An Unexpected Gentleman Part 8

She scrubbed her hands over her face, trying to settle her temper and clear her mind. One step at a time, she reminded herself. One choice at a time.

Only she hadnat a choice left. Her steps had already been mapped out for her.

So be it, she thought darkly and marched back to the front of the house. There would be no more excuses. No more delays. She would mail the letter to Sir Robert today. Now. And when Connor returned from Edinburgh, she would give him exactly what he asked for.

She would marry him and make his life a living h.e.l.l.

She opened the front door, glanced into the parlor, and saw Isobel, fast asleep on their grandmotheras old settee. Her arm was bent under her head, half hidden beneath a soft tumble of blonde hair. Her expression was one of innocent contentment. She made the very picture of peaceful repose. And it irritated Adelaide to no end. No adult member of the Ward family had any right to feel so b.l.o.o.d.y relaxed.

aWeare to be rich!a Adelaide shouted and slammed the door.

Isobel jolted awake at the sound, nearly tumbling off the settee. aWhat? What?a Slightly mollified by the sight, Adelaide yanked the ribbons of her bonnet free. aFifteen thousand pounds a year. That is to be my allowance.a aFifteena"? Beg your pardon?a aWeall reside at Ashbury Hall.a aAshbury Hall?a aAre you a parrot?a The remnants of sleep drained from Isobelas face. She eyed her sister warily as she rose to stand. aYour mood is very peculiar.a Her mood was foul.

aWell, it isnat every day a lady must forgo the affections of a coward for the fortune of a scoundrel.a The pretend affections, she amended silently.

aI see.a Isobel gave her a bolstering smile. aItas to be Mr. Brice, then, is it? I must say, I am glad youave decided against the dragona"a aI did not want to decide!a Adelaide threw her bonnet down on the foyer side table. aWhy must I always be the one to make the decisions, Isobel? Why am I always the one to make the sacrifices?a She didnat want to be the one with the choices. She didnat want to be the one with the abysmal expectations. aIam not the maiden of this kingdom, Iam its whipping boy! Itas pathetic, ridiculousa"!a aNo! No! No!a Georgeas angry shout cut Adelaide off mid-tirade. Horrified, she looked to the second-floor landing, where she found him peering through the bars of the banister, blue eyes wide with confusion and anger. Remorse gripped her like a vise. She hadnat seen him there. Shead been so swamped in her own resentment that shead not even thought to look for him.

aOh, Georgie, Iam sorry.a She climbed the steps two at a time. aIam so sorry. Youare absolutely right. No more shouting.a aI just put him down for a rest,a Isobel said. aI thought head fallen asleep.a Clearly he hadnat. A bit of shouting wouldnat wake George from a nap. Cannon fire wouldnat wake George from a nap. A more sound sleeper was not to be found in Scotland.

Adelaide picked George up and settled him on her hip. He felt soft and warm in her arms, his weight a familiar and comforting burden. aDid I give you a fright, darling? I didnat mean to. Aunt Adelaide is very naughty. And very sorry.a She brushed his curls back from his forehead and kissed his nose. That was all it took to appease him. His eyes cleared, he gave her a distracted kiss in return, and then he squirmed in her arms.

aDown.a Adelaide sighed and considered. She ought to put him back down in bed. Heaven knew, without a proper rest during the day, the boy became impossible by evening. But she wanted to coddle him a minute longer. He deserved a bit of coddling.

aYes, Iall take you downstairs, but onlya"a aDown!a aYou are not climbing down the steps, Georgie. Not untila"a He struggled harder, made an indecipherable statement of dissent, then broke into a loud, harsh, and entirely counterfeit cry.

Adelaide smothered a smile, carried him downstairs, and set him on his feet. The wailing ceased instantly, and he made a dash to the steps. She caught him up and twirled him around to provoke a giggle, and set him back down. She wasnat the least surprised when he charged right back to the steps. The child was nothing if not determined.

