“Miss Larkin,” he called. When she did not stop, he made a grab for her arm. She came to a halt and whirled upon him. Her pale blue eyes sparked with annoyance. Underneath her bonnet, red curls peeked out. He wondered if it really was true what they said about redheads and tempers. The few freckles scattered across an upturned nose added an innocent look to that anger which made him smile.
“Whatever do you mean by grabbing me?”
“Forgive me, I was trying to get your attention. It seems you did not hear me call your name.” He offered a charming smile.
“I heard you well enough.” Miss Larkin’s gaze landed on the fence behind him. “You should not be on our land. If Father catches you here, he shall bring out the shotgun.”
“I shall be but a moment. If you care enough about me not to see blood spilt, then I would ask you to take a moment to speak with me.”
She glanced around then huffed. “Very well.”
“I searched you out to speak about the border.”
She lifted her gaze to the sky. “That border. I am desperately tired of hearing about that border.”
“As am I.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “That is why I think you and I should put an end to this feud.”
She released a laugh. “An end? This feud has been going on since medieval times. What on earth makes you think we could manage such a thing?”
“Well, with your brains and my…”
“Good looks?”
“I was going to say charms.” He grinned widely. “I’m glad you think I’m good-looking.”
Creases appeared between her brows. “I did not say I found you good-looking. But…but I know there are women who do. But not I. Certainly not I.”
“Very well. I am chastened. But that does not mean we should not work together. Even if you do find me hideous.”
“That is not what I said!”
“Regardless, I think we could do something to fix this.”
She eyed him for a moment then shook her head. “There is nothing that I could say to my father to persuade him. I am certain your father is as stubborn. Besides, why would you want to mend the feud? Do you not want your extra land for when it is yours?”
“So, you admit it is Waverley land?” He smirked.
Miss Larkin folded her arms. “I certainly do not. I have seen the records and it is Larkin land.”
“Believe it or not, I do not give one fig about the land. However, my father is ageing and this constant arguing is taking its toll. I would like to see him live out the rest of his days in peace.”
A red brow rose. “If you want to give him peace, then perhaps you should look to your own behavior.”
“What is that meant to mean?”
“If you need to ask, I certainly have no wish to tell you. It is not something of which a lady should be speaking.”
“I had no idea I was speaking with a lady. Perhaps I was fooled by her muddied hems and creased gown.” He bowed mockingly. “Forgive me, my lady.”
“You are incorrigible.”
“Why, thank you.”
“You have wasted enough of my day, Mr. Waverley. If you do not mind, I shall bid you a good day.” She went to twist on her heel but he moved in front of her. If she could have shot fire from her eyes, he had no doubt she would have done and singed him to a crisp. “Mr. Waverley!” she cried, frustration tinging her voice.
“I am serious. I wish to put a halt to this feud and I think you and I could do it together.”
She stared at him for a few moments. “I do not think you have ever had a serious moment in your life. I am not certain what you think you are doing by mocking me and toying with me but I have no interest in offering you a moment of my time.”
“Surely there’s some way I can persuade you?”
“Persuade me to spend time with a rake of ill reputation?” She glanced around. “All it would take was for me to be caught alone with you out here, and my reputation would be ruined. It would be a fine way for the Waverleys to get revenge on the Larkins, would it not?”
“You really do think ill of me, do you not?”
“I have no reason not to. You are a Waverley. Besides which, your reputation is well-known.”
“And highly exaggerated.”
“There is a grain of truth to every rumor,” she said.
He could not deny that. Though many of the rumors were exaggerated, he had enjoyed his time in London since he was a youth. He’d found women easy to come by and enjoyed their company far more than spending time in gentlemen’s clubs.
“It seems, Miss Larkin, that you are no better than our fathers. You like to hold a man’s previous sins against him.”
Her brows rose. “Previous sins? I have it on good authority that those sins are very current.”
Brook cursed inwardly. No doubt she had seen the talk of his affair with the contessa in the gossip columns. While he had pursued her briefly, nothing had come of it. Before anything could happen, she had returned to Spain. He doubted Miss Larkin would believe him, though. And even if he had not consummated the relationship, his pursuit of her would not paint him any better in Miss Larkin’s eyes, he could see that now.
“I shall persuade you, Miss Larkin.” He smiled. “I can be very persuasive.”
She straightened her shoulders. “I’m sure you are. But I’m not easily persuaded. Whatever game you are playing, I have no interest in partaking in it.”
With that, she turned again, hastening away. As tempted as he was to pursue her, he did not think it would help his cause. But he was not dissuaded. In fact, their confrontation had only increased his interest in joining forces with her. An interest that was, in part, just a little selfish. Miss Chloe Larkin was utterly unlike any other woman he had met and he’d be damned if he would not persuade her over to his side. No woman denied him. Not even the stubborn Miss Larkin.
Chapter Three
The gall of the man. Chloe tugged off her gloves in irritation and flung them down upon her dressing table. Blowing her hair from her face, she bent, both fists upon the table and eyed her reflection. Just as she thought. Her cheeks were red with annoyance.
