The Earl's Stolen Bride (Marriage by Deceit Book 4) (3 page)

“Yes, I remember him,” Chloe finally told Regina, deciding it best if she not disclose more about it.

“Well, he asked me to take you to see him.”

“He what?”

“We’re on our way to a remote area outside of London. All he wants to do is talk to you.  He’s been in love with you for a long time, but since you’re still in mourning, it’s best if you two talk in private to prevent a scandal.”

“Oh.” It made sense.  But still…  “Why is he speaking to me now?”

“Because your husband is no longer alive, and he’s afraid if he doesn’t get a chance to talk to you now, he might miss out on a second chance.”

Before Chloe could ask anything else, the carriage came to a stop, and Regina glanced out the window.

“After you talk to him,” Regina began, “I will take you back if you wish.”

I will take you back if you wish?
  What did that mean?

Regina took Samuel from her.  “I’ll be in this carriage while you talk to him.  He’s right out there.”

Chloe followed Regina’s gaze and saw the carriage a few feet from them.

“If at any time, you wish to end the conversation, you may do so,” Regina said.

“All right.”

The coachman opened the door, and since Regina was looking expectantly at her, Chloe stepped down from the carriage.  After thanking him, she took a deep breath and turned her attention to the other carriage.  She’d never done anything so bold as approach a gentleman before.  All along, the gentlemen had approached her.  And more than that, except for her husband, she’d only been alone with her father and brothers.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she glanced back at Regina, who offered her an encouraging smile.  She faced the carriage once more.  The door opened, and Lord Reddington emerged from it.

Chapter Three

Lord Reddington’s gaze met Chloe’s, and she smiled.  Kind eyes.  They were a brilliant shade of blue.  So light, in fact, they made her think of the sky at noon.  And on top of that, there was a tenderness in the way he looked at her.

She walked toward him, her steps slow.  Just what did two people meeting out here, far from the watchful eyes of the Ton, have to talk about?  Well, she’d find out soon enough, she supposed.

He met her halfway between the carriages and bowed.  “My lady, please forgive me for asking Regina to bring you here.  I’ve tried to think of other ways I could talk to you, but it seemed this was the safest choice.  The last thing I want to do is expose you to a scandal.”

“Regina explained why she brought me here, and it’s all right.”

He offered a smile.  “Then you aren’t upset?”

She shook her head.

“Good.” He gestured to the field to her left.  “Want to go for a walk?” When she glanced over at the coachman and Regina, he added, “I won’t take you far.  Just a little further away so no one will hear us.  We’ll stay in their sight at all times.”

With a nod, she followed him to a private area.

“I know how this must seem,” he began, turning to face her.  “I don’t think you remember me. We only danced twice, and you had gentlemen lining up to be with you.  I went to the market to see you the next day, but we had such a short time to talk before your father told you to come with him.  I’ve thought of little else but you since then.” He chuckled and glanced at the ground.  “I wanted to have a better chance to talk to you.  It was my intention to visit you, but by the time I gathered my nerve, you were already arranged to be married.”

“I had no idea you wished to visit me,” she said.

In fact, it never once occurred to her that any of the gentlemen she’d talked to a year ago wanted to get to know her better.  Yes, she’d played her part and did everything she could to attract gentlemen, but she didn’t honestly think it yielded any results, which was why she was relieved when her father said he found someone for her.

“I’m sorry,” she added.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.  I didn’t act fast enough.  I was afraid if I seemed too eager, I would scare you away.” Letting out another uneasy chuckle, he continued, “I hope I didn’t frighten you by asking you to meet me out here. I worried if I didn’t act now, I’d miss the only chance I’d ever have to be with you.”

She returned his smile.  “No, you aren’t scaring me.  I didn’t expect it, that’s all.  I didn’t marry for love.  It was an arrangement.” She debated how much to tell him.  She didn’t really know him, and even if he remembered her, he didn’t know her very well either.  Finally, she decided to explain her past as simply as possible.  “The truth is, my husband and I didn’t speak more than a few words before he left for India.  Everything happened so fast.  My parents needed money for a physician, so we didn’t have time to wait.  Otherwise, I would have had more time to get to know people.”

