A Lady's Ruinous Plan
Page 20
His heart began beating once more as disappointment soured his mood. “Westhaven, I’m shocked you would risk your reputation in such a fashion.”
Westhaven snorted and shooed Sayers from the room. “As if I have a stellar reputation to protect?” He thrust a bottle toward Adrien. “Fresh off the boat,” he said with a wink. “Shall we test its worth?”
Adrien willingly abandoned his game to fetch two glasses.
Westhaven poured, swirled, sniffed, and finally took a swallow of the rich amber-colored cognac. “Worth the risk every time,” he said with a smack of his lips.
“Oui, very fine,” Adrien agreed after a sip he barely tasted.
Westhaven’s gaze became invasive. “My God, man, you look as volatile as Venton at the moment. What has happened?”
“Have you not read the papers, Henry?”
Westhaven gestured with his glass. “Of course, of course, but who cares about all that vicomte nonsense? I’m sure you had your reasons for embarking upon such an elaborate masquerade.” He paused, as if expecting Adrien to enumerate said reasons. After a few moments of silence, he shrugged and continued, “Your dark mood has nothing to do with the clubs closing their doors to you.”
“Perhaps it is due to my tailor closing his doors as well?”
“Oh, yes, of course.” Westhaven rolled his eyes, took another drink, and sat on the edge of the billiard table. “I am your friend, Adrien, not an imbecile. Talk to me.”
Adrian looked at Westhaven. The sincerity in the man’s brown eyes could not be ignored. “I am in love with Lady Rowe-Weston.”
“I know.”
“You—”
Westhaven laughed. “God, Adrien, you are not that good of an actor. She is a spectacular woman. Of course, you are in love with her.”
There was too much in Westhaven’s logic to consider right now, so Adrien simply ignored all of it. “I proposed marriage. Twice, or maybe three times—”
“And she refused.”
“If you know everything, why am I talking?”
Westhaven laughed in the face of his ire. “At ease, my friend. You proposed, she refused. Go on.”
“I gave her an ultimatum. Twenty-four hours to choose to be my wife or we never see one another again.”
Westhaven whistled. “And was this ultimatum meant to make her life a living hell or merely your own?”
“Bugger off, Westhaven.”
“No, thank you.” Westhaven saluted Adrien with his glass and flashed an annoyingly charismatic smile. “How many hours has it been?”
“I don’t know.” Adrien took a seat as well on the edge of the table and stared into his drink. “The woman is more stubborn than a pack of mules. She will live in solitary misery before ever surrendering to the confines of marriage.” He glanced over at Westhaven. “If I could, I would dig up her grandfather’s remains and challenge the man to a duel for ruining the life of such an amazing woman.”
“Has it not occurred to you, she would not be the woman you love if not for the influence of her grandfather, not that I have any idea what you are referring to, of course, but people become who they are based on the—”
“Do shut up, Westhaven.”
Henry clamped his lips around his glass, somehow managing to laugh and drink at the same time.
“Why are you here, tormenting me? Isn’t Miss Parish in need of stalking?”
“That is cruel, but I will forgive you because of your current state of mind.”
Sayers appeared without warning. “Monsieur, a letter has arrived for you.” He held out a folded piece of paper. No envelope, no seal. He left before Adrien could ask questions.
“Rather informal,” Westhaven remarked without cause.
Adrien balanced his drink on the edge of the table and opened the paper. The sight of Eirene’s handwriting accelerated his heart beat and heated the blood in his veins. The words blurred. Jesu, was this a refusal? In writing?
“Go away, Westhaven.”
“No, I believe I will remain.”
Adrien barely heard Henry’s refusal as he blinked to try and bring the words into focus. Columns. The paper had been divided into two columns. An odd way to format a rejection letter. The two large words at the top came into focus—Cons and Pros
He frowned at the order of the words. Didn’t one normally list the advantages before the disadvantages? And Cons and Pros of what?
“Are you going to read it or scowl at it until I read it for you?”
Adrien shot a glare toward Henry, who now hovered at his elbow. “I told you to leave.”
“And I decided to stay.” Henry poked the back of the paper with his index finger. “Go on, read it before I expire of curiosity.”
