An Earl by Any Other Name(38)

With a sigh, he pressed his forehead to hers. "Damned by my father, not you. Never you. I know you must have heard the rumors. They're unfortunately true. He had a mistress, an Italian opera singer, and he passed away while in her company. It was a messy business."

She had heard the rumors and the questions whispered as to whether he would follow in his father's steps.

"Will marrying me make matters worse for you?" she asked quietly.

"Matters are already worse, but I won't care about it if I have you. You matter more to me than society's opinions. Damn them all if they think they can judge you for my father's sins. You are wonderful, pure, brilliant. You're not a mistress, not a thing to be hidden away and whispered about." He seemed to be searching for the right words, his blue eyes bright with pleading. "I need you more than anything. Do you understand? I can survive whatever else may happen if I have you at my side."

He wasn't ashamed of her? And he wouldn't let gossip and loss of reputation destroy him?

This was the Leo she'd loved, the young man who had been her Prince Charming, who fought dragons and climbed a tower to save a frightened child from her nightmares. Tears burned her eyes.

"I feel the same about you, that if you stood with me, I might yet have all my dreams, even the ones I'd long ago banished." Like marrying for love. She'd never thought it was possible to have love and have her freedom, but Leo would give her that; she was sure of it now. Her heart felt light enough that it might take wing and fly away if it weren't bound to him by invisible threads.

They shared a smile and her heart was fit to burst. Then Leo suddenly grinned.

"Did my mother have a scheme for you to distract me when she brought you here for the party?"

"Yes. She wanted you to have a chance to see there were other women out there." She nibbled her lip before continuing. "I didn't want to deceive you and honestly I had no intention of marrying you or anyone because I was afraid to have a husband who wouldn't have supported my belief in women's suffrage. I always intended to tell you the truth of who I was, but I didn't want you remembering me as Button either. I was just a child and you were always so brotherly to me. I wanted to be seen as … " She trailed off, feeling completely foolish.


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"A beautiful, intelligent woman?"

She swallowed and nodded. "I didn't want to lead you on since I had no intentions of marrying, but part of me wanted you to love me even though I was sure you couldn't love a suffragette and support her."

"I wouldn't have thought it possible either but I do love you and I do support you. You've changed me, darling, in more ways than I'd ever imagined," he murmured gently. "And to think my mother's scheme ensnared me in her parson's mousetrap after all."

Ivy shook her head. "I don't think she meant to trap you. She truly doesn't want you marrying Mildred because she believes you would be unhappy and that is the last thing she wants for a son she loves with all her heart."

Leo brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, his gaze warm. "I shall swallow my male pride and tell her just how wonderful a mother she is for finding me my heart's desire. Hell, she'll crow with delight when she finds out I'm attending your WSPU meeting."

Ivy kissed his cheek fervently. "You'll really come with us?" She still couldn't believe it.

He nodded seriously. "If I have a daughter someday, a daughter with you, I don't want her to face the trials you have. I want her to have a voice, to be free. You made me see that and now I can't imagine a world where any daughter of mine would be silenced and treated only as a pretty pet for some man to marry. She deserves more than that." His voice was rough with emotion and Ivy's heart sung with joy. He really was going to support her.

They stayed huddled close a moment longer, neither of them speaking, simply enjoying holding each other and clinging to the last few minutes they'd likely have alone until after they were married.

Leo finally cleared his throat. "Well, are you decent? We ought to get back to the house and assess the damage we've done." He fetched their coats and helped her into hers.

"What about Mr. Hadley?" she asked, suddenly remembering the poor fellow Leo had struck. They both leaned over the bed to see him, still unconscious.

"Let him be. He'll rouse and come back soon enough. Damn fool. I knew he was desperate to find a wife for his estate. I just didn't realize he was far more desperate than I. I hope you aren't too angry with him."