Page 88 of How to Best a Marquess

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ellie didn’t think she could ever experience such a tumult of emotions. She exhaled slowly, her heartbeat calming for the first time. The day had been frightening. First, Baron Willoughby had forced her out the back door of the jewelers and nearly strangled her in order to find out his wife’s whereabouts. She knew, without a doubt, that the deranged man would have killed her once she’d given him the information he sought. Then she’d stabbed him and fled, only to run into Hugh’s arms. The image of the letter opener protruding from the baron’s neck would haunt her dreams for weeks.

Now she was by Grace’s bedside, experiencing joy over the birth of her niece.

Baby Catherine made a choked cry, and Grace rocked her. “Shhh, darling. You must be hungry.”

Rather than summon a nursemaid, Grace had stated she wanted to nurse her own babe. It was unusual for a lady, but knowing her sister-in-law, Ellie was not surprised.

The rest of the occupants immediately headed for the door.

“Please stay, Ian,” Grace said.

Her brother nodded, pulled a chair to the bedside, and sat beside his wife. Olivia and Ellie quietly departed to leave the new parents alone.

Once in the hall, Olivia halted Ellie. “Lord Deveril is in the study. He is asking for you. You should know, he looks even worse than Ian.”

Ellie swallowed. Despite her despair over her broken heart and her soon-to-be banishment, she owed Hugh her life. She found him staring out the window of the study, his arms folded at his back. “My lord?”

He turned. Olivia was right. She couldn’t help but notice the difference in Hugh’s appearance. His attire was disheveled. His hair was mussed, his cravat loosely tied and wrinkled, and a stain marred his shirtfront. His handsome face looked ragged, as if he had been out drinking until the early morning.

Perhaps he had.

She hadn’t taken note of his appearance when he’d run into the alley. Or afterward, when they’d spoken with the constable as Baron Willoughby’s body was carted away.

She shivered. Her nerves had been strained then, her mind reeling.

Now that things had resolved, she knew she should limit her time with Hugh. Her circumstances had not changed. She would be banished from town soon.

Still, it was difficult to keep her gaze from wandering to him. After today, she’d likely never see him again. He had no reason to visit Castleton’s country estate, not when he had the Raven Club to manage and all of the pleasures of town at his feet as a wealthy marquess. She should be relieved not to see him again.

Then why did her heart squeeze in anguish? The swell of pain was beyond tears.

“Olivia explained why you were at Bond Street. I never thanked you for coming to my aid,” she said.

“You needn’t thank me. My heart stopped when your sister told me you were missing.”

She halted in front of the large rosewood desk. