She pressed her forehead against the glass, stifling a sob.
He drew her hand to his lips and lifted his gaze to meet hers.
She bit her bottom lip, and he thought it enchanting. She was so innocent, he wanted to be the one to teach her about love.
He ran a thumb over her velvety cheek, then buried his nose in her hair. He felt drugged by her nearness. She smelled of sweetness and everything wholesome.
He tipped her head back and kissed her.
"Stephen," she whispered as she wound her arms around his neck.
He saw the question in her eyes and his gaze bore into hers. "I don't care about your mother." He crushed her to him, flames of passion exploding between them.
When the carriage stopped, he realized they were at the townhouse, and he dragged himself from her arms. He laughed at the sight. Her hair was tousled, and his cravat was askew.
She pressed a hand to her mouth. "Oh, forgive me. I never meant... I only wanted ... oh, how I must look."
He raised her hand to his lips. "You look beautiful, and I fail to see why you need to apologize."
Her eyes filled with tears and she looked away.
He frowned. "Perhaps it is I who should beg your pardon?"
She shook her head. "A marriage of convenience would break my heart. I want to marry for love. Please, I beg you. Don't do this to me. Ask my father to dissolve this engagement. It would be best for both of us. Your family would never approve once they discover my mother's secret."
Stephen's hope sank. So, she did not love him after all. He said nothing as they entered the townhouse. The entire fiasco would be coming to an abrupt end, he thought grimly. This had gone far enough. Elizabeth deserved better than to marry a man she didn't love. He would seek out William Shelby, intending to settle the debts once and for all.
"You must woo the lady. What kind of man are you?"
Stephen glared at Roderick, sitting like some pompous king behind his library desk, lifting a snifter of brandy to his lips.
"Woo her? You must be mad. I am already engaged to her. Wooing her is past tense here."
Besides, he had already wooed the lady, had he not?
The snifter hit the desk with a splash. "Heaven protect me from addlepated idiots. If every man thought like you, the human race would have died out years ago. Have you no decency? The woman wants to be wooed. All ladies do. How do you think I talked Jane into marrying me?"
Stephen's face flashed with contempt. "Ah, yes, I see your point. Flowers and soothing words of love might have worked for you because Jane adored you, even though you were a conceited oaf."
"Let's not delve into my personal life, if you please. You are the one with the problem at the moment. I have already jumped my fences to secure my bride. Now, it's your turn."
Stephen slapped his palms on the desk. "She hates me, Roderick. How can I woo a woman who hates me because she believes I want her father's money? This entire situation has put me in a bad light, and the truth of it is, I can see no way out of it without dishonoring her."
"Yes, Miss Shelby is a debt paid," Roderick said, the condescension in his voice clear, "not well done of you."
"Hell, Roderick! It was not my plan. Shelby threw his daughter at me, as if she were nothing but a piece of land to be bartered. I could not pay my debts at the table. Thank heaven it was me and not some nefarious scoundrel that received her."
Roderick paused. "She loves you, you know."
"I believed in that kind of love for about a minute, before she met up with Fennington again."
"You must be blind or stupid. Perhaps both. That girl is in love with you. However, even if she were not, if I were in your place, I would get on my knees and beg her to marry me. A man doesn't run into a lady like that more than once in a lifetime. And if he does, she is someone else's wife."
A faint smile touched Stephen's lips. "Like Jane?"
"Quite so."
"You can say that easily enough, but it is I who will enter into a marriage of convenience, not you."
"I already told you, she loves you."
"Then why would she ask to dissolve the engagement if she loves me?" He knew the situation with her mother had nothing to do with it.
Roderick threw up his hands in disgust. "She wants your devotion, love, all that silly stuff women like."
"How the deuce am I to do that?"
Roderick's gaze narrowed. "I have heard you are a charming fellow when you want to be."
"For the love of King George, I am no monk, Roderick. I have kissed her more than once. She is not immune to me, but that is not the same as love."
He took Roderick's drink and lifted it to his lips, downing the brandy, then slapping the glass back onto the desk. "She loves that idiot Fennington."
Roderick shot from his seat. "Fennington is over and done with! Take my word, it was Fennington who was chasing her, not the other way around. Just like the weasel did with Emily. Well, no matter. He should be flying the English flag on the Atlantic by now."
Stephen blinked. So, Roderick had followed through after all. Good riddance.
"Perhaps I am mistaken, Roderick, but she still does not want this marriage, and neither do I if she does not love me."
"Confound it, you must have a brain the size of a pea."
"I think you mean peabrain," Stephen said mockingly.
There was a knock on the door, and Roderick gave permission for the butler to enter.
"Your Grace, I am here to inform you that Mr. Shelby and his daughters are leaving the premises."
"And when was this decision made?" Stephen's glacial tone sent the butler's brows shooting upward.
"I believe after Miss Shelby returned with you last evening, my lord. Is there anything else, Your Grace?"
"No, Crosby, that is all for now."
After the servant left, Stephen shifted a knowing gaze back to his brother. "And you believed her in love with me? You must think me a complete fool."
"You are one if you don't go after her."
Stephen recognized the commanding tilt of his brother's brow and would have smiled if the comment did not demand an action on his part.
"After her? You must be joking? If the lady cannot tell me her good-byes, then I will bid her farewell from here."
"Hell's teeth, your pride will be your downfall. You are a greater fool than Fennington."
"A greater fool, no. A fool, yes."
"I cannot see why we should have to leave today, Lizzie."
Barely acknowledging her father's words, Elizabeth stood on the walk outside the Elbourne townhouse and frowned as the footmen loaded her trunks. She had said her farewells to everyone but Stephen. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding her.
But it was better this way, she thought, letting out a trembling sigh. The note she left him was to be delivered after they departed.
"Aunt Polly is ill, Papa, and I need to tend to her."
Elizabeth lied. She would never admit that she had used her godmother as a last resort. The older lady was like a general, and once Aunt Polly had received word of the forced engagement, she demanded that Elizabeth come to her if she were ever in need of a safe haven.
Elizabeth blinked back tears as she watched the horses' breath swirl in the cold spring air. Safe haven from her heart would be all but impossible, but she would do anything to escape a marriage where her husband did not love her. Seeing Stephen and knowing he did not love her was too much to bear.
No doubt he was probably glad to rid himself of her, no matter what he had said. Her mother had never married her father. That was scandalous in the eyes of the ton.
William Shelby shook his head. "Polly and I never got along, Lizzie. I don't suppose you would care to send along your medical bag, and we could stay here until you marry."
Elizabeth dared a glance at her father.
She was amazed she could get him to leave the duke's home so easily, when he would not release her from her engagement. Though she could ne
ver be completely forced into the marriage, the situation had already gone too far to back out unless the parties involved were agreeable to the terms, and she did not see that happening any time soon.
"We have outstayed our welcome, Papa. I have asked that the wedding be postponed." She had said more than that in the letter. "Besides, I cannot justify staying at the duke's home any longer than need be. Aunt Polly needs me."
Liar, she thought again. She needed her Aunt Polly.
"But I can rent a townhouse, poppet, if that's what's worrying you. Your Aunt Polly is not going to die. Probably a silly cold. I can send the best doctor to her side before the day is out and then we can stay at the best hotel in London."
Her father had been wounded by her coolness after he had disclosed the information about her mother, but she could not offer him any sympathy. He had hurt her deeply. With the forced engagement and now the disclosure of her sordid background, she was too hurt and embarrassed to face Stephen again, let alone let him kiss her. She had to distance herself and form some kind of plan. A plan that would involve her heart as little as possible.
"I have no qualms about his lordship coming to our home and wooing you before your wedding," her father went on. "I know you have not been comfortable here, but I thought it would be for the best. Seems I was wrong."
He spoke with such an ache in his voice she almost let him have his way. Yet she could not give in to his every whim. She needed time to think. And if she had to work on his sympathy, then so be it. It could very well lead to her freedom.
Milli grabbed her black kitten and looked up. "I would not have Cleopatra if we had not come here, Papa."
"I believe one cat is enough, Milli. You will not bring that to Tavton Hall. Crabby old thing won't allow it."
Milli held her kitten tighter to her bosom. "Aunt Polly's going to allow Lizzie's cat that she picked up in the alley the other day; why not mine?"
"Lizzie's cat is staying in the stables. It was a stray that needed help, and it was never meant to be part of the family."
The cat they were speaking of had been found half-dead in an alley beside the lending library. Elizabeth had mended its cuts and bruises while keeping it in the Elbourne stables. It was doing fine now. She wished her heart were as easy to fix.
"Well, then, I will hide Cleo from Aunt Polly," Millie said. "I will keep her under my bed. Lady Bringston would be horrified if I returned the gift." The tiny kitten wiggled in her hand, and she smiled. "See, the poor thing thinks I'm its mother. Did you know that Lord Stephen named one of the kittens King Tutankhamen? Is that not the silliest thing?"
Elizabeth ignored Milli's comment as they stepped toward the carriage. A fierce wind swept down the walk. Elizabeth slapped a hand to her hat, trying to keep her turbulent emotions at bay. She didn't want to think about Stephen or his charms.
His tenderness with the kittens touched her. His patience with Milli's theatrics impressed her. But his love for his family captivated her. When she had seen him hold Lady Emily's baby in the crook of his arm, she could not deny her attraction to him.
The more time she spent with him, the more she loved him.
But if she stayed in this home any longer, seeing him at every meal, she would end up married to a man who did not love her and she could not have that. Oh, he would be kind to her. He would use that undeniable charm, but it would be all one gigantic lie because he did not love her. And to add to that, her father's money would always be between them.
"Elizabeth, I would like a word with you, please."
Stephen's voice hit Elizabeth's ears the exact moment she entered the carriage behind Milli and her father. She tightened her grip on her reticule and sank onto the velvety coach seats across from her family, ignoring the harsh beating of her heart.
Stephen bent his head toward the door, his dark brown hair gleaming in the sunlight. He was too handsome for his own good.
For a second, she thought she saw a flash of pain cross his chiseled features, but she realized she must have been mistaken. She was seeing a reflection of what was in her own heart.
"You are leaving to visit your sick aunt?" he asked dryly.
She nodded, her lips pinched. Was it his fault she had fallen in love with him? She clenched her jaw. Yes, yes it was.
It was as if the door were slamming on her heart as she met his challenging gaze and managed a brilliant smile. "Good-bye, my lord. I do hope you thought about what I said earlier."
His eyes darkened and his hand shot out, gripping her arm. "I have need to speak to you in private."
The heat of his touch scorched a path straight to her toes. "Whatever you have to say, you may say it here."
To her shock, he sent her father a knowing look.
William Shelby grabbed his youngest daughter's hand. "Do believe I forgot a few things in the library. Milli, come along."
Milli's mouth dropped in shock. "But Elizabeth has no wish to be with him. He—he might kiss her again."
Elizabeth could not be more embarrassed than she was now.
"Millicent." William Shelby had already departed the carriage, tugging at his youngest daughter's hand.
Wide-eyed, Milli descended the carriage, clutching a mewing Cleopatra to her chest and dragging her feet every step of the way, barely moving aside as Lord Stephen Clearbrook hopped up the carriage steps, closing the door behind him.
Elizabeth’s sense were buzzing. The carriage instantly smelled of bayberry and leather, a dangerous combination of cleanliness and ruggedness that made her heart tumble at the mere sight of this man. “What? What is it you want?”
Stephen smiled, folding his hands across his chest, deliberately invading her space. "You are not indifferent to me, Elizabeth."
Her cheeks grew warm, but she remained silent.
"I believe Roderick was correct." He leaned forward and took her hands in his. "Tell me you do not love me."
"Love you? What a silly thing to say."
He shot her a devastating smile. "You do love me."
Elizabeth fidgeted in her seat, feeling his fingers running circles on her wrists beneath her gloved hands, a practice he was becoming very good at. She could not let him do this to her. She could withstand his charms. Her life depended upon it.
"You must be insane."
"Am I?" He slid closer to her, his breath a sweet caress.
There was not a moment to lose. "Open that door at once."
"Tell me you do not love me, and I will open it."
She refused to look at him because she knew, without a doubt, those warm dark eyes would instantly devour her. And then where would she be? In his arms with a broken heart.
"No."
Chapter Thirteen
"No, what?"
"No, I won't answer. Now if you refuse to open the door, I will take my leave of you and you can go to Aunt Polly's."
"Very well. But let me tell you one thing, your mother, whoever she was, has nothing to do with this."
He slipped his fingers beneath her chin and gently turned her to face him. Challenging brown eyes glittered back at her.
It seemed that minutes passed before he spoke to her again. "Venture to your Aunt Polly's then. I understand her direction is near St. James. I'll be visiting you tomorrow for a morning call and every day until we are married next week."
Next week? "I do not want you to visit, my lord."
His lips thinned. "Nevertheless, I will."
"But you must not."
"Why?"
"Because I asked you to postpone the wedding. And... because I do not want this marriage at all." Because you do not love me.
She thought she heard him growl. "You love Fennington?"
"I believed I was in love with the man. But I realize he was only after my father's coin." To her astonishment, her formidable glare did nothing but draw a smile from the man.
"Well, then, I have saved you from a life with a man you did not love. And now you are in my debt, are you not?"
There was a wicked gleam in his gaze that pushed her back against the seat. "Yes. I mean, no, I mean—"
"You mean you love me, then?"
"Yes ... er, no," she replied with an obvious stutter, her cheeks turning pink with confusion. "You tricked me!"
A set of bright white teeth flashed her way. "You love me, Elizabeth." It wasn't a question, it was a fact.
She said nothing. She did love him and hated herself for that. He would only break her heart. She remembered Fennington's words. He never told you he loved you.
The door burst open and Milli poked her head inside.
"Did he kiss you, Lizzie? Did he? Papa still thinks I'm playing chess in the drawing room with Lord Marcus, but I let Cleopatra loose, and little though she is, she clawed his lordship's favorite jacket to shreds. He is not very agreeable at the moment, and I daresay he did not like it a bit when I told him he deserved it."
"Good heavens, Millicent!"
Stephen let out a husky laugh. "No, Milli. I have not kissed her... yet."
Milli waited patiently by the door, gawking, her innocent black kitten peering over her cupped hands. "Well, go ahead. Papa wall be here any minute, looking for me, and I'm afraid that brother of yours might find me out soon enough. I do not have nine lives, you know."
Elizabeth scooted back against the corner of the carriage. "Get in, Milli."
"Stay out and close the door, Milli."
Milli frowned.
Elizabeth tightened her grip on her reticule. "Don't you dare listen to him. He is not your father. Get in, Millicent."
Milli opened her mouth, but Stephen pointed her toward the walk. "One minute and then you may come in."
"But I would like to see what happens," she said, peeking further into the carriage. "I can use some practice for my love scenes when I am on stage."
Stephen coughed, smothering a laugh, but Elizabeth heard it, and she was furious. "Milli, get in here. Now!"
"If she stays," Stephen said, "then that is your choice."
Elizabeth gasped. "You would not dare to do anything in front of a child," she hissed.
The Wagered Bride (The Clearbrooks) Page 17