Lori Brighton - [The Seduction 02] (25 page)

“They left the inn this morning.”

Although the day was gloomy, the entire world seemed brighter, better in some way. Even the soft patter of rain against the glass roof and walls seemed suddenly comforting. Not one person in her entire household was sad to see her in-laws leave.

Yes, they were gone, yet her hands still trembled as she picked up her spilled teacup and placed it upon the saucer, the rattle of china giving away her nerves. Elizabeth rested her hands atop the iron table and took in a deep breath. She didn’t dare let the children outside for fear of their safety. The fact was that Mr. Smith had been right; she knew that she had merely riled their anger. If her in-laws had hated her before, they would despise her even more now. They must find a way to prove the dowager’s guilt, and fast.

“Ye should have seen Gideon’s face.” Will shook his head, his grin growing.

Within a fortnight, the man had earned the respect of her entire staff. More importantly, he had earned her respect. She took in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She’d known the moment she’d seen him fight off the highwaymen that there was more to Gideon than first appeared.

“The man was bloody amazing.”

Elizabeth smiled tightly. It was obvious Will worshipped him, but would they continue to support him if the truth came out about Lady Lavender’s? How she prayed she could keep the secret hidden for Gideon’s peace of mind, but she was only too aware that secrets had a way of sneaking out.

“Never witnessed anything like it.” Will shook his head and slumped onto the iron chair next to hers. “Man looked ready to murder.”

Although she certainly hadn’t wanted him to kill the dowager and go to prison, she had been honored that he’d been there to protect them. He could proclaim he was merely fulfilling his contract, but she had seen the emotion upon his face. Gideon had been worried, truly angry for Henry. If he didn’t have feelings for her, at least he did for the children. But would his feelings be enough?

“He’s a right good chap, he is.” Will said the words as if he was trying to sell her cattle. “Stood there at the inn, in front of the entire town, and made sure they left, he did. The dowager was quivering in her boots, although she pretended not to be nervous.”

“I can imagine how angry she must have been.” Elizabeth hid her smile by glancing at the children. Cally was doing her best to pluck free every red rose that grew. Yes, there was something incredibly satisfying about her mother-in-law finally knowing the same fear she’d been feeling for years.

Will gave a hoot of laughter. “Thought he was going to toss them out on their arses.”

Gideon deserved to live here. He deserved the title, the land more than any of them. But because of the law, it would go to Henry.

“We’ve been talking,” Will said, and by
we
, she knew he meant the entire staff. “If it’s true and ye plan to marry the chap…well, we’d be all right with that.”

Elizabeth stiffened. “Is it that obvious?”

Will’s cheeks and ears turned red. “Well, ye aren’t one to take a man to yer bed unless it’s serious.”

His embarrassment must have been catching, for Elizabeth could feel the heat crawling up her neck. Of course she should have assumed that the entire household knew about their affair. Couldn’t bloody well have any privacy. She rested her chin in her hand and gazed out over the sea of potted plants and brilliant flowers. What else did they know? Never mind. It didn’t matter.

“Glad to hear it,” she muttered, lifting her cup and sipping to hide her blush.

“Thought he was going to murder her,” Will said, chuckling.

But Elizabeth didn’t want to discuss the dowager any longer. “Do see after the children, will you?”

The lad nodded and strolled away, whistling a tune. Suddenly melancholy, Elizabeth stood and moved around the table and down the path. She felt restless. Agitated. She was tired of talking about death and murder. Tired of the darkness. Tired of waiting for something terrible to happen. Damn it all, she wanted to live with hope for a future, not fear of what it might bring. She wanted to…
live.

Mr. Ashton had tried to shield her from his mother’s disapproval, but the poor man certainly could have never known the extent of the woman’s evilness. She strolled to a ficus tree, running her hand over the smooth bark.

Cally and Henry would be old enough soon to realize that their very own family had not only practically disowned them but wanted them dead. And for what? Money. All of it for money and greed and power. She clenched her jaw and looked away, feeling the sting of tears. But then again, most of the wrongs in this world were because of the need for power. And money bought power.