She decided to make a game of it and let him run, over and over again, for the steps. She chased after him, caught him at the last moment, and swung him up into the air. It did wonders for her mood to hear him squeal and shout with laughter, the sort that came straight from the belly.

Her arms began to ache after the tenth go-round, but she ignored them, determined that nothing should detract from those few minutes of silly, carefree pleasure.

Isobelas next words sliced through that pleasure like a hot knife.

aSir Robert is here.a Adelaide picked a giggling George up and went to stand next to Isobel at the parlor window. Sure enough, there was Sir Robert striding toward the house from the old stables. Just the sight of him sent her blood to boiling all over again. Perhaps shead made her promise to George in haste. Perhaps there would be just a bit more shouting.

Isobel looked to her, to the window, then back again. aIall send him away.a Adelaide watched as Sir Robert stopped ten feet from the door to smooth his hair forward. It clung to his face in golden waves. Like b.u.t.ter on a misshapen piece of toast, Adelaide thought. How she loathed his hair.

aNo. Iall speak with him.a Isobel eyed her with reservation. aAre you certain thatas wise in your current mood?a No, but she was certain it was going to be most gratifying. aYes.a aHe is a baron, Adelaide.a Which was why she would refrain from mentioning the bit about the b.u.t.tered toast. She walked to the foyer. aWill you let him in, or shall I?a With a shake of her head, Isobel followed and opened the door. Sir Robert stepped inside without showing even a hint of embarra.s.sment at having arrived for a visit today after she had expressly requested otherwise.

aLadies,a he said smoothly and gave an eloquent bow. He flicked a glance at George. aYoung man.a As always, he looked uncomfortable, and just a trifle put out, in the boyas presence. Adelaide was a trifle tempted to have the boy stay. Just out of spite.

aTake George upstairs, please, Isobel.a aNo! No! Down!a aOh, yes, up,a Isobel informed him. She transferred him from Adelaideas arms, adjusted her hold when he squirmed, then headed upstairs. aAnd this time, you shall sleep.a aNo! Down! Down!a George demanded. When Isobel failed to comply, he broke into a howling wail that gained in volume and pitch with every step she took. The sound echoed in the foyer, floated down the steps, then faded when Isobel reached the nursery. Given the ferocity of his battle, Adelaide guessed he was but moments from succ.u.mbing to sleep.

Sir Robert shook his head and headed to the parlor without invitation. aWe must see about procuring a proper nanny for that boy. He ought to be better behaved by now.a The slight fed Adelaideas anger. She no longer cared that he was a baron, that he held her brotheras last debt. He could take his t.i.tle straight to the devil. Grinding her teeth, she followed Sir Robert into the room and watched him fiddle with the sewing kit on the window seat. He looked sure of himself, perfectly confident in his right to be in her parlor, touching her things, criticizing her nephew.

It would be a pleasure to disillusion him. aGeorge is the very definition of civilized . . . compared to some.a Sir Robert looked up and frowned. aI cannot fathom what you mean by that.a aYouave lied to me.a aAre we back to thisa"?a aYou said Mr. Briceas awareness of me was a result of our courts.h.i.+p. But you know full well his interest preceded your own.a aHe told you that? And you believed him?a He closed his eyes on a sigh, and when he opened them again, they were filled with condescending patience. aOf course you did.a He reached for her hand. aMy darling girl, you are too generous of nature for your own good. You would believe the best of anyone, wouldnat you? Even the cada"a She s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand away. aWhy not p.r.o.nounce me a twit and be done with it?a aI beg your pardon?a aTell me, Sir Robert, what color is my winter coat?a aYour coat?a aMy winter coat.a His expression was one of perfect bafflement. aI . . . Itas . . .a aYou donat know, do you?a She tilted her head, smiled sweetly, and mocked his patronizing tone. aOf course you donat. Our courts.h.i.+p began in the spring.a aWhat has that to do with anything? What nonsense has he put in your head?a aThere was no nonsense. Just an image. A perfect image of me in my blue winter coat.a aHe could have learned the color of it from anyone.a Connor could have, but not about the torn hem. That mishap had occurred on the road that morning and been repaired when shead returned home.

