Price of Desire (35 page)

Rose peeked out of the covers
.
Did they have to act like she wasn’t here
?
She was party to this too
.

“I am surprised you did not visit him, yourself.
”
Wimberley replied looking away from her
.
“
You know Arthur would always welcome you.”

Rose could feel Wulf’s glance land upon her as she still sat huddled in his bed
.
“I am afraid the awkwardness of a year ago has not left
.
I cannot forget the great harm I almost caused him.”

Would the man never stop talking in riddles
?
Every time she got a glimpse into his thoughts another wall appeared.

“You know all that is forgotten,” Wimberly answered
.
“I understand you played the hero in the end, anyway.”

“Hardly a hero.
”
Wulf shook his shoulders loose, and turned back to her
.
“Perhaps, my lady.
”
She never thought she’d grow to hate the phrase so much
.
“Perhaps, it would be best if you left
.
You so rightly reminded me of the need to prevent a scandal
.
I imagine if you hurry you can be away before the maids arrive.”

He finally noticed her and it was only to ask her to leave.

There was not a trace of warmth in his voice
.
She’d heard him sound more friendly when addressing the hounds
.
Not at all the way she’d imagine he’d address her as his betrothed
.
Wasn’t the man at all grateful for all she was prepared to sacrifice
?
It might not be a love match, but she’d hoped for at least regard.

“You are right, of course, M
ajor
Huntington – but, do not think our discussion over.
”
She pursed her lips in stiff formality.

“Oh, before you go, I imagine you’ll make arrangements for Tris to stay another night
.
Wouldn’t do to kick a marquess out into the rains
.
And besides he’ll make a splendid addition to your ball this night.”

“Really, Wulf, that’s not necessary
.
Even with the weather I can make it to an inn
.
There must be one hereabouts.
”
Wimberly’s brows furrowed in thought
.
“Although, it
might be more convenient . . .
”

“Of course, you must stay.
”
Rose knew her duties well
.
“Whether you choose to attend the festivities this evening is your own choice, but I won’t hear of you sloshing over to the Two Headed Hog.
”
She flushed in sudden memory as she spoke the name
.
“Perhaps I should cancel the dancing for tonight
.
Given both weather and circumstance
,
it hardly seems appropriate.”

Wulf cut her off as she finished
.

“I would disagree, my lady
.
We do have a betrothal to announce.”

“Is that wise?
”
Wimberl
e
y began, clearly not yet sure his friend had not given in to sudden madness.

“Surely not so soon.
”
Rose continued.

“I don’t see why not.
”
Wulf’s voice resounded with command and Rose could see why men had followed him into battle
.
“If I wait until we are informed of Falmouth’s,” his voice
slowed
, “death, then the wedding will be delayed
.
I would rather announce it now and push forward despite all mourning.”

“But, why
?
Is there a need to rush?
”
Rose had no desire to hurry her impending fate
.
She would not, could not change her decision, but that was no reason to run forward blindly.

“Do you forget, my lady, I seem to have a tendency to virility
.
I will not risk another child that does not bear my name.”

Rose resisted the urge to throw another vase at him
.
Did the man have no sensitivity
?
He changed like a chameleon
.
Every time she caught another glimpse of the man within he threw up a wall.

“M
ajor
Huntington,” she borrowed the same mocking tone he so frequently employed.

His gaze darkened upon her.

“M
ajor
Huntington, can we not wait and see if there is reason for concern
?
If you are set to ignore society and custom what can a few weeks matter?”

Wimberly said nothing but stood aside studying them both with ponderous eyes.

“I will not risk any hint of scandal surrounding the birth of
this
child.”

“There is no child.”

“There might be, and I will not risk any question of my paternity
.
If all expected comes to pass, this baby could be my heir
.
It is good that Anna is a daughter and could not inherit anyway
.
I would not want any child of mine deprived of what should be theirs by right.
”
Wulf spoke with such planned precision that she could only guess at the pain behind his words.

Wimberly began to cough at this exchange
.
A rise of color fled her skin
.
She knew the men were friends, she had her limits.

“In that case,” Wimberly finally found his tongue
.
“Just let me know what you want and I will lend my support
.
I would admit my tendency would be to wait, to play by the rules, but I understand your desires
.
It will be as you wish.”

Wulf turned to Rose
.
“Then, I do believe
the
ball tonight to be the perfect occasion for our announcement
.
I am sure Lady Smyth
e
-Burke would be most upset if she were not allowed to witness the next move in the game.”