But no more. No more would she hide from life. The screech of the conservatory door startled Elizabeth. As if she’d called to him, Gideon moved into the glass room, the sunlight glinting off his dark hair. He walked with intention and determination.
He walked as if he owned the path, the conservatory, the entire estate.

Her entire body responded to the man. Her pulse skipped a beat, her breath caught, her eyes seemed to focus like an animal focusing on its next meal. He found her easily, and their gazes locked with an intensity that made her toes curl in her slippers. The entire world disappeared when he was near. She noticed nothing around her yet everything about him, from that lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead to the way his thigh muscles bunched under his slate-gray trousers. Even the way his lips quirked on the left side, as if he found something amusing.

With one glance he could make her feel alive, make her feel as if she was the only female in the entire world. This man was no sinful whore; he was kind, good, caring. This man would protect them although he had no reason to. She knew as he paused in front of her, as the past couple weeks passed through her mind, it was time…time to put her next plan into action.

“Good morning.” His gaze flickered to Henry, who was laughing as Will chased him around a ficus tree. “How is he?”

“Good. Better, much better.” Thanks, in part, to Gideon. She swiped away an errant tear that had managed to slip down her cheek. He had saved them more than once, and she owed him not only her life but the children’s as well. She forced the corners of her mouth to lift and her thoughts to better things. “Please, sit and have tea.”

He hesitated, almost seemed startled, as if doing something so normal was beyond comprehension. As if he’d never partaken in something as simple as tea. Or maybe it was the thought of sitting casually with a woman and not being intimate. She couldn’t put her plan into action while he loomed over her, it was too intimidating. Fortunately, he settled in the empty chair.

“Mr. Smith is following the dowager to London. He’s going to keep an eye on them.”

“And are you sure you can trust this Mr. Smith?”

“Yes.” She poured him tea, then lifted the cream and glanced at him. “Milk?”

“Yes, and two sugars.”

How very intriguing that he liked his tea so sweet. She would have thought he’d prefer it dark and strong, like him. She was reminded of how very little she truly knew about Gideon. She knew that he portrayed himself as a hard man, but deep down he cared. And yes, she had the facts. She knew his age, his family life, where he had lived. She knew what he had done for the past fourteen years. And she knew his true identity, something not even he had uncovered. But there were so many little things she didn’t know. So many things she wished to know. What was his favorite food? What did he like to read? What did he think about at night?

Outside the rain thickened, pattering against the glass like a delicate song from a children’s choir, but inside the air was humid and warm. “You mentioned going to the Americas. What will you do there?”

“Whore myself out, most likely.”

She frowned. “Be serious, and I know you’re not serious.” At least, she
hoped
he wasn’t serious.

“How do you know?” He lifted his tea and drank, watching her over the rim. Those large hands cupped the china with a delicate ease. She realized with a start that he held the china much like he did her…with command, yet an underlying gentleness.

She forced her gaze away from his hands and her mind away from the memory of his fingers sliding over her thighs. “Because, you don’t react.”

“Pardon?” He leaned closer to her, obviously interested, despite himself.

His musky scent invaded her space, swirled around her, made her dizzy with need. When he was near, an undercurrent of awareness seemed to spark between them. She had to force herself to concentrate.

“When you jest,” she said, her voice husky. Did he notice? “Your face becomes as hard as granite. You don’t even flinch.”

He sighed long and loud, obviously annoyed that she had noticed personal things about him. If he only realized how much she knew. “What does it matter to you what I’ll do in America?” He set his cup down, his jaw clenching. “I’ll work until I can save enough money to purchase some land.”

He’d admitted the truth, but he pulled his gaze away, as if embarrassed to be sharing his dreams. Elizabeth hid her smile. So, he had wishes of a future after all. He suddenly seemed very human indeed. The way the sunlight hit his hair and made is shine. The flecks of blue in his silver eyes. The dark stubble along his jaw and cheeks. That tiny scar at the edge of his jaw. He was merely a man. A man who had somehow not only gained her respect but had snuck into her heart. Blast it all, she cared about him, cared deeply. Could she love him? The thought was too worrisome to contemplate.