“I understand.  You don’t need to explain anything to me.” He glanced at the carriages and took a deep breath.

It was then that she realized how much difficultly he was having.  He cared for her.  Really cared for her.  She didn’t know how or when it happened, but during one of the balls last year, he’d developed an affection for her.  And for some reason, he continued to do so.

She wasn’t sure what to say.  Did she offer to let him pay her a visit?  But then, how could she when she was in mourning?  Someone would catch on that theirs was more than a polite acquaintance, and before long, a scandal would ensue.  Even if they continued meeting out here like this, someone was bound to find them sooner or later.

“A year from now I won’t be in mourning,” she finally said.  “We can see each other from time to time until then, but I don’t think it’s safe to receive you as a suitor until my time of mourning has passed.”

He didn’t answer right away, and that worried her.  Here was a gentleman who was sincere in his feelings for her, and it seemed she might not be able to have him because a year was a long time to expect anyone to wait.  It wasn’t fair for her to ask him to wait that long.

“I’m sorry, Lord Reddington.  It’s not right for me to expect you to wait another year.”

“Actually, I was wondering if you’d go with me to Gretna Green.  We don’t have to let anyone know about it.  We could go to my estate and stay there until next Season.  Then I could pretend to call on you at that time.”

Even as her heartbeat picked up in excitement at the idea, she shook her head.  “Someone will find out.  If not anyone in London, the servants will talk.  Or my family will somehow find out.  I don’t know how to avoid the scandal.”

His face fell.  “I suppose you’re right.” After a moment, he asked, “If I come to you at the beginning of next Season, would you be willing to let me visit you?  I know it won’t be a full year after your husband’s death.  I’ll wait until the full year to ask you to marry me.”

He’d wait for her?  He’d really wait?

“That is, of course,” he quickly added, “if you’ll want to marry me at that time.  You might find I’m boring and change your mind.”

She chuckled.  “I can’t imagine you’d be boring.  Coming up with a secret rendezvous to meet with someone you hardly know isn’t something a boring person would do.” In fact, it was the most romantic thing she could think any gentleman could do.  “If you’re serious about being with me, I’ll wait for you, too.”

He smiled.  “Good.  If I see you at a ball, may I dance with you?”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

“I’ll walk you back to Regina’s carriage.”

“All right.”

He led her to her friend’s carriage, and she tried to think of something else to say.  But her mind was blank, especially since he’d held her in such high esteem for a year.  She couldn’t imagine anyone else doing something like this just for her.  There was nothing special about her, after all.  She was one lady out of many.  Surely, he could do better.

“There’s really no one else you fancy?” she asked, daring a look at him.  “No one at all?”

“No.  I’ve tried.  I danced and talked to other ladies, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

She didn’t understand it.  How could she have held him captive for so long?  “What did I say to warrant such devotion?”

His steps slowed.  “I don’t know if there was anything specific that you said. I can’t explain it except to say I sensed we’d be good together.” He chuckled.  “I know how this seems.  You probably think there’s something wrong with me.  I’d be thinking the same thing in your position.  I’m just glad you’re willing to give me a chance.”

She stopped walking, and he did the same.  She was almost at Regina’s carriage.  It’d be a simple matter of going in there.  Then she’d return to her townhouse.  She could get to know him better over what little time was left this year before she went to the country.  Then in the next Season, they could pick up where they left off.

But the interim between now and when her mourning period would be over seemed especially long.  She’d spent a year with a husband who only wrote the occasional letter.  If she wanted, she could spend her next year with someone who was willing to wait for her.  How many ladies could say a gentleman would be willing to do that for them?

She clasped her hands together and glanced once more at the carriage.  Regina was still holding her son, willing to take her back.  But she knew what was waiting for her in London, and quite frankly, she didn’t want it.

Returning her gaze to Lord Reddington, she steadied her voice.  “I’ll go with you,” she said.  “Today.” She released her breath.  She didn’t think it was possible for her heart to beat so fast she could hardly concentrate, but apparently, it was.

“Pardon?” he asked.

