The Temptation of a Gentleman (26 page)

Noah watched her face closely, waiting for her anger. Waiting for her to return to arguing with him about the need for such a drastic step. Instead, the desire in her eyes was replaced by defeat. Her shoulders rolled forward as she slowly shook her head.

“I’ll do this without fighting you any longer. But I’d like for you to do something for me as well.”

Disappointment coursed hard through his veins. She still felt she had to bargain with him. That would be the first thing he’d teach her as his wife. She didn’t need to trade to get what she wanted. If she asked, he’d do his best to give her whatever she requested.

His eyes drifted over the curves that had been pressed against him so intimately not a few moments before. Well, perhaps not the
first
thing he’d teach her.

The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “Yes?”

“I want to retain Sally as my maid. She did her best to assist me while I was at Toppleton Square and asked that I help her get out of Lucas’s employ in return.”

He narrowed his eyes. Though Marion viewed Sally as a friend, he had to wonder if the woman’s motives were so pure. Obviously she was using Marion, if only to get away from Lucas. It was something he couldn’t completely blame her for. But he still had to wonder at the maid’s swift surrender of information.

“I’ll do that for you, if it’s what you desire,” he said slowly. There would be time for investigation and argument later. For now, giving her what she wanted seemed best. “We’ll make a happy life, Marion.”

Her expression was incredulous. “Happy or not, Noah, a prison is still a prison.”

Again, pain shot through him with a power that was frightening. “And that’s what you see life with me as being.”

Marion could sense his anger, but pressed on. He’d already said he wanted honesty. Even if it hurt, or made him furious, she could do no less. Especially if they were to be married.

“As much as I…” Was she going to admit she loved him? No. Not now. Not when he had an angry fire in his eyes that told her how frustrated he was with her continued resistance. “As much as I care for you, this isn’t what either of us wants. Not this way. Eventually I fear you’ll resent me.”

His eyes met hers with a spark of denial and fury. She continued speaking to prevent the interruption she knew was coming.

“You’ll resent me for what’s happened,” she said with her voice trembling. “You’ll begin to reinvent our history until you’ll remember me, a country chit, trapping you, a Marquis, into marriage.”

He opened his mouth with an outraged growl. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Marion. Unfortunately circumstances have left neither of us with a choice. Resentful or not, you
will
marry me. Get used to it.”

With that, he abruptly stood and walked away, leaving Marion to stare at his rigid back as he crossed the lawn toward the house.

Chapter Twenty-One

Noah heard Marion call his name as he strode away from her across the lawn, but didn’t stop. He didn’t even glance over his shoulder, though his heart and body screamed at him to look at her. He already knew what he’d see. Not a woman happy to be his forever, but one torn apart by her lack of choices.

It infuriated him. But why was he so damn angry? Her analysis was perfectly correct. This wasn’t what either of them had planned for or wanted, but having her put those feelings so plainly hurt.

What did he want anyway? A blushing bride totally in love with him? He had never planned on that when he intended to offer for Charlotte.

But he hadn’t
wanted
love with Charlotte.

“Damn it,” he barked to no one in particular.

“Sir?” Basil looked up as Noah stormed into the house and slammed the door behind him.

“Ready the household to depart for London tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder as he continued down the hall in long, purposeful strides.

At least in London he wouldn’t have to share a roof with Marion. Perhaps that distance would clear his head and make him remember his place, not the need for her that coursed through him like a constant drumbeat.

***

Marion twisted her gloves in her hand as she returned to the house and closed the door behind her. Her head was spinning from the encounter with Noah nearly an hour ago. He had aroused her, angered her and confused her with his reaction to her reticence to marry. Along with the fact that he’d refused to turn back when she called his name.

That had stung the worst. How she’d wanted him to return and allow her to explain that her feelings confused her, but that she would try her hardest to make a marriage between them work because she loved him and wanted to make him proud. But he’d not turned back, and she’d been too much of a coward to follow him.

