His Perfect Bride (15 page)

“I know. I simply hate abandoning her.”

“She always finds a way to entertain herself. Besides, I believe if we stood around waiting for her to heal, it would only make her uncomfortable. I would hate for her to feel guilty about us missing out on the tour.”

“I suppose you are right.”

As they walked along in silence, Richard decided to wait until they were a fair distance away from Elizabeth before speaking. Scanning ahead, he saw the path they were currently following ended in a pleasant location. Once they reached it, he turned to face Brianna.

“I believe we need to talk.”

“I agree,” she replied, much to his surprise. She glanced down the way they had come. “Follow me.”

She headed to the hydrangea bushes and pulled them back. Ducking her head, she disappeared inside. Without other options, he followed her through the shrubbery and into a forest set directly beyond the garden. He trailed Brianna until it opened up into a clearing.

Then he stopped, completely in awe of the magnificent view before him. The trees and shrubberies surrounded them, creating a perfect circle for the sun to shine and allow the growth of various plant species. The rich scent of the planted flowers mixed with the wild flowers and the heat of the sun gave off an intoxicating aroma that permeated the air. He took a deep breath and sighed.

Looking over at Brianna, he was pleased to enjoy the beauty of the place with her. She smiled as she walked over to a fallen tree and sat down. Her face bathed in sunlight made their surroundings dull when compared to her brilliance.

“This place is extraordinary. How did you find it?”

“By accident. When Grace and I were younger, we enjoyed hiding from our governess, and once we found this place, it became our favorite hiding spot.”

“Sounds like the two of you shared some good times here.”

“We did,” she admitted. Then her smile faded, and her face became serious. “During the carriage ride here, I took some time to think. I have decided to forgive you. Although your deception was upsetting, I understand your reasoning behind it.”

“Thank you. I never intended to hurt you, but—”

“It’s not necessary to explain yourself.” She waved her hand. “Why don’t we begin again and try to be friends? Then the past will be erased, and we will no longer be required to atone for previous mistakes.”

“What if we wish to become more than friends?” He took a step closer to where she sat. “Do we still ignore our past then?”

“That will not be an issue, as we can never be more than friends.” Her pursed lips hinted at her disapproval of his assumption their relationship could grow.

“Are you so determined to have an untitled man you will forget what we shared and give yourself to another?”

“My desire for my future has not changed. Since you are unable to offer me what I’m looking for, you are no longer a suitable choice for me.”

“Do you really believe you will be happy living as a pauper barely on the fringes of society?”

“As an heiress, I hardly believe I’ll be living like a pauper.” She stood as if prepared for a fight.

“You can’t know for sure. Your dowry will belong to your husband, and he will spend it or lose it as he sees fit,” he warned, taking another step forward. As she opened her mouth to argue, he held up his hand to silence her. “All that aside, you would not be happy sitting alone in the country with nothing to do.”

“You are forgetting. As a married woman, I would not be alone since my husband will be by my side.”

His jaw clenched, and she smiled smugly as if she knew how much her words affected him. “I shall also have much to do. With no other obligations, I’ll have the freedom to do anything I choose. My art would never be neglected again.” He saw the stubborn set of her mouth and knew she would argue any point he made.

“The thrill of freedom will last no more than a month, and then what? You can’t tell me your artwork does not become tedious at times.” His last step put him directly in front of her. “You need something to challenge you, something to occupy your days, and someone skilled to occupy your nights.”

Her breathing sped up, and he was pleased to not be the only one affected by their proximity to one another. When her gaze dropped to his lips, he fought with his body, not allowing it to move. He needed her to see reason and reevaluate her future, not be lost with lust and unable to think. To appease his raging body, he decided to allow himself one simple pleasure. Slightly leaning forward, he took in her sweet scent mingled with the flowers.

“You can have that life. You can have me,” he breathed. She shivered but didn’t respond. “All you have to do is say one simple word, and it shall be done.”