“I said I’ll go with you.” She cleared her throat.  “To Gretna Green.  Like you suggested.  And we’ll go to your estate and won’t return to London until next Season.” She swallowed.  “Unless you changed your mind.”

“No.  No, I haven’t changed my mind.” His smile widened.  “I wasn’t sure I heard you right, that’s all.  You mean it?  You’ll marry me and make me happier than I ever thought possible?”

“Well, I don’t know how happy I can make you.”

“You’ll make me very happy.”

Offering a shy smile, she said, “I hope I can live up to your expectations.”

He took her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.  “You will.  I have no doubt about it.”

She hoped he was right.  She wanted to.  Never had she thought a gentleman could be so enamored with her, but he most definitely was, and she wanted nothing more than to be the wife he hoped she’d be.  “I need to tell Regina I’ll be going with you.  Then I’ll return.”

He nodded and released her hands.  She took a deep breath to help steady her nerves and turned to go to the carriage where Regina waited for her.  She could do this.  No one would have expected her to do something so rash.  Her family would be upset.  But she was tired of doing something for others all the time.  This time she was going to do something for herself.  But even knowing this and knowing she was about to run off with someone who sincerely cared for her didn’t stop her from trembling.

Regina looked over at her, her eyes wide.  “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Chloe assured her.  “Just nervous, that’s all.”

“About what?  Should I send Orlando away?”

“No.  He’s quite wonderful, isn’t he?” Chloe glanced at Lord Reddington, who was where he left her.  She turned her attention back to Regina.  “I’m about to do something terribly foolish.  I doubt many will understand.”

Regina scooted toward her and lowered her voice.  “You’re going to go to Gretna Green with him?”

Her cheeks warming, Chloe offered a bashful smile.  “My husband never looked at me the way he does.  I’ve wanted a love match ever since I was a little girl.  I’m afraid if I wait, this opportunity will never happen again.  I’m going to go for it.”

“When you look back on this moment in the years to come, I think you’ll be glad you did, even if your time of mourning hasn’t passed.”

“I think you’re right.”

“I’ll let your parents know so they don’t worry about you.”

“Thank you.” Chloe started to turn around but then added, “For everything.”

Regina smiled.  “He’ll be good to you.”

Chloe returned her smile then went back to Orlando, her heartbeat picking up.  This was a new beginning.  She wasn’t going to marry someone her parents selected for her.  She was going to marry someone she wanted.

He led her to his carriage, and when she nearly tripped on the hem of her dress, he caught her by the elbow.  “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice gentle in her ear.

“Yes.” She laughed and lifted her dress enough so that she could walk without any more difficulty.  “I hate this dress.  It’s much too long, but my mother insisted it was fashionable.” She rolled her eyes.  “I’m afraid it doesn’t help that I’m nervous.  I’ve never done anything this spontaneous before.”

“I haven’t either,” he admitted, his hand still cupping her elbow in a reassuring manner that reminded her she was doing the right thing.  “And I have done some spontaneous things in my life.”

“Like what?”

“When you get in the carriage, I’ll tell you the most daring thing I’ve done.”

Since his eyes were twinkling, she knew it wasn’t anything bad.  Adventurous probably.  He seemed to have a playful side to him.  Interest piqued, she let him help her into the carriage.  She offered a wave to Regina who waved in return.

Once the footman closed the carriage door, Orlando leaned toward her and whispered, “I went for a swim in the lake at my estate without any clothes on.”

She gasped.  “Nothing at all?”

“Nope.  I didn’t plan it either.  One day I was riding my horse, and since it was hot, I thought I’d cool off.”

“Didn’t anyone catch you?”

“No.  I was alone.”

“Well, I don’t think I could be so daring.  This is the most adventure I’ve ever had.”

“I will do everything possible to make you glad you took the risk.”

She smiled, her cheeks warming from his words.  Her heart was still racing because of all that was happening, but to be honest, she’d never felt more alive in her entire life.  Deep in her soul, she knew he was going to be a good husband and give her the love she’d longed for since she entered her first Season.  Maybe the notion of falling in love with him so soon was silly, but it was true.  And for once in her life, she wasn’t going to overthink it.  She was going to settle back and enjoy it.