No, she sat like a ninny and watched. And contemplated how ridiculous the entire situation had become.

“Would you like some tea, miss?”

Marion cleared her thoughts with a shake of her head and smiled at Mrs. York who had appeared from the dining room with a gentle smile for her guest.

“No, Mrs. York. I think I’m going to go up to my room to rest for a little while. My arm is still quite tender and I’m tired.” Through her sadness she found a weak smile for the housekeeper.

“To your chambers, miss?” Mrs. York’s eyes widened a fraction.

“Yes. I’ll be down in time for supper though.”

With a nod for the older woman, she climbed the stairs to her room. To her surprise, her chamber door was open and two maids were inside going through the closet where Audrey’s old gowns still hung.

“These two will do for a while,” whispered the blonde to the red head. “She’ll have more made when she arrives, so it won’t make no difference anyway.”

“Excuse me.” Marion took two steps into the room.

The pair spun around to look at her with polite smiles. “Oh, hello Miss.” The blonde draped the gown in her hand over one arm. “Did you need to use the room, then? Lord Woodbury told us to finish up in the other rooms if you needed the chamber.”

“Finish up what?” Marion surveyed a small trunk on the floor beside the armoire. Certainly Audrey Berenger wouldn’t have asked for her out-of-date gowns now that she was a countess.

The redhead gave her a patient smile. “The packing, miss. You and the master and Lady Woodbury will be leaving for London tomorrow morning at first light.”

Marion’s mouth dropped open. Noah hadn’t mentioned anything about a move to London. “I beg your pardon?”

“Very last minute arrangements miss.” The redhead nodded, but her eyes widened with interest as she realized Marion hadn’t been informed of the plans. “But we can scurry away if you’d like to rest.”

Marion’s eyes narrowed. “No. But can you tell me where his lordship is? I have a few things to discuss with him.”

“His lordship has gone for a long ride, at my order.”

Marion spun around. Lady Woodbury stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, staring at her. “And I think you’d better calm your nerves, as well, before you speak to him again.”

“My lady…” Marion’s embarrassment filled her and she trailed off in utter misery.

“Come with me. If you aren’t too tired, perhaps we can share a cup of tea in my private salon down the hall.”

The older woman beckoned to Marion as she strolled from the doorway and down the hall. At her cloaked order, Marion hurried to keep up.

Tea was already laid out on a service in the salon. It was a small room but elegant and befitting the woman before her. The interior was done in soft shades of blue and green with comfortable furniture spread about.

“Sit.” Lady Woodbury motioned to the chair opposite her as she sat down in the other. “I’ll pour.”

With a nod, Marion did as she was asked and stared with trepidation at the woman who would soon be her mother-in-law. Though Tabitha Jordan’s eyes were kind when they met hers, it was also obvious the older woman had much to say on the subject of Marion’s upcoming wedding, and her conduct so far. She had a feeling not all of those sentiments would be joyful or approving.

Once the tea had been poured and scones put on plates, Tabitha leaned back in her chair and gave Marion a long, appraising glance.

“You are very upset about this entire arrangement, aren’t you?” Tabitha asked before she took a long sip from her cup.

Marion hesitated. The last thing she wanted to do was offend Lady Woodbury, but she didn’t want to lie, either. “My reticence isn’t a slight on your family, I assure you. I simply never intended to marry… not this way.”

“Of course you didn’t. What woman would?” Tabitha’s understanding smile fell. “But this choice is what you and Noah created for yourselves. I’d hate to see you destroy any chance you have at happiness before you even start.”

“You must allow me some period of adjustment.” Marion set her teacup down.

“Of course. But you must also admit that you had a hand in creating this situation.” Tabitha’s eyes narrowed. “After all, you made a bargain with my son that wasn’t appropriate. That it didn’t go as you planned is as much your own fault as it is his. I do place added blame on him as the more experienced of the two of you.”

Marion threw her hands in the air. “You don’t understand my situation. What I would have been forced to…
do
if I didn’t find an alternative.”