To think he expected her to trust him. “Damn that man.”
She could still recall his smug look as she left. He fully expected her to fall at his feet and do his bidding. Well, he might be used to every woman in Christendom doing such a thing but she was not one of those women.
Releasing a long, heated breath, she straightened. What was it with Mr. Waverley and catching her off guard? Could he not run into her tonight, when she was dressed in her finery and no longer had mud-stained hands or wild hair? Though, she supposed that would not help. Mr. Waverley always had the ability to make her feel nothing more than a scruffy scarecrow.
Chloe glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece in the bedroom. Papa was hosting a dinner party tonight and Joanna and Augusta were attending with some of their family members. It was the first time either of her friends had visited her home, despite them all living fairly locally. What a fine distraction it would be from the blasted Mr. Waverley. It had been a couple of weeks since she had seen them last, as neither of their families had left London as swiftly as hers, and she was looking forward to it.
There was a light tap at the door, and Emma, her lady’s maid, entered. “I am glad you are returned, miss. We should start getting you ready.”
Chloe nodded. “Yes, I’d wager it shall take a while to make me ready for the party.”
The maid tilted her head. “You do look rather flushed, Miss. Is all well?”
“Yes…No…I ran into Mr. Waverley today.”
“Ah.” Emma assisted Chloe into her undergarments then gestured for her to sit in front of the dressing table. She ran a brush through Chloe’s hair, Chloe could feel the knots the breeze outside had caused. She so wished she had thinner, more maintainable hair. It always seemed to tie up in knots every time she left the house.
“I had heard the young Mr. Wa
verley was returned,” Emma said.
“Goodness knows why. I’m sure he is happier in London. More women for him to seduce there,” Chloe said bitterly.
“I hear Mr. Waverley is not well. He has probably returned to look after his father.”
Chloe bit back her next retort. Perhaps the man really had returned with good intentions—at least toward his father. He might be a rake and a scoundrel but from what she knew of him, he loved his family. That still did not mean she trusted him. Even the worst of men could love their families.
“Did he speak to you?” Emma asked.
Chloe hesitated. She was not sure why, though. Emma knew of the rift between their families, having served the Larkins for the past six years. If one worked for the Larkins, one could not avoid hearing of the rift or even sometimes getting involved.
“I…yes, briefly.…”
“Was he very rude to you, miss?”
“Yes. Very.”
Though, now she thought about it, it was not exactly rudeness. It was more that teasing attitude that had her riled. He thought himself the best of men and that frustrated her so. Could he not see why she refused to trust him? Not only was he a Waverley but he had a reputation that no one could avoid. There was barely a week when he was not written of in the gossip columns.
“Well, I am sure it will not be long before he returns to London. No doubt there is another beautiful contessa for him to pursue.” Emma giggled.
Chloe smiled half-heartedly. She was not certain why the idea of him chasing after yet another exotic woman made her stomach pinch. Probably because she felt sorry for the woman. Another in a long line of conquests. It was probably out of solidarity for her sex that she felt such queasiness about the whole matter.
Emma finished styling her hair and added a few sprigs of flowers into the curls. Chloe turned her head this way and that to inspect it in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction. “Considering I have so much hair, you always do a wonderful job, Emma.”
“We had better get you dressed, Miss. We do not have much time after doing your hair.”
Chloe stood and Emma helped her wrangle her curves into an evening gown. Though the gown was only several months old, it had begun to grow tight around her breasts. Curse the damned things. But they never stopped growing. They always made her feel so inelegant and clumpy. Unfortunately, other people did not help. Especially other men. She always felt their gaze landing on them in surprise—as though they had never seen a pair of breasts in their lives before.
“Emma?” her father called through the door before knocking hard, likely with his walking stick.
“You can come in,” Chloe called back.
Papa pressed open the door and stepped through the gap, all bedecked in his finery. He ran his gaze over her and sighed. “I had hoped you were not quite ready yet.”
“Why? Whatever is the matter?”
“I have it on good authority that the boundary has been moved again.”
Inwardly, Chloe sighed. She knew it was but she had said nothing to her father. The last thing she needed was for him to get angry and go storming down there. She wished he would just give up on the matter and let it be. What a waste of time it was squabbling over such a thin slice of land.
“I need you to ride over and check on it. If it is true, I shall have to send men out straight away. I give that Waverley one second and he will try to gain even more land.”
“I do not think that is true, Papa. I am sure it can be left for a day. Besides, as you say I am ready.” She indicated down herself. “I’m hardly dressed for riding.”
“But you are the fastest rider, Chloe. You have plenty of other gowns. I’m sure you can change as soon as you get back.” He gestured vaguely with the stick in his hand. “Or else I shall have to send Freddie.”
“You cannot send Freddie. He is not a good enough rider.” Her ten-year-old brother would probably love the adventure but she was certainly not letting him get involved in this whole mess.
