His Perfect Bride(21)

He nodded, obviously in agreement with her. Then his face softened, and  he looked at her with pleading eyes. "I'm glad you are here. We need to  talk."



"Actually, I'm not here to talk. I intend to break something of value to you." She lifted her chin.

"Really? What have you decided on?" His face expressed nothing other than amusement.

She had hoped to garner more of a reaction from him but was grateful he didn't intend to stop her.

"That vase looks to be quite expensive." She took a step in its direction.

"That is a good choice, for it is valuable. There is an amusing story  about it, and I would be happy to share it with you at a later time.  However, its sentimental value is only of importance to my late father."

He looked as if fought back a smile, and it only enraged her more.  Unable to tolerate it any longer, Brianna crossed the room, lifted a  small pocket watch from the dressing table, and threw it at Richard. She  hoped the timepiece would make contact with his face and cause him some  pain. Unfortunately his quick reflexes allowed him to catch the watch  and pocket it. He did, however, seem to watch her more alertly now.

"Do you intend to throw anything else at me?" he asked calmly.

"No, it's not satisfying when the object does not cause pain or, at the  very least, break on impact." She felt less angry and more resigned to  her fate. She only wished she understood why this had to happen.

"I'm glad to hear it. However, if you do wish to break something, I will not fault you."

"What happened?" she blurted out miserably. "Why did you lie to me?"

"It was never my intention for anything to happen this way." He  explained. "At first the lie seemed necessary, for I imagined our first  kiss to be a marriage trap. Then after that, when I realized . . . it  was much too late."         

     



 

"I see." Although she understood the necessity of the initial lie, at  least in his eyes, she still could not understand why he continued it.  He was standing there, only a couple of feet in front of her, appearing  concerned and impossibly beautiful. Even after what he had done to her,  she still longed for him and the life she could have had with him.



"I'm sorry. I didn't want to lie, and I never meant to hurt you."

"I think I should leave now." She simply could not handle his apology.

He stood unmoving as she walked toward the door. At the last minute, he  reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her to face him.

"This does not change anything between us," he said, sternly. His eyes bored into her as if demanding she accept his words.

Unable to respond, she jerked her arm back and stepped away from him.

He was wrong; this changed everything. She could no longer consider him  for marriage as she refused to become a marchioness. He could try to  force her, but she would prevent any steps he took. She needed time to  think and devise a plan. Everything would be fine. She could figure this  out as long as she stayed far away from him.

Richard gratefully left his study and hurried to the drawing room. It  was finally time for his walk through the gardens with Brianna, and his  anxiousness to see her again overwhelmed. When he discovered her in his  bedchamber earlier, he could not have been more pleased. He found her  fit of anger charming and her unpredictability enticing.

After his unsuccessful apology, he knew he needed to earn her  forgiveness. When she left him alone in his bedchamber, it became  painfully obvious she didn't fully understand his side of the situation.  She already accepted him, and he would not rest until she was his wife.



Full of anticipation, Richard arrived in the drawing room only to be  disappointed when he discovered Brianna absent. In her place, seated on  the edge of a chair, was a somewhat familiar girl. She had a nondescript  face and plain brown hair, nothing like the stunning contrast of  Brianna's pale face and black hair. Standing beside Brianna, he imagined  this girl would become invisible, although, by herself, Richard decided  she was not unattractive. Noticing his arrival, she quickly stood,  wringing her hands in a nervous gesture.

"Good afternoon, my lord," she said.

"Good afternoon. I'm sorry to disturb you. I was looking for Lady Brianna."

"Lady Brianna sent me here. She isn't feeling well, and when I went to  see her, she requested I accompany you in her place." She didn't look at  him in the eye and stumbled on her words.

"Did she say anything else?" he asked calmly. If Brianna thought she could hide from him, she was sorely mistaken.

"Only that she knew you were looking forward to your walk, and she had no desire to rob you of a female companion."

Richard forced out a charming smile while fighting the urge to leave  this unequal replacement to seek out Brianna. She must have chosen this  girl because of a friendship they shared, so he decided she may prove  useful to him. Sighing to himself, he offered her his arm.

"That was very thoughtful of her. I would be honored if you would agree to accompany me on a stroll through the gardens."

"I would be delighted, Lord Stonemede."

"I do apologize, but I have recently met quite a few people, and I'm unable to recall your name."

"I understand, for I imagine you have been overwhelmed with introductions. I'm Miss Jillian Luthor."

"It's nice to meet you again, Miss Luthor."



They walked in silence for a while with her chaperone trailing behind.  When they were among the glorious gardens, Richard found himself  relaxing, allowing the beauty to surround him. He had always been proud  of Stonemede, and he enjoyed the opportunity to show it off, although he  preferred to share this with Brianna, since the estate would one day be  her home.

Miss Luthor seemed delighted by the scenery, so Richard gladly pointed  out the more exotic flowers and plants. She was well educated regarding  the different species, and he surprisingly learned some facts from her.  Although there was not a lull in the conversation, his mind continually  drifted back to Brianna. He was anxious to direct the discussion to her,  but didn't want to be rude.

"It's a shame Lady Brianna could not come. She would have been delighted  to see this beauty," Miss Luthor commented, as if reading his mind.

"Then I shall have to make an effort to be available when she feels  better. Did she mention what in particular is ailing her?" He tried to  make it sound like a polite inquiry.

"No, and I didn't wish to pry, for she is a dear friend. Since she chose  not to confide in me, I would hate for her to feel obligated."         

     



 

"Are the two of you very close?"

"Yes, although we do have different notions about things."

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"She has some unusual ideas about matters," she replied cryptically.

He didn't know if Miss Luthor's evasiveness was on purpose, or if she  hoped to discourage him from forming an interest in Brianna.

"What ideas are you referring to?" he asked, portraying mild interest.

"I'm sorry, but I should not be talking about her. Please, pretend I  didn't speak. I would hate to say things that could be passed on behind  her back."



"I have never been in the habit of sharing information given to me in  confidence." He didn't want to sound desperate, but he hated to lose an  opportunity to learn more about Brianna.

"I appreciate that." She smiled widely at him. "I do hate gossip as well."

He smiled back at her. She misunderstood his promise for discretion,  but, regardless, he imagined she would not be amenable to imparting her  knowledge of Brianna. Knowing he would be unable to gain anything more  from this outing, he escorted Miss Luthor back to the drawing room.

Once he left her to her chaperone, he withdrew to his study. Most of his  mother's guests had already departed, so he would not be expected to  entertain much longer. He understood his mother only invited a few  ladies and their chaperones to stay the night. Although he had not  received a moment to ask, he hoped Brianna had been selected.

Settling back into his desk chair, he let out a sigh. He wanted to speak  with Brianna but knew she would not be willing to give him the  opportunity. If she claimed an illness the remainder of her time here,  he knew London would not offer them the same privacy awarded at  Stonemede.

A knock at the door gave him a reprieve from his thoughts, and he called  out, granting entrance. As his mother entered, he smiled, grateful for  the distraction.

"Good afternoon, Mother, did your guests enjoy themselves?"

"Not as much as I expected. When I invited them to Stonemede for a tea  party, they did expect you to be present the majority of the time."

"I suspected my unmarried state was a factor in their decision to visit,  but surly not the only reason. Have you and Elizabeth been enjoying  your time?"



"Don't change the subject. I thought I made it clear you are not here to  work on estate business this weekend. Has the lady of your choosing  already returned to London, or were you altogether unhappy with my  choices?" Her eyebrows wrinkled in concern.