Simply Forbidden (14 page)

“Papa …”

Gabriel pressed the small advantage. “Then you agree that we should be married, sir?”

“Hold on a moment, Swanfield.” Lord Knowles addressed his daughter. “Are you carrying his child, Lisette?”

“How would I know? He only bedded me last night.”

“That’s not the point,” Gabriel said urgently. “I don’t wish for anyone to doubt my child’s parentage.”

“Are you so certain you are that potent?” Lisette asked. “What happens if you force me to marry you and then I never get pregnant?”

Gabriel sighed. “Then we will be married and I will do my duty by you regardless. What else do you want me to say?”

“Your
duty
?”

Lord Knowles cleared his throat. “Lord Swanfield, perhaps it would be best if you waited to find out if Lisette does indeed carry your child before sacrificing yourself to the institution of matrimony.”

“But I don’t want to wait.”

“And I don’t want to marry you.”

He met her eyes and read the determination and strength in them, hoping she saw the same in his gaze. “I can see that any further discussion on this subject will not get me anywhere this morning.” He nodded at Lord Philip. “Perhaps you might help Miss Ross come to a better decision without my presence.”

“I’ll certainly discuss the matter with her, Swanfield, but be
aware that I’ll support whatever decision she makes, without question.”

Gabriel bowed low. “I understand that, sir. All I ask is that you keep me informed.” He turned to Lisette who was regarding him most suspiciously. “Good morning, Miss Ross.”

“Are you leaving? Just like that?”

He shrugged. “What else would you have me do? I can scarcely throw you over my shoulder with your father watching me.”

He turned and left the room, nodded at the butler, and made his way down the stone steps into the freedom of the morning. He might not be able to drag Lisette off when her father was watching her, but there were other ways to achieve his aims. His steps slowed. If he wanted to win, being the perfect gentleman wasn’t necessarily the best way to go about it. And he wanted to win very badly indeed.

Lisette gazed after Gabriel, her mouth open. “I can’t believe he gave up so easily.”

“Do you feel insulted?”

“No, not like that.” Lisette paused, uncertain of how much of Gabriel’s personal business to divulge. “Lord Swanfield’s birth was not well managed and he feels it deeply.”

Her father gave her a sidelong glance as he strolled toward the door. “Are you defending him now? You should’ve thought about whether he was a man of his word before you took him to your bed.”

She sighed. “What occurred between us last night wasn’t planned at all. It just happened.”

“And he is a man who stands by his responsibilities and his convictions.”

“I know that. It is one of the things I’ve always liked about him.”

Philip opened the door to the breakfast room and held out a
chair for her. When she was seated he sat in the seat closest to hers and took her hand. “Would he really make such an objectionable husband? He has principles, wealth, a title …”

“A cloudy reputation, an inflated opinion of his own worth, and an extremely bad temper.”

“Yet you went to bed with him.”

“Yes, I did.” Lisette sighed. “And I would do so again.”

Philip patted her hand. “Perhaps after you break your fast, you should go and talk this through with your mother. She is invaluable in matters of the heart.”

“That’s excellent advice, Papa.” Lisette withdrew her hand and poured herself some coffee. If anyone could see a way out of her dilemma, it would be Helene, a woman no man, save her father, had ever managed to master or successfully deceive.

G
abriel looked up as Paul St. Clare came into the dining room of his lodgings. He was wearing his patched coat, and from the look of his whiskers, he hadn’t shaved for a few days either. “Ah, Paul, I need your help.”

Paul sat opposite him at the table, his brown eyes alight with interest. He picked an apple from the fruit bowl and polished it on his shirtsleeve. “With what, exactly?”

“I’m planning an elopement.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Gabriel smiled grimly. “You heard me.”

“And what part am I to play in this charade? The damsel in distress?”

“No, you are going to be the bait. You know the damsel I have in mind, and I need you to lure her into my trap.”

Paul sat back and regarded him steadily. “Have you gone completely mad?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then of course I’ll help you. Although I find it difficult to understand why you can’t simply ask the woman to marry you in church in front of her family like any other gentleman.”

“I’ve already asked her.” Gabriel gathered up the maps and documentation in front of him and stuffed them into a leather wallet.

“And she refused you?”

“She did.”

“So you are going to abduct her.” Paul cleared his throat. “And you don’t care that this might finally destroy your already rickety social reputation, let alone the reputation of the woman who is stuck being married to you?”

Gabriel smiled slowly. “I’m sure everything will work out perfectly.” He rose to his feet and nodded at Paul. “Be ready to help me on Thursday around noon. I have a few errands to run today to make sure that everything is settled.”

“I’m sure you do,” Paul muttered as Gabriel walked past him.

“And keep this to yourself,” Gabriel added, slapping Paul’s shoulder. “It’s complicated enough as it is without all my friends being aware of it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep quiet.” Paul winked and sank his teeth into the polished green skin of the apple. “As long as you tell me all the gory details on your return.”

“There won’t be any gory details. If things proceed as planned, we’ll all have nothing to worry about.”

“As long as you don’t get shot by her enraged father.”