Though he was already aware of the argument between the families, she was determined that he would grow up not hating the Waverleys like every other male member of the family had done.
“I shall miss my friends’ arrival,” she said softly, knowing it was pointless to argue.
“I would go, Chloe, but our guests are arriving anytime soon and I must be here to greet them,” her papa explained. “And everyone is preparing for this dinner party. They cannot spare a single second away, apparently.”
“I know, Papa,” she said on a sigh. She did not wish him to go to the border anyway. If any of the Waverleys were there, it might well start a fight.
Maybe Mr. Waverley was right… No, she shook her head to herself. There was no way that scoundrel could be right.
Chloe paused to give her father a kiss on the cheek. “I will go check what is happening.”
So, she knew what she would have to report back. Or else she could lie. But her father would find out eventually. So she had better make a show of going to the border. If she had realised she would be sent on such an errand, she would have reported back to her father already on the state of the border. The last thing she had wanted was for him to be annoyed on the evening of the dinner party, especially when her friends were going to be in attendance.
Oh, why could she not have a normal life?
Riding hard, she reached the border in no time. She brought the horse to a halt before reaching the fence and her stomach sank. He flashed a grin at her and she narrowed her gaze as she dismounted from the horse.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded.
“Twice in one day. How lucky I am.” Mr. Waverley’s grin expanded.
“The fence is as yet unmoved. You do not need to be here.”
Mr. Waverley grimaced. “My father has set up a patrol. He was waiting for one of you to come down here but I did not expect it to be you.”
“Well, as you can see, it is me.” She gestured down herself. “And now that you’ve seen that the border is not yet moved you may go.”
He moved closer to the fence, propping his elbows on it and leaning over. Chloe kept her distance, maintaining several feet between them. She tried to keep her gaze from his exposed forearms, where his shirtsleeves were rolled up. Unlike her, he was dressed for the occasion and while she should have felt superior in her finery, she felt a fool.
“Are you doing something pleasant tonight, Miss Larkin?” he asked, his lips askew.
Chloe folded her arms as though they might provide some sort of shield against him. How was it he read her thoughts almost exactly? She forced her expression to remain neutral and not reveal any of her surprise. “A dinner party. Some of my friends are attending.”
“Yet, here you are, dressed rather inappropriately for riding.”
She lifted her chin. “Yes, well, no one else would come.”
“But you already knew the fence was moved. Why is it you needed to come again?”
Lord, she hated his smug tone. How she wanted to rip that smile off his face with her bare fingers. “My father wanted me to come,” she muttered.
“I see this border matter is becoming quite an inconvenience to you.” He moved further forward. “Join forces with me, Miss Larkin, and we can put an end to this. No more traipsing out in your finery to check on this fence. And, best of all, I will plague you no longer.”
Grinding her teeth together, she eyed him. He was not wrong, unfortunately. This border scenario was getting beyond preposterous and here she was missing out on greeting her friends so that she could march back and tell her father and he could get riled. He would have men sent out in the morning to move the posts yet again but within a week she could guarantee they would be back to where they were originally.
The trouble was, she would have to work with Mr. Waverley to fix this.
“Miss Larkin?”
“Very well,” she bit out.
“Pardon?”
“I said very well. I shall do wha
t I must to mend this matter. Though, I do not know what you intend to do. How can we remedy centuries of discord between our parents?”
Mr. Waverley put his feet on the fence then vaulted over, landing as easily on the other side. For some reason, the movement left her a little breathless. She took a few more steps backward but he closed the gap between them with his long strides.
“As I said, Miss Larkin, with your brains we cannot fail to succeed.”
“I fear you rather overestimate my intellect”
“Not at all. I know you sneak away from balls to read books. If one can spend so much time reading books, one surely must have vast intellect.”
She peered at him. How did he know this about her? Last time they’d been in the same room together had been a long time ago. It seemed odd to her that he had noticed such a thing.
“So how do we do this?” she asked.
“I have been pondering the matter, and I think it would be beneficial to get our fathers in the same room together.”
Chloe shook her head rapidly. “It shall be a bloodbath, surely?”
“When was the last time they even looked at each other?”
She pursed her lips. She could not recall. Their hatred for one another had always been lived out from afar.
“My hope is,” he continued, “that when they are in the same room as each other, in a setting where they must only be civil, they might find some common ground.”
“They have common ground,” she murmured. She stomped her foot on the grass. “This common ground. It has caused so many problems, it is ridiculous.”
“Well, it will be a start. With you and I there to manage the matters, I am certain something good will come of this.”
Why he was so positive, she did not know. She supposed that was one of the benefits of being a wellborn, attractive man. Very few things prevented him from getting what he wanted. As a curvy woman with unruly hair and an inability to charm others, she was more used to things going the wrong way.
“I fear you are being optimistic, but I shall do what I must. How should we bring them together?”
“You know Mr. Benedict, do you not?”
Married to the Rake (The Wallflower Brides Book 1) Page 2