He waited, watching as her passion-filled face teemed with indecision. She didn’t hesitate long, but he knew part of her fought to have him. After seeing the decision in her eyes, as well as the shape of her mouth, he stepped back. Her rejection didn’t faze him, as he expected it. It would not be the end of his pursuit, nor was it her final decision.

“Come on,” he directed, not waiting for her to voice her rejection. “It’s probably time to check on Elizabeth. I would hate to leave her longer than necessary.”

Brianna stared at him blankly for a moment, then blinked and cleared her throat.

“Yes. Come this way,” she rasped, before turning and leading the way back to where they had come.

She would not accept him now, but he held onto the hope that sprang from her hesitation. He had planted the seeds, and now he only needed to cultivate them and watch them grow.

Chapter 9

Brianna sat at the window of her bedchamber, watching Richard interact with her father. Seeing him dressed informally every day and observing his ease with her family did nothing to cool her desire for him. Over the past week and a half at Ransley, she had discovered it was not only her who was affected by him. Everyone who came in contact with Richard was instantly drawn to him.

He charmed everyone, even the servants, and she grew sick of the adoration. Anyone she spoke with, including the traitorous Ashley, did nothing but speak of how wonderful they found Richard. Her mother had been so enthralled she had extended their visit in order to keep him longer.

Oddly enough Grace was the worst. She shamelessly flirted with Richard and was hardly ever seen more than two steps from him. Brianna had tried to speak with her sister about it, but she only laughed, as if it were a joke. Not that she could blame her sister, for Richard was handsome and fascinating.

Pulling the curtains together in disgust, she cursed. Even her own thoughts betrayed her as they looked upon Richard’s perfect form. She had locked herself in her bedchamber hoping to avoid him, but nothing she did would be enough. His words from their first day at Ransley taunted her as much as his body. She knew indulging in a friendship with him was impossible, but she was reluctant to completely let him go. Throwing herself on the bed, she covered her face.

A knock at the door made her cringe. Sitting up, she granted the guest entry. Her dread was not lessened to discover Elizabeth at her door.

“May I join you?”

“Please. Come in and have a seat.” Brianna honestly did like Elizabeth, but as Richard’s sister, she was one of his biggest supporters.

“Your mother sent me. She wanted me to remind you to prepare yourself for your daily ride with Richard,” Elizabeth informed her as she sat on the bed beside her.

“How she could think I would forget is absurd.” Brianna attempted to keep the irritation out of her voice.

“May I ask you something?”

“Certainly.” Brianna’s heart stopped, and she wondered how much Richard told his sister about her.

“Why do you dislike him so much?”

“Him? Are you referring to your brother?” At Elizabeth’s nod, she continued. “I don’t dislike him. Why would you think that?”

“At times I have seen you look at him as though he were the single most important person on the earth. Other times, like now, you react in the opposite way.”

“I’m not sure to what you are referring. My reaction a moment ago was due to my mother’s interference and nothing more.”

“Don’t tell me falsehoods. Simply because I’m his sister does not mean I’ll excuse him if he exhibits ill behavior. Was he unkind to you, or did he make inappropriate advances?”

“He has never been anything other than a perfect gentleman,” Brianna defended, shocked Elizabeth would come to such a conclusion.

“I don’t understand. Then why do you act so strangely around him?”

Brianna bit her lip, wondering if she should tell Elizabeth the truth. Seeing the determined set of her jaw, Brianna decided the girl would not refrain from asking questions until she was completely satisfied with the response.

“If you must know, my problem does not lie with him, but what I would be with him.” Elizabeth turned her head to the side in confusion, forcing Brianna to elaborate. “I have no wish to be a marchioness. I think your brother is a wonderful man, and I enjoy spending time with him. My worry is the more I’m with him, the greater the possibility feelings will grow on either side.”

“I see, but if your feelings could increase, why would you wish to avoid them? You are so willing to discard him over his title?”

“It’s a complicated matter,” Brianna stated inadequately. She could not describe exactly how much she wished Richard didn’t have a title or how much she wished she didn’t care. Everything was already so muddled she had resorted to hiding in her bedchamber.