Tabitha arched an eyebrow. “Of course I understand. You were facing a life with Josiah Lucas, and worse, a very uncouth entry into the physical aspects of marriage. And now I’ve found out Mr. Lucas may even be suspect in his late wife’s death, so I can see why you were desperate.” She leaned closer. “But none of those things make you any less responsible for your own actions.”

“Of course not.” Marion shook her head. She was willing to take some of the blame for what had happened. “But I still believe there must be another way for us to resolve this situation beyond dragging me to London for a forced marriage.”

One of Tabitha’s eyebrows arched up in warning. “No. You’ve compromised yourself, and you’ll continue to be until you are no longer under Noah’s roof.”

“But you’re my chaperone here.”

“The damage is already done.” Tabitha shook her head at Marion’s continued arguments. “Noah is right to take you to London. There you can stay with Lord and Lady Berenger, my daughter Audrey and her husband Griffin. Audrey and I can introduce you into Society for a month or so until the scandal begins to fades. Your marriage to Noah will erase it completely.”

All Marion’s hopes dropped to the pit of her stomach. There seemed to be no way out of this mess. “I-I worry about losing control. Noah is making my choices just as my father did.”

At that, Tabitha set her teacup back on its saucer with a clatter. “Noah is nothing like your father.”

Marion shook her head. Noah had been just as angry when she’d said something similar, but neither of them seemed to understand her true meaning. Noah had none of the coldness, the cruelty her father possessed. It was more the situations she was comparing, not the men.

“Of course he isn’t. I couldn’t bear to be near him if he was, let alone marry him. I only meant that I looked forward to controlling my own destiny and now that dream looks out of reach once again.” She sighed.

Tabitha’s demeanor softened. “Control is a tricky thing, Marion. We never have it, even when we think we do. And constantly striving for it only seems to put it further from reach.”

Marion frowned. She hadn’t ever thought of it in those terms before. Her father had made sure she never had any control, so she’d never contemplated that it might not be a good thing.

“Still, I had so many hopes. I fear they’re lost forever now.” She stared at her tea, picturing the little life she’d planned with her estranged aunts. But now that picture seemed cloudier, less perfect. Instead, an image of Noah kept intruding.

Tabitha sighed before she reached out to touch Marion’s hand. She looked up to find Lady Woodbury’s eyes filled with compassion. “I know my son. He’ll give you new hopes if you meet him halfway.” She paused, but her gaze kept Marion hostage. “It should be easy when you love him as much as you do.”

Marion yanked her hand away as if Tabitha’s touch burned her. She rose to her feet in shock, overturning the empty plate on her lap and depositing crumbs all over Lady Woodbury’s oriental carpet. She hardly noticed the mess as she stumbled back a few steps.

“That-that’s ridiculous, my lady. I barely know Noah, Lord Woodbury.” Her cheeks flamed with heat. Her denial sounded lame even to her own ears.

Tabitha looked up at her with a bemused smile. “If it helps you to deny it to me, by all means, continue to do so. But don’t make the mistake of denying it to yourself.”

The hot sting of tears pricked Marion’s eyes as she crossed to the window. A faint breeze stirred the leaves on the trees and made the well-tended lawn wave. Marion wished she were outside, away from the pointed accusation of a woman who knew what she spoke of all too well. Marion didn’t have the strength to deny her statements.

“He doesn’t love me.”

She didn’t dare face Tabitha. She didn’t want to see the agreement in her eyes. She didn’t want to see that Tabitha thought she was a silly girl for loving her son, a self-proclaimed rake and a man so far above her station that he might as well have fallen from heaven.

Tabitha rose to her feet and cocked her head as she contemplated that statement. “Hmmm. Noah has never been easy to read when it came to the feelings in his heart. Even when his father died, I could see his grief, but no other emotions. But he certainly cares for you more than he did for Charlotte.”

That was cold comfort. Marion turned to look at her future mother-in-law. “He told me he felt nothing for Charlotte.”