aHe learned of it with his own eyes.a Sir Robert blew out a long breath. aPerhaps you are right. And I confess, I would be much relieved to see the proof of it. I have regretted, bitterly regretted, bringing you to the attention of that scoundrel. If, by some twist of fate, he had set his sights on you before we met, it would do a great deal to ease my burdena"a aOh, stop,a she snapped, disgusted with him. aHave the decency, at least, to admit to a lie when youave been caught in it. Even your brother has managed that much.a Sir Robert pinched his lips. aDo not compare me with him.a aHow could I do otherwise, when your motivations for marriage have been the same all along? There was no twist of fate,a she said bitterly. aHe took an interest in me, and you learned of it and began a courts.h.i.+p for the purpose of thwarting him. It is as simple and infantile as that.a She made a derisive sound in the back of her throat. aThe pair of you, like five-year-olds fighting over a marionette, when all they really want is to hit each other on the nose.a aMarionette?a Sir Robert shook his head. aAdelaidea"a aIt is Miss Ward until such time as it becomes Mrs. Brice.a He looked as if shead slapped him. aYou canat mean it.a aI a.s.sure you, I do.a He opened his mouth, closed it, and shook his head again as color began to crawl up his neck. aYouare being unreasonable.a And there was that condescending tone again. It fed her temper like a fan to flame. aAnd you are being an ungracious loser. The game is over, Sir Robert. Mr. Brice is the victor.a aI donat lose to the likes of Brice,a he snapped and reached out to grab hold of her wrist.

aLet go,a she gasped. aLeta"a aHeas a b.a.s.t.a.r.d,a Sir Robert snarled. aThe illegitimate son of a grasping wh.o.r.e.a aLet go!a She twisted her arm and yelped at the feel of his fingers digging cruelly into her skin. Spurred by pain and fear, she clawed at the restraining hand until it released her.

Sir Robert swore and moved so quickly, she didnat recognize his intention until it was too late. He caught her across the cheek with the back of his fist, and the force of the blow sent her reeling into a side table. Her hip slammed against the wood, and her feet tangled beneath her. Blindly, she reached out for something to hold on to and caught the edge of a picture frame on the wall behind the table, but it wasnat strong enough to hold her weight. She, the picture, and the table crashed to the floor.

The pain was shocking. Disoriented, she shoved wildly at the debris from the table and scrambled to move away. There was a flash of movement, Sir Robertas dark form was in front of her . . . And then it wasnat.

Isobel was there, their fatheras old dueling pistol in hand. Sir Robert was on the floor. For one horrifying moment, Adelaide was certain her sister had killed the man. But that didnat make sense. There hadnat been a shot.

She struggled to think clearly through the pain, to hear over the roar of blood in her ears. Isobel grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. The room tilted briefly before righting itself.

aTake this.a Isobel pressed the gun into her hand. aTake it.a Adelaide grasped the weapon without looking at it and shoved Isobel behind her. Her focus was on Sir Robert. Slowly, he gained his feet, a thin stream of blood trickling from his temple. Adelaide blinked at it. Not a wound from a bullet, she realized. Isobel must have hit him with the gun.

Oh, thank you, G.o.d.

ab.i.t.c.h,a he snarled and took a lurching step toward them. aIalla"a aOut!a She lifted the gun, aimed it straight at his heart, and prayed she had the courage to use it. aGet out!a He came to an unsteady stop. Feral eyes darted from her, to the gun, to Isobel, and back again.

aYouall regret this,a he spat at last and stabbed a finger at them. aYou mark my words, you will regret having crossed me.a She regretted having ever crossed paths with him. There were a thousand insults she wanted to hurl at him, an ocean of threats and promises of retribution. She bit them back. They would only tempt him to retaliate, and she wanted him to leave. It seemed an eternity before he obliged. With a final curl of his lip, he turned and strode away.