“Well, complicated or not, I hope you are not holding him accountable for something not within his power to change,” Elizabeth lectured as a knock sounded at the door announcing the arrival of Brianna’s maid. “Well, I’ll leave now to give you time to prepare for your ride. Thank you for speaking with me.”

“It was my pleasure,” Brianna obliged, although her feelings were quite the opposite.

As she allowed her maid to dress her, she thought about Elizabeth’s words. She didn’t feel she acted unkind to Richard. However, she was not being fair. Her offer of friendship was a sham, for she had not held up her end of the arrangement. One thing was certain, either he or she needed to marry fast or this farce would never end.

Less than an hour later, all her troubles faded as the wind caressed her face, and the speed of her mare bolstered her spirits. There was nothing quite like the elation she felt from the freedom of riding through the property. Although a pastime she typically took pleasure in alone, she found it more enjoyable with Richard. When they reached the cool stream that had become their favorite location, they dismounted, allowing the horses a much-needed rest.

“Are you looking forward to returning to London in a few days?” Brianna asked, her joy slightly fading at the thought of leaving the freedom of the country. “I’m sorry my mother forced you to stay another week.”

“I’m not overly anxious to return to London,” Richard assured her, leading the horses to the stream. “I don’t recall being forced to do anything. I have enjoyed spending time with your family. In addition, Lady Grace mentioned, several times in fact, how honored your mother was to have me as a guest. I imagined my acceptance would be appreciated.” Richard shrugged as if his sacrifice was unimportant.

“Grace probably told you how much she wanted you to stay as well.” Brianna tried to keep the exasperation out of her voice.

Richard stopped, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Actually she did, which made it harder to deny two ladies’ requests for my company.”

“I noticed you have been spending a considerable amount of time with her.”

“She is a lovely young lady,” Richard explained with a bright smile.

The pleasure in his face caused a surge of anger to pass through her body, and she stalked toward him, fists balled. The overwhelming urge to slap the smile off his face nearly won out over her better sense.

“I hope she also told you she has barely reached her fourteenth year,” she retorted.

“It may have come up in one of our conversations, but her age is of no consequence to me.”

“I would think it would be of great importance, considering she has not reached the acceptable age for marriage,” she ground out, but Richard’s mirth only seemed to increase. “May I ask what is so amusing? This is a serious matter.”

“I apologize. You are right. Lady Grace’s age isn’t a jovial matter. Your jealousy, however, I find delightful, if not amusing.”

“Jealousy!” Brianna exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief. “I’m not jealous.”

Although she hated to admit it, he was right. She could not believe she had given into the feeling. Of all people, it was her little sister she felt envious of, simply for holding a few conversations with Richard. The notion was completely ridiculous, but she could not help the emotion, nor could she stop it.

“If you are not jealous, why are you so concerned with your sister’s relationship with me?” His words brought on a new wave of envy that burned her with its intensity.

“As her older sister, I’m merely looking out for her well being. I would hate to see my sister wrapped up in a scandal because she was pushed into marriage at an unacceptable age,” Brianna explained, grateful for the cooling breeze that helped calm some of her ire.

“Well, rest assured, as much as I enjoy your sister’s company, I’m not interested in her for anything other than as a friend.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Brianna allowed the jealousy and anger to leave her body.

Once the drive to harm him dissipated, she became more aware of her surroundings. What a picturesque day. The sun was shining, the breeze was cool, and Richard was so close she could feel his warm breath washing over her face.

Her body called out in need and anticipation, begging her to reach out to him, but she stood still. She knew Richard could feel the change as well. His smile faded, and his brilliant blue eyes fell to her lips. Her breath hitched as she waited for him to lean forward and calm the ache within her. Less than a minute passed before his smile returned, and he turned away from her.

“It’s a beautiful day, is it not?” he inquired after he stopped a fair distance away.

“It is,” she whispered, barely able to find her voice. Her body burned in turmoil, and her mind contemplated impossible scenarios. She didn’t know how much longer she could stand this. The only solution to her problem lay in marriage. Suddenly a brilliant solution struck her. “Richard?”