Gabriel ignored Paul’s last comment and headed out to the stables. Admittedly, his plan had some flaws, depending as it did on the cooperation of some of the most unlikely allies he could think of. But it had to work. His future with Lisette and the fate of his potential child was too important to contemplate failure.

He glanced at his pocket watch and groaned. He had a meeting
at his solicitor’s office in fifteen minutes, and he hated to be late. It seemed that at long last some progress had been made with the Granger family.

As he mounted up, it also occurred to him that his solicitor might like to know he was getting married and that he’d need to draw up a new will reversing his decision about the Grangers inheriting directly. Ah, but he was getting too far ahead of himself. His bride was scarcely in his trap yet….

Lisette gave her brother a cool glance. “I would prefer to talk to Maman by myself.”

On her father’s advice, she’d come back to the pleasure house to speak to Helene, only to find Christian ensconced in her mother’s office as well.

“I know that, but I’d like to stay.”

“Why? So that you can tell me that I deserve everything that has happened to me?”

Christian sighed. “Lis, I know we’re not getting along at the moment, but you are my twin and I care about you. If I promise not to interfere in the conversation unless I feel it is absolutely necessary, will you let me stay?”

Lisette glanced at her mother, who nodded encouragingly. “All right, then, but please let me tell you everything before either of you say a word.”

Briefly Lisette outlined what had happened that morning at Philip’s house, Lord Swanfield’s insistence of marrying her, and her reluctance to agree. Helene listened quietly, her expression calm, her hands folded together on the desk in front of her.

“So what do you think I should do, Maman?”

“You are considering his proposal then?”

Lisette felt herself flush. “I am trying to consider all my options.”

“You know that even if you are pregnant, your father and I will always support you?”

“Yes.”

“Then obviously, at least on your side, you feel there is more to this proposal from Lord Swanfield than just duty.”

Lisette shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “Lord Swanfield has some very deep personal reasons for wishing any child of his to be born in wedlock.”

“And you agree with his reasons?”

Lisette bit her lip. “I’m not sure if I agree with them, but I certainly
understand
them.”

“Would he be willing to wait to see if you really are pregnant before pursuing his suit?”

“I suggested that and he didn’t take it very well.” Lisette tried to smile. “Even when I mentioned that neither of us might be capable of having children, he wouldn’t be shaken off.”

Helene rose from her chair and paced the carpet, her brow crinkled in thought. Then she stopped, sat opposite Lisette, and took her hand. “But if he married you, and you proved to be barren, he’d have no heir.”

“He told me once that he didn’t want an heir, that he hoped the title would die out with him or pass to another branch of the family.”

“And yet he wants to marry you.”

Lisette looked into her mother’s sympathetic eyes. “You know why he comes here, Maman, and you know what he does to avoid having a full sexual relationship with a woman.”

“But he
now
has that relationship with
you
.”

Lisette shrugged. “There were reasons for his behavior last night; he wasn’t quite himself….”

“Are you making excuses for him
raping
you?” Christian asked softly, his tone so full of menace that both Helene and Lisette spun around to stare at him. “Have you started to believe that is all you deserve from a man?”

“Lord Swanfield didn’t rape me. I was more than happy to
be his bed partner. In truth, I’m the one who is responsible for him being anywhere
near
my bed last night.”

“So
you
raped
him
?”

Lisette smiled reluctantly at her brother. “No, it was a mutual decision.”

“Well, that’s good then, or else I’d have to be paying him a visit this afternoon.”

Helene reclaimed Lisette’s attention by placing a hand on her arm. “It sounds as if you are in an impossible situation, but I’m sure there’s hope. We can help you disappear for a couple of months until you know whether you really are pregnant. Then you will have the freedom to make your decision without Lord Swanfield glowering at you.”

“I suppose that is the best thing I can do.” Lisette sighed. “Lord Swanfield is not the sort of man who would sit back and wait for me to make my choice. I suspect even if I moved in here he’d be haunting the place demanding an answer every hour.”

“Don’t worry, love, between us, your father and I will keep you safe.”

“I know, but it also means that I’ll have to miss Emily’s entrance into society.” Lisette grimaced. She didn’t want to run to her parents for help again, but it seemed she had no choice. “I suppose it can’t be helped, unless you can miraculously find another woman for Lord Swanfield to bed and marry?”

At the thought of Gabriel with another woman, Lisette’s smile faded. She’d hate to see that, to see all Gabriel Swanfield’s prime male attention focused on another woman.

The clock on the mantelpiece chimed the half hour and He-lene jumped to her feet. “Lisette, I’m so sorry, but I have to consult with Madame Durand. Will you wait with Christian until I come back?”

“Of course, Maman, and thank you for your help.”

Helene kissed her cheek and hugged her tightly. “We will sort this out, my love, don’t ever doubt it.”

After Helene left, Lisette glanced at Christian, who was regarding her lazily from his chair. “You can say what you want, now. I’m quite prepared for you to tell me I’m a fool.”

“I don’t think you are a fool. I think you got exactly what you wanted all along.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Christian uncurled himself from his seat with all the grace and poise of a cat. “I think you want Swanfield, Lis.”

