His Perfect Bride(22)

"No, the ladies are fine. I have simply been a little distracted as of  late. However I'll do my best to give your remaining guests my full  attention."

"That is all I ask. Now, as I told you before, I have invited a few  ladies to stay the night, so I do expect each one to receive sufficient  time from you."

"Which ladies have you offered accommodations?" Richard kept his tone indifferent, while inside his body shook.

"Well, I have asked Shannon Luthor, Francine Kamins, and Rachel Denton, and naturally their daughters will stay as well."

"I see," Richard said, pleased with the thought of having Brianna in his house all night.

"Did you know the suggestion of having a tea was Rachel's idea? She has  been such a dear friend, thinking of me stuck here all this time. It's a  shame her daughter has been feeling unwell. Were you at least able to  meet her?"

"I did before she fell ill."

"I hope you did nothing to facilitate her sickness, for she appeared perfectly fit when she arrived in the drawing room."

"Thinking over our brief conversation, I don't believe it was anything I  said." He knew what he neglected to say caused the offense.

"I hope it's a temporary affliction, for dinner will be served soon, and  it will be delightful. I do hope everyone enjoys the meal."

"I'm positive everyone will have a wonderful time," he assured her with a smile.



"Well, I have spent enough time here. I must see to our guests. I shall see you at dinner."

Richard closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, relieved he would  have more time to attempt to speak with Brianna. With the insistence he  spend equal time with each lady, his mother would certainly be his ally  if he wished. At the moment, he still hoped to get to her on his own  terms, for considering Brianna's reservations, he was not ready to make  his courtship a group affair.

Without an obligatory knock, the door swung open. Elizabeth walked in  and sat on the chair directly in front of him. She looked bored. Aside  from her youthful looks, she was almost an exact copy of his mother, and  the comparison struck him as odd, seeing her in the chair his mother  had recently vacated.         

     



 

Unlike his mother, Elizabeth's blond hair flowed loosely, nearly  touching her shoulders, and she held mischief in her eyes. A sight  Richard was familiar with, and one he cringed to see. It made him as  anxious as she for her to finish her Season in London. Once she married,  it would be up to her husband to curb her wild tendencies, as he looked  forward to doing with Brianna.

"Hello, Richard, what are you doing in here? Are you trying to hide from  all of Mother's guests, or is it one in particular you are trying to  avoid?" she questioned.

"I'm not hiding. I'm working. What about you? Are you hiding from the guests or Mother?"

"Actually, I came here to talk to you, although hiding certainly is a benefit."

"What are you trying to escape from? I was under the impression you were  anxious to attend gatherings and socialize with other ladies."

"I do wish to go to gatherings, so I may converse and flirt with  gentlemen. Not suffer around a group of ladies whose only desire is to  see you. You are the only reason why any of them accepted Mother's  invitation. After all, who could pass up quality time with a marquis?"



"I'm sure that was the motivating factor for some, but I'm also sure a  number of them had the desire to visit with you and Mother during your  time of mourning," Richard contested, although he imagined his sister  had the right of it.

"Regardless, I didn't come here to talk about me. I wish to speak about someone else, a Lady Brianna Denton."

"What about her?" Richard's body tensed. He could not allow his face to  betray his shock at his sister's notice of Brianna, considering how  little time she spent out of her room.

"Did you know her mother was the one who suggested this gathering in the first place?"

"Yes."

"Do you not find that odd?" She paused for his response. Richard  shrugged, so she continued. "Have you been acquainted with her before  today?"

"I don't see how that is your concern."

"I'm simply trying to understand the strange exchange between the two of you in the drawing room."

"We spoke briefly, I believe, as I had with every other invited guest."  He felt his temper rise. Elizabeth had no business in his associations,  and he would not allow this to continue. "As this isn't your affair, I  demand to know what your purpose is with this interrogation."

Elizabeth sighed and rolled her eyes before responding. "When you walked  into the room, I saw her staring at you with love shining in her eyes.  That part was not unusual, as you received the same look from every  other guest."

"I still don't see a point to this."

"Well, unlike the other ladies, her demeanor changed once you approached  her. She appeared quite angry. Then even more confusing was her  reaction once you left her."

"Which was?" he could not stop himself from asking.



"It was as if you broke her heart. Very odd, and I'm simply wondering why."

"I'm not sure why you are asking me to clarify someone else's emotions."  He tried to dispel the image of Brianna's face twisted in pain by his  betrayal.

"I'm not. I want you to hear all the facts, especially the ones you  missed, to see if you come up with the same conclusion as I," Elizabeth  explained, raising her hands in the air as if he were daft.

Trying not to roll his eyes in frustration, he decided this charade  would not end until his sister had a chance to speak her mind. "Please  enlighten me."

"I think she is setting a marriage trap. Her mother planned it out with  Stonemede as the perfect location, and she even brought her own  witnesses to catch you. The girl is obviously in love with you, so she  easily went along with her mother's plan. I'm only looking out for you,  and I think you should be on your guard with those two."

Richard was speechless. Although he would love to believe his sister, he  knew she was wrong. He could not have imagined a more absurd  explanation for his interaction with Brianna earlier. The urge to laugh  engulfed him, but since his sister was trying to watch out for him, he  had no desire to hurt her feelings. Whatever her motivations, she did  this for his benefit, and that was certainly a new experience for him.

"I appreciate your concern, but Lady Brianna and her mother are not planning a marriage trap for me."

"Richard, don't discount them because they are women. Women are more  ruthless than men." Her eyes pleaded with him to accept her theory.

"I'm not discounting them. I'm simply stating a fact. In addition, if  Lady Brianna wished to marry me, she need not go to such lengths. I  would go willingly," he replied, having decided it was the only way to  end his sister's argument.         

     



 

Elizabeth's mouth fell open, and she stared at him in disbelief. It was  not the reaction he expected, but recently, for some unexplained reason,  the women in his life were taking perverse pleasure in not showing the  proper responses.



"You have already decided? When did this happen? Does Mother know?"

"I made my decision some time ago, and Mother does not know, nor does she need to at this time."

"Why not?" she questioned, then smiled in delight. "Lady Brianna does not know of your intentions yet?"

"She does not," Richard admitted, not willing to disclose Brianna knew  of his intentions before she became aware of his true identity. He  trusted his sister to keep the knowledge to herself, though she need not  know all the details of the situation.

"I'm confused. If you have decided upon her, why do you not ask for her hand? Mother, for one, will be overjoyed."

"It's more complicated than that, as things often are. Regardless, the  point is the same. Lady Brianna is currently unwilling to accept my  suit."

"How is that possible? I didn't think there was an unwed lady in England who was not hoping to become your marchioness."

"Apparently there is one, and I have had the misfortune to find her."

"That is very unfortunate indeed," she mumbled, shaking her head while  looking sad. "If she is averse to your suit, then there is no use  dwelling on her. Do you have an idea of who you are going to pursue  next?"

Richard could not believe what she suggested. He would not hear of  giving up on Brianna. He didn't want anyone else. He wanted her.  Although unpredictable and infuriating, he knew with time she would  learn to behave properly, and they would deal well together. He would  use all means within his power to make her see reason and accept him.  There was no room for failure and no contingency plan. He would have  Brianna.



"No one else will do. I don't intend to surrender simply because fate  has placed a challenge in my path. I'll give the matter my full  attention, and I will succeed."