“Yes?” He turned back to face her.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her nerves. “Since we decided to be friends, we should be able to help one another, right?”

“Regardless of where we stand, I’ll always be willing to offer my assistance to you whenever you require it.”

“Thank you.” She blushed at the sincerity in his voice. “Well, we are both looking to marry and have very specific qualifications, correct?”

“Yes.” He drew the word out as he watched her through the corner of his eye.

“As a lady, I have more access to the true nature of the other debutantes. With that knowledge, I’ll be able to inform you which ladies will suit and which to avoid. Then you can do the same for me with the gentlemen.”

He paused so long, Brianna wondered if he was going to respond.

“I see,” he said at last. “If you don’t like my choices, what happens then?”

“We would only be offering options to one another. There would be no obligations to go forward with any of them.”

“As it turns out, I already have a perfect option for you—the Marquis of Stonemede.”

“If you don’t wish to help, you only need to say. Bringing up unsuitable gentlemen will not help either one of us,” she snapped, then shook her head. She was not surprised he offered himself first as she had expected it.

“Obviously the two of us have a difference of opinion on suitability.”

“Then perhaps it would be best for you to keep your opinions out of it, and simply adhere to the facts.”

“Like the fact that you crave excitement?” he challenged as he stalked back to her. “Like the fact that you need purpose? Or perhaps it’s the fact that you desire passion?”

His voice was gentle yet commanding, and Brianna felt the conflicting emotions swirling around inside her. A part of her wanted to believe him, to believe she was the type of lady who would be happy living the life he could offer, but she was not. He was wrong about her. Accepting him would mean a great deal of sacrifice, and it was too much to ask of her to let go of her dreams.

One of the horses whinnied and nudged Richard, dragging his attention away from her. She sighed and turned away, grateful for the interruption. When he looked at her, she found herself contemplating things she had no desire to.

“We should probably get back to the manor,” she suggested, before he could distract her again. “First, I would like to know if you are willing to help, at least with suggestions other than yourself.”

“It would mean spending more time with me. Do you think you can handle that?” he questioned, and she turned to see a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“Easily. As it turns out, I don’t mind your company,” she teased, feeling better now that his charming demeanor returned. It was his intense determination that made her uncomfortable.

He laughed as he assisted her onto her mount. She shivered when he allowed his fingers to linger about her waist. The fact she could not have him had yet to register with her body, and her desire for him overpowered her.

“If that is what you wish, then I’ll try my best to help you in your search.”

His face tinged with sadness, and it hurt her more than she thought possible. Then he smiled so quickly, Brianna wondered if she imagined the sorrow. Matters between them were so convoluted she feared she was losing this game they were playing.

Brianna paced her bedchamber, unable to calm the turmoil within her. Tonight would be their last night at Ransley, and she found herself dreading the return to London. The country offered a pleasant change to the constant activity, only increasing her reluctance to leave.

She had been trying to fall asleep for what seemed like hours, but had no success. Much to her mother’s disapproval, she had excused herself early from the evening’s entertainments, unable to endure the sight of Grace outrageously flirting with Richard any longer. To make matters worse, Richard continually watched her in such a way it made Brianna want to throw herself into his arms, regardless of the consequences.

Thinking of Richard sleeping down the hall caused many restless nights, but tonight felt much worse because she would not have the benefit of having him under the same roof any longer. Suddenly she froze as an odd thought struck her. There were no consequences, at least not anymore. Her innocence was already gone, so there was nothing to lose on that end. They had not been caught the first time, and she would ensure discovery would not be an issue this time either. She knew the house well enough to be able to get in and out of his assigned bedchamber while avoiding detection.

Feeling energized with the idea, she slipped out of the room, and darted down the hallway. Much to her surprise, his door remained unlocked, so she entered, trying to make as little noise as possible. The room was lit by a small bedside candle, limiting her view. When her eyes rested upon the empty bed, she wanted to scream in frustration.