“I still think I should cancel, or at least delay
,” she added
.
“
I am sure my guests would understand under the circumstances
.
Given the weather nobody will be leaving soon.
”

“No
.
I think tonight would be the perfect occasion to announce our coming marriage
.
We wouldn’t want your other suitors to keep hoping.”

What had she gotten herself into
?
She’d sought a manageable husband and even before the wedding was announced Wulf was trying to call the play
.
She longed to speak up for herself, but despite his tone of command she could see his hollowed cheeks and shadowed eyes.

A whispered giggle sounded from the hall and she sprang from the bed and scurried to the door, opening it a crack to peek out. “You were right before, I must be off.
”
She slipped through the door and hastened to the nursery stair welcoming the chance to escape, to gather her thoughts.

“What was that all about?”

Wulf turned to Tris, trying to think of an answer to his question
.
Despite his rapid-fire conversation of the past half-hour his mind felt empty
.
The emotional outpouring of the past night had left him wiped clean
.
His
chest was still tight and there was a lingering horror at his own emotional outpouring
.
He was sure Rose would find some way to turn it to her advantage
.
She’d been fast enough to agree to marriage once she knew the earldom would soon be his
.

He’d almost let himself be persuaded, had wanted to be persuaded, by her protestations of love for Burberry
.
Sometimes he saw a gentle caring woman, but then the bossy shrew would appear
.
Which was the real woman
?
He’d have to trust his intellect
.
She
was
a
n
aristocrat to the end
, and that meant
a cold, calculating lady.

“Cat got your tongue, or did you wear yourself out whispering sweet nothing
s
to your bride-to-be?
”
Tris’s biting tone roused him to himself.

“No, I am hardly the type for sweet nothings
.
No woman would seek romance from this.
”
Wulf gestured to his massive frame.

“I’ve never known you to lack for feminine company.”

Wulf grinned into the gray morning, wondering if he looked as hollow as he felt.

“True, but they’ve never been after romance, more curiosity I think
.
Is he big all over?
”
Normally his own crude comment would have brought him some embarrassment, but not this morning.

“But, surely the Lady Burberry sees more than that
.
She did agree to your offer.”

“Yes, once there was a pote
ntial earldom added to the pot. B
efore that she made it clear I was good for little more than bed play.”

Tris walked around the room
until
he faced Wulf straight on
.
“Then why did you offer
?
I know your opinion of ladies even if I don’t always share it
.
I would admit the widow attractive in a wholesome manner, but certainly there are other jovial bedmates
?
Perhaps you were attracted to her fortune, or is it madness brought upon by my news
?

“Speak the word my friend and I will free you
.
I know once the offer’s made it’s hard for a gentleman to take it back, but I do have some power and knowledge of manipulation
.
If in the clear,” Tris glanced at the drizzle outside, “light of morning you have reconsidered
,
I will take care of the matter for you
.
No announcements have yet been made.”

“No, even if I wanted
,
I am powerless to change my mind
.
My course is set
.
And
,
as for madness, I’d asked her twice before last night
.
It was only her response that changed in light of how matters now stand.”

“You have my mind a muddle, a rather uncommon turn of events.”

Wulf turned from Tris.

“I am rather a muddle myself
.
Can’t seem to get a straight thought through my brain
.
I’ve felt better waiting to charge the enemy knowing the certainty of death and pain.”

He moved to the window himself and stared out at the gray, damp weather
.
If ever there had been a metaphor for his mood; cold, pounding, endless, but with the force drained away.

“I spilled my secrets once about Clarissa
.
At the time I didn’t know I was twice the fool
.
Have you seen Lady Burberry’s daughter?”

“No, Burberry never brought them to town and even if he had what interest had I in a babe?”

“It’s all in the eyes, these damned Falmouth eyes.”

Tris moved and laid a hand across his back
.
“I hadn’t realized you met the
woman before.
But, it is of little consequence
.
If that is the case, let me know how I may be of assistance.”

Wulf turned, pulling himself from his friend’s offer of comfort
.
He knew his mouth jerked with cynicism.

“I will accept your offer
.
There is a way you can help
.
I may not yet have clarity of thought, but it occurs to me that with the possibility of impending mourning . . .
”

He could not bring himself to speak more clearly, to truly consider the ramifications of his words
.
“It occurs to me that I may not want to wait for the banns to be read
.
Far easier to let all think it a love match, that we’ve been swept together by passion
.
Can you arrange a special license
?
I’d rather this whole matter over before we receive official news.”