"I'll leave you now in the capable hands of your mother." He motioned in the direction of Lady Ransley. "I'll be downstairs. When you are ready to talk, send for me." With a bow, he reluctantly left her.
Downstairs, Richard relayed the details of what transpired to Lord Ransley. When the story was told and the questions were satisfied, there was nothing left to do but wait. Normally Richard considered himself to be a patient man, but waiting for Brianna to call for him was excruciating, particularly since the only thing he had left to do was think.
The realization that the whole ordeal was his fault drew him up short. The anger he felt toward himself was vast. The thought of Kirkwood retaliating against him by harming Brianna never occurred to him until the ball last night. However, he never believed it possible for her to be abducted right out of her father's home. Kirkwood crossed a line, and Richard would do anything in his power to ensure the punishment was severe.
In order to prevent a similar situation occurring with another rejected applicant, Richard only knew of one option. Although he didn't like it, this solution would also provide him with a resolution for other problems as well. He would have to sell his portion of the club. Greyson and Jonathan might not agree, but their names were not as tied to the club as his. They would be protected where he was not. It was a difficult decision, but when it came to Brianna's safety, nothing existed that he would not do.
"Lord Stonemede," the butler called from the doorway. "Lady Brianna is requesting your presence."
"Thank you." Richard stood, grateful for the reprieve from his uncomfortable thoughts.
"Please come this way."
Once in her bedchamber, he noticed she was now dressed in a pale yellow gown that exuded maidenly modesty. Her face was still red with a faint outlining of a purplish bruise forming. He worked hard to push down the surge of anger flowing through his body.
Lady Ransley fluttered about the room, as if uncertain of what she should be doing. Brianna watched her mother with a worried frown until her eyes met his. Her face softened, and her eyes lit up as she smiled at him. His heart stopped with the force of the emotion it evoked.
"Lord Stonemede," Lady Ransley purred. "Again, we can't thank you enough for your assistance with Brianna. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call upon us."
"I appreciate that," Richard responded, not needing to tell her the offer was unnecessary. There was nothing he would not do for Brianna.
"Mother, do you think Lord Stonemede and I could have a private moment?"
"In your bedchamber?" Lady Ransley exclaimed, her eyes shooting to her daughter's. Then she lowered her gaze, her outrage noticeably lessening. "Since you are to be wed soon, I suppose there is no harm in a short visit."
"Thank you." Brianna smiled weakly at her mother.
Lady Ransley glanced between the two of them as if reluctant to leave, then she sighed and turned to go. Richard got the feeling she worried he would hurt Brianna. Absurd, considering he was the one who saved her.
With the click of the door, he pushed all thoughts from his mind except Brianna. She shifted herself up straighter on the edge of her bed, but her gaze focused on her wringing hands. He waited and was confused when she didn't speak.
"Is there something specific you wished to discuss in private, or did you just need a moment without your mother hovering about you?" Richard asked, uncomfortable with charged silence.
"I'm giving you your opportunity." Her voice was heavy with sadness.
"My opportunity for what exactly?"
"Mother said you were waiting here to talk to me. She said it was likely you no longer wished to marry me." She ended her words on a sob.
Richard crossed the room in two strides and sat beside her with his body facing hers. He brushed a strand of hair off her face as she struggled to compose herself.
"How could she believe that?" He desperately wanted to take her into his arms, but he could not be she would be receptive considering what she had gone through earlier.
"She said since I was alone and unclothed with another man in his house, you would no longer want me." Her sobs were coming in full force now, and he could not restrain himself any longer. Pulling her into his arms, he tried to soothe her.
"Don't cry. This does not change anything. We will still be married in less than a fortnight," he assured her, rubbing her back.
Concentrating on healing her pain, he blocked out the feeling of her warm body pressed against him. When the tears ran their course, she looked up at him with adoration shining in her eyes.
"You still want to marry me?" she asked.
He nodded, causing her brows to furrow, but she didn't pull back from him.
"Then why did you stay?"
"To see you and make sure you were all right," he answered, his tone incredulous.
Her brilliant smile lit up her face, and she threw her arms around his neck. When her eager lips met his, he could have sighed in relief. Her roaming hands dove into his hair and she tugged at him, pulling him forward. He felt her head hit the pillows, as his body rested on top of her.
She was so warm and willing, he knew he could be inside of her within seconds. As she tugged at his clothing, his hands drifted down to lift her skirts. Satisfaction was so close, and his body demanded it. When his hand caressed her bare leg, she threw her head back and moaned. The sound instantly awoke his lust-clouded mind. They could not do this, not now.
Rising off of her, he stared at Brianna wantonly waiting for him. His lips parted, and his breath came out in gasps. With such a display before him, he forgot the reason he could not satisfy his ache for her right now.
While he was still contemplating rejoining her, her lips pressed together and she sighed. She rose slowly, watching him intently before swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
"Thank you again for saving me," she breathed. "I don't want to think of the horrors that would have occurred had you not arrived when you did."
"I'll always come for you," he promised. "I just have to know one thing."
"Anything."
"Why did you go? Why did you not come to me first?"
She drew her head back, tilting it slightly. "The letter said-"
"I know what the letter said. I want to know the reasoning behind your decision."
"I thought he captured you. I only went because I thought I could help you."
"How did you intend to do that? I didn't see that you brought a weapon in which to defend yourself," he pointed out, trying to hide his surprise at her willingness to sacrifice herself for him.
"I don't know." She furrowed her brow. "I suppose I was too worried to think straight. From the moment I read the letter, all I could think about was following the instructions."
"You should have come to me first. If nothing else, you would have obtained proof that I was indeed in danger."
He pulled himself up from the bed and began pacing the floor. His anger returned, but now it was directed at her. She willingly put herself in danger again without understanding the consequences of her decision. In this instance, he had made it to her in time, but upon another occasion, he may not prove to be so lucky. She had to stop this reckless behavior. He would not stand for it any longer.
"I would have gone to you if I realized there was a chance you were safely at home. However, with what happened last night, the claims from the letter were believable." She stood, and he felt her gaze upon him.
He stopped pacing and looked her directly in the eyes. "Enough. In the future, I expect you to come to me first. I'll also expect you to cease this wildness and act like a proper lady. My wife's behavior will be above reproach."
A flash of pain crossed her face, and she averted her gaze. He had not intended to inform her of his expectations in that fashion, but his anger had overridden his better judgment.
"Yes, my lord," she whispered, moving toward the window.
He opened his mouth, wanting to erase her pain, but Lady Ransley entered, cutting off the ability for free speech. Her eyes shot to Brianna, and then widened. He knew Lady Ransley assumed he cancelled the betrothal, but he was in no mood to assuage her fear. Frustrated, he decided to leave and allow Brianna to explain herself to her mother.
"Please excuse me," Richard said, then exited before she could respond. The day was already too trying, and he needed to calm down before he said another word he would regret.
This was it. Her last day of freedom. Looking out the window, Brianna watched as the happy people made their way down the street. Everyone appeared to be enjoying life, but she, on a day that should have been grand, felt miserable. The wind had been cruelly ripped from her sails, and she didn't have enough fight left to get it back. Between the child growing inside of her and its father, she had nothing left.