When the front door shut with a bang, Adelaide sank to the floor. Isobel followed, wrapping her arms tight around Adelaideas shoulders.

aAre you all right? Did he hurt you terribly?a Yes, and yes, Adelaide thought. Her cheek throbbed with every wild beat of her heart. But she would live. They were all safe. Rather than answer, she reached up and gripped her sisteras hand.

Adelaide would never be sure how long the pair of them sat in a daze amidst the gla.s.s and broken wood, their silence broken only by their labored breathing, the howl of a building wind, and the familiar creaks and groans of the house. It might have been two minutes; it might have been half an hour. But eventually, her pulse began to slow, and the sick fear in her belly abated.

Isobel let go of her shoulders. She drew the gun away and turned it over in her hand, studying it with a rare furrow of concentration across her brow. aDo you know why youare the one to always make decisions?a Adelaide closed her eyes. She didnat want to think of that now. aIsobela"a aDo you?a Adelaide sighed. aBecause I am the eldest.a aNo. Itas because youare the bravest of us.a aIam not.a aEvery time you make a choice, itas for all of us. And every time you make a decision, you take the risk of being wrong.a She ran her finger along the pearl handle. aI canat do that. Iam not brave, like you.a aYouare the bravest person I know. You would emigrate to the Americas given half the chance. You would explore the wilds of Africa, seek adventure after adventure, anda"a aI would do those things alone. Itas a sight easier to take risks when one need think only of oneself. Thereas so much less to lose if one makes a mistake.a aWolfgang had plenty to lose. He hadnat any trouble taking risks or making mistakes.a aYes, because he hadnat the courage to think of anyone but himself. He hasnat the spine to hold himself accountable for those mistakes. But you . . .a Isobel lifted a hand and brushed gently along Adelaideas back. aYou think of us all the time. Youall always hold yourself accountable.a aIam scared all the time.a aWell.a She gave Adelaide two soft pats. aI never said you were confident. I said you were courageous.a Adelaide smiled, then winced when her cheek protested.

Isobel returned her attention to the pearl handle. aIam sorry I made you take the gun.a She made a soothing noise. aItas all right, Isobel. Youa"a aItas not. Itas not right that you should have to make all the decisions. Iall try to be more helpful in the future.a aIad like that.a aMay I start now? Excellent. I have decided you shall not marry Sir Robert.a Isobel shook her head, her blue eyes filled with wonder. aI have never seen you so angry.a aIave never been so angry.a Adelaide blew out a long breath. aIad have shot him, Isobel, and thatas the truth ofa"a aNo, you wouldnat have.a She frowned, a little insulted. aI most certainly woulda"a aThe pistolas not loaded.a aWhat?a She s.n.a.t.c.hed the gun away, checked for herself, and saw there was no shot or powder. aDid you know that when you handed it to me?a Isobel shook her head. aI didnat think of it. I forgot wead unloaded it whena"a aWhen Iad thought to sell it,a Adelaide finished for her, remembering. Worried two women living alone might have need of protection, shead changed her mind and sold their motheras emerald earringsa"the last of her jewelrya"instead. aWhat would we have done if head charged?a Isobel produced a hopeful smile. aSwung hard?a Adelaide snorted. aYou tried that.a aI didnat. That is . . . I didnat swing as hard as I could. I meant to, but then I panicked anda"a aYou hit him hard enough. You saved me. Thank you.a Isobel shrugged as if mildly embarra.s.sed. aWhat will you do now? Even a baron is not allowed to a.s.sault a woman in her own home.a Not allowed and susceptible to the consequences were two different matters. She could go to the authorities, press charges, but nothing would come of it but a public trial in which a dozen character witnesses would p.r.o.nounce Sir Robert the most honorable of barons, and she a common woman whoad been caught cavorting with a criminal at a house party.

Knowing inaction would frustrate Isobel, Adelaide skirted the question. aIall think on it. For nowa"a She broke off at the unmistakable whoosh and thump of George sliding down the steps on his backside.