“Will,” she called out. “Please take the children to their rooms.”

“Yes, my lady.” He jumped out from behind a table of orchids where he’d been hiding from Henry and Cally. “Come along.”

“But we want to play,” Cally whined.

“Maybe later.” Will shot Elizabeth a sly grin. She could imagine what he assumed they would be doing alone in the conservatory. The servants would be gossiping before the day’s end, but then that wasn’t so uncommon. She waited until they strolled through the door, closing it behind them. “Can we walk?”

Gideon watched her warily, as if he sensed her unease. “I suppose.”

The last time they’d walked she’d ended up with her skirts around her waist. She stood and curled her trembling hands. Lord, she’d never done anything like this before. No wonder why men took marriage so seriously. She waited until he was beside her and then they started down the gravel path that ran the perimeter of the greenhouse garden.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I need someone to help protect the children,” she said in a rush of words. “Someone I can trust.”

He didn’t respond, but then she knew he didn’t think this had anything to do with him. No, he assumed she was just making chitchat. He had no idea his life was about to change. Hell, her life was about to change. She paused and glanced up at the ceiling, watching the rain trail down the glass. The outside world seemed suddenly ominous.

“What I’m saying is that…I’m asking…” Heat traveled torturously slow up her body and to her face. It was time, it must be done. She spun around to face him, their gazes clashing. Should she drop to one knee? Should she have bought him a ring?

Somehow she dredged up enough courage to blurt out, “Will you marry me?”

Gideon’s pupils flared, the only sign of his shock. For one long moment neither of them said a word. Even the rain had stopped quite suddenly. When the minutes ticked by and still he didn’t respond or even move, she started to wonder if perhaps he hadn’t heard her.

“I said—”

“I heard you.”

Well, then.
Elizabeth took in a deep, trembling breath. “And?”

“And I assumed you were jesting.”

How very odd. He sounded almost angry. Elizabeth shifted, hesitating, unsure how to proceed. Did he honestly think she would be so cruel as to joke about something like marriage? “I’m not jesting.”

And then he did the most peculiar thing of all…Gideon, the man who was quite serious most of the time, tilted his head back and laughed. Not just a chuckle, but a deep laugh that echoed across the conservatory, vibrating the very glass. Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. This wasn’t good, wasn’t good at all. If he thought she was jesting, no one else would believe her interest. How very inconvenient he was being.

“Are you quite finished?” she asked, wondering if she should join in his laughter, or slap his handsome face.

His laughter faded, but his eyes still sparkled with mirth. “Truly, this has all been very amusing, but I’m going to breakfast.”

Just like that he turned around and started back down the path.

“Gideon,” Elizabeth called after him. “I’m very serious.”

He paused. She knew by the tense set of his broad shoulders that he finally believed her, but he didn’t seem thrilled with her proposal. The very air practically vibrated with unease. She had the sudden urge to take a step back but held firm. What was done was done. She had asked him, and she would not relent.

Slowly, he faced her, his laughter gone, and the cold, angry Gideon returned. “I don’t know what game you’re playing—”

“No.” She shook her head, despair and unease washing over her. “None. I swear.”

He was quiet. Too quiet.

How she wished she knew his thoughts. Elizabeth swallowed hard, so utterly nervous. His glower was intimidating, to say the least. How much of the truth dare she tell him? “I’ve given you my virginity because I thought it would be best to be rid of it.”

He sliced his hand through the air to cut her off. “Taking your virginity is hardly a reason—”

“That’s not why.” Lord, she was mucking this up. Gideon’s hard and guarded expression tore at her heart. Could he not believe that someone would want to marry him? With a sigh, she began to pace in front of him. “I need someone my mother-in-law will not intimidate.”

“I’m a whore.”

She refused to cringe, attempting to ignore his statement. “I can trust you.”

Maybe. Even if he didn’t trust her.

He laughed, this time a wry, sharp burst that said he was not amused but quite the opposite. His reaction stung. She tried not to
take it personally. After all, the man had been manipulated most of his life; of course he didn’t believe her honorable intentions. Somehow she needed to get through to him.