And so Adrien began to read. Half way through, he wished Henry was not privy to Eirene’s list, but in for a penny, in for a pound.
The Cons and Pros of accepting Adrien’s marriage proposal
Cons: He is a commoner/Grandfather would not approve
He is now a social outcast/We would be invited nowhere
He makes me lose my reason/And a woman without reason is weak
I love him/Love destroys
Pros: He is a commoner/And commoners value love and family above money and rank
He is a social outcast/Which means we could enjoy a peaceful life in the country
He makes me lose reason/And it is a most exhilarating feeling
I love him/And my world would be empty without his smiling eyes, boyish smile, accented voice, and delectable collarbone
In conclusion: Will you marry me, Monsieur Adrien Coultier?
Adrien shoved the list into Henry’s chest as he brushed past him on his way to the door.
Henry dogged his heels. “You mean to send a reply, yes?”
“No.” He never broke stride as he called for Sayers to fetch his hat and gloves. The man appeared with suspicious speed, but he was too preoccupied to care. He paused at the door to look back at Henry. “Tell Cyril I’ve gone to fetch my bride.”
****
Eirene stood at the window of her breakfast room, staring out at the street. She’d been trembling uncontrollably since handing the list off to Hamish with instructions to have it delivered to Adrien. Had she completely lost her mind? What if the infuriating man read the list, laughed, and tossed it into the fire?
She pressed her fist to her chest. Gracious, could a human heart beat any faster?
“My lady?”
She turned from the window with enough speed to tangle her skirts with the curtains. She did not care. “Hamish? Yes? What is—”
Adrien stepped around Hamish. Her heart stopped and started again with a painful palpitation.
He strolled toward her, eyes smiling, boyish grin firmly in place. “Oui, ma cherie. Oui.”
Upon reaching her, he took her in his arms and embraced her with enough force to steal her breath. He buried his face in her hair and found her ear with his lips. “I love you.”
Eirene smiled. Though Adrien wore all the proper layers of clothing, she could feel the unmistakable ridge of his collarbone. Turning her face, she nuzzled the area with her nose. He was hers to do with as she desired. Whenever and wherever. And now seemed like a lovely time to exercise said claim.
Stepping back, she reached for the buttons of his collar while meeting his gaze. “I want to make love to you.”
He arched a brow. “Here? Now?” His gaze strayed toward the very public window.
“Oui.” Having finished with the buttons, Eirene began to push his jacket from his shoulders. Of course, the fit was exceptional, making it a tad difficult to remove. “Help me, Adrien, for heaven’s sake.”
He did, and with amusing speed. Standing before her in naught but his well-tailored, black trousers and riding boots, he held his arms out and flashed a gloriously, roguish smile. “I am at your service, my lady. Now and forever.”
A word about the author…
When not writing stories of happily eve
r after, Lora spends her time reading, listening to music, drinking way too much coffee and rocking out behind her drums.
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
For questions or more information
contact us at
info@thewildrosepress.com.
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
www.thewildrosepress.com
To visit with authors of
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
join our yahoo loop at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thewildrosepress/
Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
All for Love
by Lora Darling
French émigré, Olivier Davignon, is determined to prove himself worthy of Maisie Tindall at any cost. With Maisie's brother by his side, he becomes a highwayman in an effort to acquire enough wealth to offer for her hand. When things go awry and Olivier ends up wounded, he confesses to Maisie he has done it all for her.
Unbeknownst to Olivier, Maisie has loved him since their first meeting, but his confession leaves her doubting they can ever have a future, despite how desperately she wants to be with him. Soon, however, the choice may not be hers as Maisie's father must decide if he is willing to trust his daughter's heart to a head strong, adventurous Frenchman.
Also Available
The Courtesan’s Daughter
by Livia Ellis
Maude Whitlock is consigned to a life of servitude in Barbados after the death of her mother, a notorious courtesan. As she plans her escape to London, a chance encounter awakens hope for a different life.
Henry Crane, gentleman spy, wealthy widower, handsome charmer, places his mission above all other concerns—until he meets Maude, a frazzled chaperone at his niece's engagement ball.
Cross purposes will soon put an ocean between them. She refuses to follow her mother's path into the oldest profession, and he is duty bound to see his mission through. How will they find a path to the future before circumstances pull them apart?