower
Torrington rubbed his temples with his fingers. Gemma could relate to his frustrations. Liam had deviated from whatever plan they hitched together. She had to wonder what he had been supposed to do. After a few moments and several different plays of emotions crossing his face, he looked at Gemma with a humorous smile on his face.
"You're right." Torrington nodded in agreement.
"Of course I'm right." She pressed her lips together and tilted her head to the side. "But please explain what you think I'm right about."
"That boy has lost his bloody mind." Torrington laughed.
Nice to see one of them found humor in this situation.
"I fail to see why that is so funny."
"You would, dear, you would. This is going to be quite entertaining." Torrington chuckled.
Gemma crossed her arms over her chest and stomped her foot.
"I'm glad that your son going insane amuses you so. I don't share in that sentiment as I have to live with him. Will you please quit laughing! It isn't that funny."
Heat filled Gemma's cheeks as she watched the hilarity take over her father-in-law. The viscount now laughed so hard he had trouble breathing. His face turned red and he held his stomach with his arms.
"I can't wait to tell Pia that her baby boy finally got himself hitched," he said after he gained some composure. "By and by, welcome to the family. I should get home and let my wife in on the good news."
"Hmph, tell her I said hello and to come visit soon. Her company at least is something I can look forward to. The men in this family lack manners."
"We make up for it in other ways. Tell Liam I stopped by and to come see me soon."
Gemma watched as Liam's father left the library. She waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps in the hall and left to return to the sitting room. Her reason for hiding out in the library had left the townhouse. Liam would no doubt return at some point, but for now she had a little breathing room. What she couldn't understand was why his father had found the situation so hilarious. To her, nothing about being married to Liam was amusing. She still had to find a way to get out of it. Perhaps she should just arrange to travel to see Lily. As a married woman, she didn't have quite the same constraints as a young miss. Yes, that idea appealed to her, maybe marrying Liam wasn't an entirely bad thing. She'd look into the requirements and possibilities. Lily would be able to help her sort through the shambles of her life. Maybe she'd also have some insight on how to deal with her unruly brother.
CHAPTER NINE
Liam opened the front door to his parents townhouse and walked inside. He traveled down the hallway and stopped just outside his father's study. He had to update him on everything that happened.
He had no idea where to even begin to explain everything.
His father had been the last thing on his mind. Nothing had gone the way he had planned. No, what happened was the world had spiraled out of control, and he didn't have the first clue on how to get it all back on track.
Marrying Gemma was never part of the plan. That part was supposed to be a farce, but he lost his mind when he walked in and saw Alfie's hands all over her. Something snapped inside him, and all he could think about was breaking her cousin's neck.
Once he had her safely tucked away in his carriage his heart had calmed. It made it a little easier to think rationally. It was in those moments he realized the only way he could keep her safe was to marry her. In his mind that course of action made sense because he could ensure no one ever hurt her again.
Liam didn't take into consideration his growing desire. He wanted Gemma in ways he'd never imagined. She made his heart beat faster, and he itched to explore every inch of her. He wanted to see her smile—for him alone. A sultry one that bespoke of pleasure and passion, but also one that sparkled with inner happiness. Liam needed her to be all right with their marriage and to accept every aspect of it.
He should have taken her feelings into consideration—in some ways he was no better than Alfie. Liam had presumed to know what was best for her. The only difference was he'd at least respect her wishes. Liam would never force himself on her. Gemma clearly didn't want him any longer. He had wrongly assumed she would be ecstatic to be his wife.
It was equally apparent what a bloody fool he'd turned into.
"Liam, why are you just standing there?"
He turned to see his mother standing in the hallway. Her pale blond hair twisted into a chignon and her blue eyes filled with concern. Not once had he thought about how he would explain it all to her. She wanted her children to be happy. She would not be pleased to see him all tied up in knots over Gemma.
"Hello mother," Liam strolled over and gave her a quick hug. "I came to see Father. We have some things to discuss."
"Oh well, you missed him. He left a while ago." She studied him for a few moments and nodded . "You will join me for tea and tell me what's troubling you."
Liam gulped as he prepared himself for her interrogation. He wiped his hands on his pants to remove the moisture beading on his palms.
His mother could always see right through him. Escaping was completely out of the question. She didn't ask him to join him, but rather demanded it. Liam didn't want to disappoint her and dreaded the upcoming conversation.
He did the only thing he could in this situation. Liam turned on his heels and followed her to her sitting room. Once inside, she gestured for him to take a seat in one of the chairs as she sat down on the settee.
"I already ordered tea when I heard you walk in the door. I haven't had a chance to visit with you in a while. I wanted to catch up. As soon as I saw you I knew something bothered you, and now you can tell me what is on your mind. Perhaps I can help."
How could he explain to his lovely mother that he had made a mess of his life and had no clue where to even begin straightening it out? She sat there with her hands folded in her lap, and her face turned towards him with questions radiating from her eyes.
"It's a long story."
"Lucky for you I have plenty of time."
"I don't know where to begin..."