“I do want him. I’m not ashamed to admit it. He is the best lover I’ve ever had.” He shook his head as if she was being stupid and her temper sparked. “You think I wanted him to marry me all along?”

“Not all along, but I think somewhere inside you, the fact that he is
willing
to marry you agrees with you.”

“Because I want to be married so badly?”

He came across the room and sat opposite her, his hazel gaze locked with hers.

“Yes, because deep down that’s what we both want, isn’t it? Someone who will stay with us. And it’s not surprising, really, when we were abandoned before we were even born. The fact that Swanfield is prepared to marry you simply on the off chance that you might carry his child is very appealing to you.”

“I don’t resent our parents for not marrying, I don’t.”

“Hell, I do. Father marches off in a huff and marries someone else within three weeks of fucking our mother, and our mother doesn’t bother to tell him we even exist for eighteen years? It bloody bothers me.”

She searched his eyes, saw the lack of forgiveness burning there that he normally hid so well. “They did the best they could in the circumstances.”

Christian exhaled hard. “I know that, and as an adult I even
understand it, but it doesn’t change how I feel inside.” He leaned forward and took her hand. “If a woman came to me and said she carried my child, I’d do exactly what Swanfield wants to do. I’d marry her in a heartbeat.”

He wiped at her cheek and she realized she was crying. “If you want him, Lis, have him. I’m certain he will do everything in his power to keep you safe.”

“Now you’ve just confused me even more,
and
you’ve made me cry,” Lisette whispered.

“Don’t I always?” His wry smile was full of love. “Marry him tomorrow; don’t wait until you know if you carry his child. The way you feel about him shows on your face and makes you look even more beautiful than usual.” He kissed her nose. “I see it in you, twin. I only wish that one day I could find someone to put that look on my face.”

“You will.”

“I doubt it.” He sighed.

“Christian? What if it
is
just duty for Lord Swanfield and he is incapable of loving me?”

“As Maman so wisely pointed out, when a man who insists he will never have sex or marry breaks all his own rules, he must do so knowingly, whether he realizes it at the time or not.”

“Is that what Maman said?”

Christian sat back in his seat and smiled. “That was what she meant. Lord Swanfield has made his own bed, so to speak, and I would wager he is quite happy to lie in it.”

Lisette got up and regarded her brother. “I thought he took his dismissal this morning far too lightly.”

“Then I would be careful, my sweet. A man like that who served under the great Duke of Wellington is unlikely to see an orderly retreat as a complete disaster. He’s probably just regrouping his forces for a fresh attack.”

“Thank you, Christian.” Lisette blew her brother a kiss. “I have a lot to think about.”

He came across and embraced her fiercely. “Good-bye, love, and I wish you much happiness.”

She scowled at him. “I haven’t decided to marry him yet.”

“Good for you, make him beg.”

Lisette’s smile died. “I already did that and look where I ended up.”

“Where you wanted to be,” he reminded her gently. She found she had nothing else to say and decided to escape down to the kitchen where the comforts of Madame Durand’s cooking would help her forget her cares for at least an hour or so. Or, at least, she hoped it would.

Gabriel entered his solicitor’s office with a smile that rapidly faded when he saw who else was sitting by the fire.

“Ah, good morning, my lord,” Mr. Brecon said cheerily, his round face flushed as red as his balding head. “I hope you are well.”

Gabriel removed his hat and gloves and shook Mr. Brecon’s hand. “Quite well, sir.”

William Granger shot to his feet and bowed. He wore his uniform and highly polished boots as if he had just come off parade. “I’m sure you wish me to the devil, cousin, but I thought you might at least hear me out in this more neutral setting.”

Gabriel took a seat and gestured for the other men to do the same. “It depends on what you have to say.”

William took a deep breath. “I’m sure you won’t believe this, but until you told me, I had no idea that my military commission had been paid for by your estate.”

Gabriel shrugged. “Why would you? Your father controls the money, not you.”

William cleared his throat. “What I’m trying to say is that my father hasn’t always been very … clear about how he differentiates between your money and his own.”

Gabriel looked hard at William. For his cousin to say such a negative thing about his father’s management of the Swanfield estates was unheard of. “I know that, too. This is why I’ve been trying to gain full control over my estate for the past five years.”

“He is getting old and I fear his reasoning is not quite as astute as it once was.” William grimaced. “Now I sound as if I’m trying to make excuses for him, and I’m not. He took on a lot of responsibility for you when the old earl died.”

“And I am more than willing to take that load from his shoulders. The problem is, he seems loathe to relinquish it.”

William looked up and his gaze met Gabriel’s properly for the first time. “If I endeavor to persuade him to give up the estate books to you, will you promise not to ruin him?”

“You think the situation is that bad?”

“I’m not sure, but I know you have many reasons to be vindictive.”

“You recognize that now, do you? The fact that I was sent away to an inferior school for ‘difficult boys’ while you and Michael enjoyed Harrow? That I wasn’t even allowed home during the holidays? That my mother …”

Abruptly Gabriel stopped speaking. This was no time to air his grievances. The chance to take complete ownership of the Swanfield estates was far too big a prize to let slip through his grasp.