His Perfect Bride(26)

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.