"I'd say you start from where the issue began. Don't leave any details out. If I'm to help, I need to know everything."
Everything? No, he couldn't tell her it all. Not a chance in hell would he tell her about what happened between him and Gemma in his bedroom the night before. Some things one just didn't discuss with their mother.
"I guess it began with Lily's letter."
"I need more than that. Lily writes often. Which letter?"
"She wrote to Father about her concern for Gemma. Are you aware of her situation?" Liam asked.
"Yes. I know that her cousin is trying to force her to marry him."
"Not going to bloody happen—" Liam muttered under his breath. He clenched his fists tight against his legs.
"What was that Liam?"
Liam forced himself to relax and unclenched his fists. He had to be careful before he went off on a tangent. He needed to stick to the facts or he didn't have a chance of getting through this conversation.
"Alfie isn't going to marry Gemma," Liam said.
"Oh, that's good. I know Lily will be relieved. I'm confused though how you can say for sure that will not happen."
Liam sucked in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Now he needed to tell her that he married the girl himself. He had no idea how she would react to the news. She liked Gemma, at least he believed she did.
"Uh, well, he can't marry her because she is already married to someone else."
"Really? How wonderful for her. When did she get married and what is the lucky gentleman's name?"
Her face glowed with happiness that Gemma had found someone to share her life with. That was a good sign. She did want her to be happy, so he hoped she was also okay with her being his wife. He didn't want to add to Gemma's stress. He already fought an uphill battle where she was concerned.
"Liam, you're not answering me. Is it a bad thing that she is married to a diffe
rent gentleman? Is this what is bothering you?"
"Yes and no."
"Yes, it's a bad thing or yes it's bothering you. Quit stalling and just tell me what is going on."
His mother's hands flew up in the air. Her lips pursed as her eyes narrowed into slits, studying him.
"No, it's not a bad thing. At least I don't think so. I married her yesterday by special license." Liam got up and paced. He stopped a few feet away and turned back to her. "Yes, it is what is bothering me. I've made a bit of a mess of things with her."
A whoosh of relief flooded him. He returned to his seat and relaxed back into it. There he finally got it all out. Now he just had to sit back and pray his mother reacted well to the news. She was a bit unpredictable at times. He never knew what to expect with her.
"Oh," she said in a quiet tone. She sat back and folded her hands in her lap. Her gaze drifted to the wall behind him. She tilted her head and studied some innocuous object. Her mouth hung open for several seconds and then softened into a half smile, but she didn't say another word.
That's it? All she had to say was oh? That didn't leave him with anything to go by. She said she would help him, and she didn't have anything to say about the situation?
"What? You don't have any other reaction? I expected more than that out of you," Liam said.
"I've never been at a loss for words before. I didn't expect you to say you married her. Yes, I knew how she felt about you, but I also thought you were nowhere near ready to settle down with anyone. You vehemently stated that on more than one occasion. I guess I am a bit shocked and confused."
"You and me both. I can't explain it. I don't quite know how it all happened. It wasn't the plan, and yet it feels so right."
"Tell me how this all came about. I know Lily had concerns, and your father had an idea about how to extricate Gemma from the situation. He didn't explain it to me, and I didn't think to ask."
"The original plan was to get Gemma on a ship and take her to live with Lily in South Carolina. Father did ask me if I had feelings for her first. He didn't want to ship her off if I wanted her for myself. He suggested I marry her if I wanted her. It was a good solution to save her." Liam paused and took a moment to catch his breath. "At the time I said no. I had no intention of tying our lives together. I didn't want her hurt though, so I agreed to help Gemma and make sure she arrived safely in Lily's care."
"So how did you end up getting married? If you didn't want to be with her why put yourself through so much unnecessary pain. You both deserve better than that."
"I hope it won't all be pain. I want a happy life with, Gemma, but I messed up. I tossed her aside when she expressed her feelings to me two years ago. I was cavalier with her and laughed. I was too young and didn't know what I would ultimately be giving up."
"You love her," his mother said in a soft tone.
Did he? Noah had suggested it, but he had tossed it aside as nonsense. He cared for her. But love? That was an entirely different thing. Liam pictured Gemma. Her gloriously vibrant red hair and her alluring green eyes—he definitely desired her.
"How does one know when they are in love?"
His mother paused and studied him. "That's not an easy question to answer."
"Then how will I know if I love her?"
"Let me ask you this," she tilted her head. "How do you feel when you are not with her?"
The question didn't make any sense to him. What did being away from Gemma have to do with being in love with her? His mother wasn't helping at all. This was just leading to more confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"You're here with me. How do you feel about leaving Gemma alone?" A knowing glint took root in her eyes. "How would you feel if she insisted on going to live with Lily in South Carolina?"
Not bloody happening. Gemma was never leaving him. He clenched his fists again, and his breathing became more ragged. Liam could feel heat filling his cheeks and spreading down his neck.
"Gemma belongs with me."
"Do you feel that way because you see her as one of your possessions?" Her tone was the mask of innocence. She had no expression on her face.