With a smothered oath, Adelaide scrambled to her feet and rushed into the great hall. She found George a quarter way down the steps.

Had he not fallen asleep straightaway, after all? Had the noise woken him? Had he seen . . . Surely not. Surely he would have made his presence known before now. And he didnat look upset or frightened. He looked fascinated, his wide blue eyes scanning the wreckage of the room.

aNaughty. No, no.a Behind her, Isobel laughed softly. aFrom the mouths of babes.a Adelaide climbed the steps, lifted him into her arms, and cradled him against her chest. The feel of him, warm and loose from sleep, quieted a thousand screaming nerves.

His small mouth turned down at the corner, George reached up and touched her cheek. aOuch?a aA small one, love.a She hid a wince at his probing and kissed the tip of his index finger. aIt doesnat pain me.a aFall down?a aThat is one way to put it.a She smiled a little at his blank expression and carried him down the steps. aYes, I fell down. But it is over and done with, and now I shall have a spot of tea, and you shall have a little milk anda"a A loud bang on the door nearly scared her out of her skin. George chuckled at her sudden jolt, while Isobel peeked through the window drapes.

aItas a stranger. I think. He does look a mite familiar.a Isobel scrunched her face. aI think Iave seen him in the village once or twice.a As long as it wasnat Sir Robert, Adelaide didnat much care who it was or why and how Isobel had seen him. aPlease just send him away, Isobel.a aYes, of course.a Isobel hurried over and opened the door partway, blocking his view to the inside. aGood day, sir. May Ia"a aEverything all right, miss?a Isobel visibly startled at the question. aEr . . . Yes . . . Yes, everything is perfectly well. Iam sure I donat know whya"a She broke off when the man reached out and very gently nudged her head out his line of sight and took a quick look at Adelaide.

Isobel shoved his hand away. aI beg your pardon.a aRight. Thought the b.u.g.g.e.r looked a mite off. Beggina pardon, miss.a And with that, he spun about and strode down the path.

aSir? Sir!a Isobel threw a bewildered look over her shoulder. aHeas not answering.a She looked back at the man. aSir! He wonat even turn around . . . Now heas gone off the drive . . . Right into the woods. Who the dev . . .a She turned and flicked a glance at George. aWho the deuce was that?a Adelaide started to shake her head, then stopped when its pounding protested the movement. aI donat know, perhaps he was pa.s.sing by on the road and . . . I donat know. Did he harm you?a aNo, not in the least. But why would he look and then run away?a aI donat know,a Adelaide repeated. And quite frankly, she didnat much care. In comparison to the rest of the dayas events, daft men who went about knocking on doors seemed of little consequence.

aWeall worry if anything comes of it.a She s.h.i.+fted George to her other hip when he poked experimentally at her cheek. aWeave more pressing concerns at the moment.a The splintered wood and broken gla.s.s needed to be cleared away before George cut himself. She wanted a cool rag for her cheek. And someone needed to go to town for shot and powder.

Chapter 14.

It was a simple matter to repair the parlora"a few sweeps of the broom, a trip to the attic to store the damaged painting, and the task was complete.

Repairing peace of mind did not come so easily. Overnight, Adelaideas cheek went from red and swollen to red, black, blue, and swollen, and every time she caught sight of her reflection the next day, she was hounded by questions of what if and thoughts of what might have been.

What if she had never gone to Mrs. Cressas house party? She might have married Sir Robert without an inkling of his true nature. What sort of life would that have been for George?

Shead brought a monster into his world. Shead very nearly made him a permanent resident. It was an unforgivable error.

Despite Georgeas complete lack of interest in her ouch and the events surrounding it, she felt an overpowering desire to coddle him. She even went so far as to have Isobel purchase a strawberry tart for him while she was in town buying shot and powder. It was a rare treat in the struggling household.

