Not needing to question his sister's motivation, he did as he was told and assisted her to the indicated seat. His concern dissolved when she winked at him. It was clear now. Her injury was false, allowing him to share private time with Brianna.
After his sister was settled, he straightened and glanced over at Brianna. She wrung her hands in obvious distress. He turned back to Elizabeth and raised an eyebrow, knowing she needed to further convince Brianna in order to gain her acceptance of the decision.
"Are you certain you wish to stay here?" Richard pressed. "It would not be a problem to take you to the manor where you would be more comfortable."
"I'm sure. I have no wish for Lady Ransley to see me like this. Considering I have just arrived, I hate to be a burden."
"She would not see you as a burden. Your injury is understandable, and my mother will arrange for you to have the best care possible."
"Regardless, I would prefer to sit quietly to enjoy the pleasant weather and beautiful surroundings on my own. Please continue without me, and then I may benefit from the solitude."
"If that is what you truly want, I'll respect your wishes," Brianna conceded, although she looked as though she wanted to argue.
Elizabeth was good at manipulating, and she was always able to convince anyone to see her views eventually.
"Shall we?" Richard quickly offered Brianna his arm to avoid giving her an opportunity to run off without him again.
"Thank you, my lord," she answered, accepting his escort.
"Please enjoy yourselves and don't rush back," Elizabeth said. "I have found recovery does not come as swiftly as I would prefer."
"If we return too hastily, we will be happy to sit with you until you are able to return to the manor," Richard promised, then he pulled Brianna along before she decided to stay behind with his perfectly healthy sister.
As they continued deeper into the gardens, Brianna didn't resume her inadequate commentary. Richard saw the concern in her wide eyes as she bit her lip.
"Don't worry over Elizabeth. I have seen her suffer from an affliction of the ankle before, and I assure you, she will be fine."
"I know. I simply hate abandoning her."
"She always finds a way to entertain herself. Besides, I believe if we stood around waiting for her to heal, it would only make her uncomfortable. I would hate for her to feel guilty about us missing out on the tour."
"I suppose you are right."
As they walked along in silence, Richard decided to wait until they were a fair distance away from Elizabeth before speaking. Scanning ahead, he saw the path they were currently following ended in a pleasant location. Once they reached it, he turned to face Brianna.
"I believe we need to talk."
"I agree," she replied, much to his surprise. She glanced down the way they had come. "Follow me."
She headed to the hydrangea bushes and pulled them back. Ducking her head, she disappeared inside. Without other options, he followed her through the shrubbery and into a forest set directly beyond the garden. He trailed Brianna until it opened up into a clearing.
Then he stopped, completely in awe of the magnificent view before him. The trees and shrubberies surrounded them, creating a perfect circle for the sun to shine and allow the growth of various plant species. The rich scent of the planted flowers mixed with the wild flowers and the heat of the sun gave off an intoxicating aroma that permeated the air. He took a deep breath and sighed.
Looking over at Brianna, he was pleased to enjoy the beauty of the place with her. She smiled as she walked over to a fallen tree and sat down. Her face bathed in sunlight made their surroundings dull when compared to her brilliance.
"This place is extraordinary. How did you find it?"
"By accident. When Grace and I were younger, we enjoyed hiding from our governess, and once we found this place, it became our favorite hiding spot."
"Sounds like the two of you shared some good times here."
"We did," she admitted. Then her smile faded, and her face became serious. "During the carriage ride here, I took some time to think. I have decided to forgive you. Although your deception was upsetting, I understand your reasoning behind it."
"Thank you. I never intended to hurt you, but-"
"It's not necessary to explain yourself." She waved her hand. "Why don't we begin again and try to be friends? Then the past will be erased, and we will no longer be required to atone for previous mistakes."
"What if we wish to become more than friends?" He took a step closer to where she sat. "Do we still ignore our past then?"
"That will not be an issue, as we can never be more than friends." Her pursed lips hinted at her disapproval of his assumption their relationship could grow.
"Are you so determined to have an untitled man you will forget what we shared and give yourself to another?"
"My desire for my future has not changed. Since you are unable to offer me what I'm looking for, you are no longer a suitable choice for me."
"Do you really believe you will be happy living as a pauper barely on the fringes of society?"
"As an heiress, I hardly believe I'll be living like a pauper." She stood as if prepared for a fight.
"You can't know for sure. Your dowry will belong to your husband, and he will spend it or lose it as he sees fit," he warned, taking another step forward. As she opened her mouth to argue, he held up his hand to silence her. "All that aside, you would not be happy sitting alone in the country with nothing to do."
"You are forgetting. As a married woman, I would not be alone since my husband will be by my side."
His jaw clenched, and she smiled smugly as if she knew how much her words affected him. "I shall also have much to do. With no other obligations, I'll have the freedom to do anything I choose. My art would never be neglected again." He saw the stubborn set of her mouth and knew she would argue any point he made.
"The thrill of freedom will last no more than a month, and then what? You can't tell me your artwork does not become tedious at times." His last step put him directly in front of her. "You need something to challenge you, something to occupy your days, and someone skilled to occupy your nights."
Her breathing sped up, and he was pleased to not be the only one affected by their proximity to one another. When her gaze dropped to his lips, he fought with his body, not allowing it to move. He needed her to see reason and reevaluate her future, not be lost with lust and unable to think. To appease his raging body, he decided to allow himself one simple pleasure. Slightly leaning forward, he took in her sweet scent mingled with the flowers.
"You can have that life. You can have me," he breathed. She shivered but didn't respond. "All you have to do is say one simple word, and it shall be done."
He waited, watching as her passion-filled face teemed with indecision. She didn't hesitate long, but he knew part of her fought to have him. After seeing the decision in her eyes, as well as the shape of her mouth, he stepped back. Her rejection didn't faze him, as he expected it. It would not be the end of his pursuit, nor was it her final decision.
"Come on," he directed, not waiting for her to voice her rejection. "It's probably time to check on Elizabeth. I would hate to leave her longer than necessary."
Brianna stared at him blankly for a moment, then blinked and cleared her throat.
"Yes. Come this way," she rasped, before turning and leading the way back to where they had come.
She would not accept him now, but he held onto the hope that sprang from her hesitation. He had planted the seeds, and now he only needed to cultivate them and watch them grow.
Chapter 9
Brianna sat at the window of her bedchamber, watching Richard interact with her father. Seeing him dressed informally every day and observing his ease with her family did nothing to cool her desire for him. Over the past week and a half at Ransley, she had discovered it was not only her who was affected by him. Everyone who came in contact with Richard was instantly drawn to him.
He charmed everyone, even the servants, and she grew sick of the adoration. Anyone she spoke with, including the traitorous Ashley, did nothing but speak of how wonderful they found Richard. Her mother had been so enthralled she had extended their visit in order to keep him longer.
Oddly enough Grace was the worst. She shamelessly flirted with Richard and was hardly ever seen more than two steps from him. Brianna had tried to speak with her sister about it, but she only laughed, as if it were a joke. Not that she could blame her sister, for Richard was handsome and fascinating.
Pulling the curtains together in disgust, she cursed. Even her own thoughts betrayed her as they looked upon Richard's perfect form. She had locked herself in her bedchamber hoping to avoid him, but nothing she did would be enough. His words from their first day at Ransley taunted her as much as his body. She knew indulging in a friendship with him was impossible, but she was reluctant to completely let him go. Throwing herself on the bed, she covered her face.