"Of course not," Liam's mouth hung open as he sputtered for words. "Gemma isn't an object. She deserves to be happy.
"She certainly does, but what if that's not with you?"
Liam sat back and considered her words. She had a point. What if Gemma couldn't be happy with him? No, he wouldn't consider that as a possibility. He loved her—Oh God. His heart sped up and beat hard inside his chest. He did love her. Liam could make her happy. He'd just have to find a way to make her see she belonged with him.
"Let me ask you one more question. It might help you to understand your motivations." His mother leaned forward and looked him in the eyes. "If you didn't know you loved her why did you marry her?"
"It was pure instinct. I walked in and saw Alfie with his hands all over her, and I saw red. I reacted and just went with it. It felt right so it had to be the best decision." He paused and scrubbed his hands over his face. This was such a mess. "The problem now is she no longer feels the same way. She doesn't want me, and I'm not much better than Alfie. I forced her to marry me because I thought it was best for her. I refuse to give up though."
"Then you shouldn't."
"I don't know where to even begin..."
"I think you've always had deep feelings for her. You got them all clouded up in that stupid betrothal agreement. Let it all go and just tell her how much you want to be with her."
"You think it's that easy? Just tell her I love her and hope it reminds her she loves me too? I don't think it will work that way." Liam got up and paced again. "What did I do before to make her love me? I need to do that again if I can only figure out what it was."
A laugh rolled through the room and bounced off the walls echoing around him. He looked at his mother and realized the sound came from her. She found his troubles amusing? There was something strangely perverse about her finding his issues entertaining.
"I fail to see why this is so funny," he said.
"Darling you didn't do anything to make her fall in love with you. It just is what it is. I doubt she fell out of love with you to begin with. She loved who you are or who she believed you were. Just be yourself and tell her how you feel. Gemma just needs to know you feel the same way. She isn't going to lay her heart on the line again and have it stomped on. You hurt her and she is just protecting herself. It's up to you to make the next move. She isn't going to do it for you."
Was his mother right? Is it really that simple? Does Gemma still love me? He had to find out and try it. Maybe he just needed to let her know that she meant the world to him.
"You believe that? I just can't believe it's that easy."
"Life is only as hard as you make it. If you want to make things work in your marriage, you need to open up and talk to your wife. Nothing gets solved by closing yourself off and ignoring the problem. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it."
"All right. I will talk with Gemma. I should be honest with her. It took me long enough to realize I love her. It's only right I am as sincere with her as she was with me in the past. I only hope it's enough."
"It's all you can do. Let me know how things go. Did you still need to talk to your father? I don't know when he will return."
He didn't want to repeat this conversation with his father. The viscount would probably goad him a lot more than his mother did with her laughter. He had an even more wicked attitude than she had. Probably a leftover remnant from his pirating days…
"Could you fill him in on the details? If he still needs to talk to me have him send word and I will return another day."
"I can do that. I can handle your father. I think we need to have a little talk ourselves."
Amusement filled him—it might be interesting to stick around and see their chat. His mother tended to break things when she was mad at his father. If he wasn't mistaken, she seemed a little irritated when she said they
needed to talk. He had better things to do though. Gemma was his only concern for the moment.
Liam nodded . "Thank you, mama. I didn't realize how much I needed to talk about this."
"Anytime. Go and talk to Gemma. Straighten out your marriage."
Liam turned and walked out of the room. A new sense of purpose blossomed inside him. He had a lot to do, and he knew just where he would start with Gemma. He should have seen it himself. Why would she open up to him if she still believed he didn't return her feelings? His mother was right. He would plan something special and tell her everything.
CHAPTER TEN
The viscount's departure left Gemma with a mix of emotions. Her stomach churned within her. She held her hand over her midsection in an attempt to calm the queasiness setting in. This marriage business didn't sit well with her. She had a father-in-law struck by the hilarity of it and a husband who didn't stick around long enough to be one. Gemma desperately needed something to keep her mind off the last days tumultuous events. The best course of action was to get engrossed in an activity that was both time-consuming and mentally draining. Which gave her an idea… wouldn't it be wonderful to attend a function later that evening? It would give her a reason to be absent and something to keep her mind busy. Maybe if she weren't home, she wouldn't be so painfully aware of her husband's lack of attention.
If she was going to go out, she needed to know what social events were taking place. She remembered Janie had informed her of a stack of neglected invitations. Going through each one would give her something to occupy herself with until later. Gemma sat down at the writing desk in the library to look at those that had arrived over the past week. From the amount of unopened invitations, it seemed rather obvious her husband loathed socializing.
Gemma had taken a liking to attending events when she became friends with Lily. Prior to that fated meeting she had garnered similar feelings towards interacting with the ton that Liam seemed to have. The ton writhed with gossipmongers and pariahs, but it had also just as many wonderful individuals encased within it. She had learn that lesson the hard way. After her father's sudden death, she had to withdraw from society a bit as the rules of mourning hadn't allowed her to go to many balls or soirees.