Adelaide handed it to him in the dining room as the late afternoon light filtered through the drapes. And she watched, delighted beyond measure, as his eyes widened and his plump little fingers curled around the fruit-filled sweet.

aBiscuit!a aNo, itas not a biscuit, darling. Itas a tart. Will you say that for me? Tart.a aBiscuit!a She didnat have the heart to argue with him. aYes, all right. Enjoy your . . . sweet.a Isobel stepped up beside her. aYou shouldnat feel guilty for a mistake you might have made.a aItas not guilt,a she lied. aItas a celebration. The dragon has been slain. The fair maiden emerges victorious.a Isobel turned and grinned at George. aA party, is it?a aBiscuit!a aSo I see,a Isobel exclaimed. She turned her head at the sound of hoofbeats thundering up the drive. aIt appears weare to have guests for our celebration.a Adelaide groaned and took Georgeas free hand, leading him into the parlor. One day, she thought, why could she not have one day without a visitor? After her brotheras removal to prison, their fair-weather friends had dropped away like flies. Theyad gone weeks, months without a caller. Suddenly, everyone in Scotland wanted a word with the Ward family.

Isobel brushed aside a drape. aItas Mr. Brice. I thought you said head gone to Edinburgh.a aI did. He had.a aWell, heas here now,a Isobel pointed outa"uselessly, in Adelaideas opiniona"and strode to the door. She opened it before Connor could knock and gifted him with a wide smile. aMr. Brice. A pleasure to see you.a Connor strode inside, and Adelaide admitted thata"her wish for a day of solitude notwithstandinga"it wasnat altogether terrible to see him.

His clothes were dusty and wrinkled from the road, his thick blond hair tousled from the wind. He looked like a man whoad ridden h.e.l.l-for-leather across half of Scotland. It suited him, Adelaide thought. That edge of wildness would sit poorly on most men, but it suited Connor Brice.

He gave a short, impatient bow to Isobel. aMiss Ward. Where is your sisa"?a He broke off as his gaze landed on Adelaide.

Wary of strangers, George ducked behind her skirts and threw an arm around her leg. It was the only movement in the room, one she doubted Connor noticed. His gaze was focused on her bruised cheek.

A taut silence descended, and tension became a living, breathing ent.i.ty in the room as she waited for his reaction. But Connor said nothing. He didnat need to; the searing heat in his eyes spoke volumes.

Adelaide strove for a way to relieve the mounting pressure. aYouave returned early,a she remarked and thought her voice sounded uncommonly loud. aDid you encounter trouble?a Connor didnat immediately answer. His gaze traveled slowly from her cheek to her eyes. aYou might say that.a aYes, well . . .a Adelaide felt George s.h.i.+ft behind her for a peek of their guest. Connoras eyes darted to her skirts, and his demeanor underwent a miraculous change. The line across his brow disappeared, and his expression cleared as he entered the parlor anda"to her shocka"knelt down.

aIs that an infant hiding behind your skirts, Miss Ward?a George stepped out from his hiding spot and scowled. aNo! Not infant!a aYes, I can see that now.a aMr. Brice, my nephew, George Ward.a His store of courage spent, George sidled closer to her skirt and gripped his pastry so tightly, thick globs of strawberry filling oozed between his fingers.

aManners, Georgie,a she chided. When that failed to elicit a response, she gave him a gentle nudge forward.

To her surprise, George threw her a mutinous look before facing Connor. Round shoulders rose and fell with a heavy sigh before he extended his arm and held out his pastry to Connor. His fingers opened around the remains, pulling free with a loud slurp.

aShare.a It was the single most reluctant offering Adelaide ever had occasion to witness. Her first instinct was to laugh and rea.s.sure George that sharing was not the good manners shead been referring to, but curiosity kept her quiet. She wanted to see what Connor would do.

To his credit, Connor blinked at the mess once but otherwise remained stoic in the face of such an appalling present.

aThat is . . . very generous.a He blinked again, then dragged his gaze to Georgeas face. aBut perhaps, in exchange for the treat, you might take your aunt Isobel outside for a time. Weall consider it a favor between men.a George dropped his hand, sent her a bewildered look over his shoulder, then turned back and said, aPeas.a Connor opened his mouth . . . and closed it. aI was certain that would work.a He stood and studied the child before him. aWhat does he mean, aPeasa?a Adelaideas laughter blended with Isobelas. She couldnat say for certain why she found Connoras bafflement so endearing. While she pondered the idea, Isobel crossed the room and swept George into her arms. aIt means he likes peas. Give him a few more years, Mr. Brice, and your sort of flattery will have him eating out of your hand. Come along, poppet. Shall we go into the garden and see what creatures are about?a aBeetles!a George wrapped one arm around Isobelas neck and crammed a large bite of his treat into his mouth. aEewels! Eewels! Eewels!a Adelaide smiled at the pretty, albeit messy, picture her sister and nephew made as they headed off for adventure.

aYour experience with small children is limited, I see,a she said to Connor. And still, head made more of an effort in two minutes than Sir Robert had in four months. That was very promising. She leaned down to brush sticky crumbs from her skirts. aHe is a little shy. Unaccustomed to seeing strangers in the house, I suppose. And he needs a proper nanny. I fear he might bea"a aLook at me.a Compelled by the low vibration of fury in Connoras voice, Adelaide straightened and caught her breath. There was no bafflement in his features now, none of the warmth head shown George. He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers along her jaw below the bruise. She wasnat sure what affected her more, the exquisite tenderness of his touch or the roiling violence in his eyes.

aItas true, then,a he whispered and let his hand fall.

aI . . . Iam fine. Itas over.a She looked for a way to change the subject. aYouave not told me why you returned early.a aDid you think Iad stay away after hearing of this?a aYou heard . . . In Edinburgh? Good heavens, the ton must be starved for good gossip indeeda"a aI didnat make it to Edinburgh. Word reached me en route. Iave had my men keep an eye on you.a aOh.a She thought it rather sweet that head been concerned enough to watch out for her. aWell, if you knew it was true, why did you come to check?a aI like to make sure Iave all the facts before I shoot a man.a And with that, he turned about and headed for the door.

aWhat?a Adelaide blinked at his back, twice, before moving to intercede. aNo! For pityas sake, not this again.a She raced forward, grabbed hold of his arm, and pulled. Connor didnat throw her off, but he didnat stop either, merely dragging her along.

aConnor, stop. Please. Be rational.a aNo.a aRemember your quest for vengeance.a She tugged on his arm again. aA single shot and itas done? What sort of revenge is that?a aExpedient.a aBut itas not what youave planned.a Head never expounded on his plans, so she had no idea if that was true, but it seemed a reasonable a.s.sumption that if a quick murder were Connoras intention, Sir Robert would be dead by now.

aPlans change.a Desperate, she jumped in front of him. aI will agree to marry you if you will cease thisa"a He stopped at the edge of the parlor and looked down at her with a frown. aYou have to marry me. You havenat another choice.a aI do. There are other gentleman in this world aside from yourself and Sir Robert.a Pity she didnat happen to know any.

aI compromised you.a Sensing an opening, she jabbed a finger into the center of his chest. aYes. Yes, you most certainly did. And if you have a duel with Sir Robert now, and you miss and he does not, I will . . .a She trailed off, surprised by what shead been about to say.

I will be left alone. But that didnat make any sense. She had Isobel and George, and Wolfgang, if one was willing to stretch the definition of good company.

aYouall what?a Connor prompted.

aI . . . will . . . be left without a wealthy husband,a she improvised.

aHow touching,a he said dryly and gently moved her aside. aI donat miss.a She jumped in front of him again and put a restraining hand against his chest. aThen youall end on the gallows, or be forced to flee the country, and I will still be left without a wealthy husband. You owe me a wealthy husband.a Connoras lips thinned into a line. He looked to the door, to her, and back again. She could feel his body hum with frustration, like a bow drawn taught and lightly plucked. With bated breath, she waited to see if a seemingly logical, and indisputably obstinate, man could be persuaded by such a ridiculous argument. Owed a wealthy husband, indeed.

aFine,a Connor relented at last. His eyes came back to her face and stayed. aIall not demand a duel. Iall not kill him.a aThank heavens.a She let her hand fall.

He raised his hand and cupped her face. aI will never do this,a he said gruffly. Lifting his eyes from her cheek, he caught her gaze and held it. aI would never raise my hand to you.a Adelaide said nothing. Words came easy to Connor; changes of mood came swiftly. But there was no doubt he meant what he said now, and she believed him . . . for now. She had no fear of him or his temper. Not once had she felt threatened in his presence. But her faith in his promises was limited. Only time would tell if shead misjudged another aspect of his character.

She nodded, but lest he should begin to think she had reverted to blindly accepting everything to come out of his mouth, she added, aIf you do, it will only be once.a He wasnat pleased with the response. Dropping his hand, he scowled at her. aYouall believe me.a He wasnat predicting the future, she realized. He was issuing a command. She would believe him now. It was so unbelievably absurd that she broke out into laughter.

Connor didnat appear the least amused. aThis is not a laughing matter.a aIt is,a she a.s.sured him. aIt most certainly is.a How like a man to presume he could demand trust from a woman. How like one to take offense when that woman refused to cooperate.

aAdelaidea"a aOh, stop glowering.a Her laughter faded, and she was within an inch of following it up with a sound lecture. Youall believe me . . . Honestly. But she was more than a little weary of arguing, of being angry. She had a lifetime to spend with this man. She could spend it h.o.a.rding her resentment, finding fault with everything he said and did, and plotting vengeance for what had occurred at the house party, or she could make some effort to be civil . . . and, perhaps, plot a bit when he wasnat around.

aAs it happens, I do believe you.a I do believe you.

The tight knot between Connoras shoulder blades loosened but failed to disappear altogether. It didnat worry him overmuch that Adelaide wasnat sure of him in a general sense. A little time and some careful maneuvering would remedy the problem. But the idea that she might fear him in a physical sense, that she suspected him capable of striking a woman in anger, that was intolerable.

Head never raised a hand to a woman. Never. Oh, head wanted to. There had been the boardinghouse mistress in Boston whoad taken the rent head risked life and limb to steal and kicked him out on the street, and the urchin whoad stolen the bread head bought with a hard dayas honest wages. G.o.d knew, head had the opportunity to retaliate for both insults with his fists. Head never laid a finger on them. Head be d.a.m.ned to h.e.l.l before he laid a finger on Adelaide in anger.

His eyes tracked over the angry bruise on her cheek.

Head be d.a.m.ned if he didnat lay fists on Sir Robert.

Rage was a towering flame inside him, blistering his skin and threatening to consume his control. He banked it through a well-honed force of will and let it simmer below the surface. Later, he would let it spill over, when it was Sir Robert, and not Adelaide, who would suffer the burns.

He strove for a lighter tone. aIad not thought Sir Robert would make it so easy for you to decide in my favor.a Her eyes darted away. aI didnat decide because of this. This is because I had decided.a aHad you?a It gave him a ridiculous amount of pleasure to hear her say it. aDare I ask why?a She looked at him again and gifted him with an adorably cheeky smile. aThe fifteen thousand pounds.a aNaturally.a He didnat believe it. That she would marry for money, he never doubted, but she hadnat chosen him because he had more money. Sir Robertas income was sufficient to see her family comfortably settled, and she would have been content to accept sufficient, if it had been offered by the better man.

d.a.m.n if he didnat like knowing shead thought him the better man, even before Sir Robert had betrayed his true nature. But knowing for himself and hearing her admit it were not the same thing.

It was ridiculous that he should need the words from her. He knew, didnat he? Clearly, she knew as well. There was no reason for the obvious to be said aloud. And yet, he couldnat stop himself from asking to hear them.

aI would like the truth, Adelaide. If you could see your way to giving it.a

Chapter 15.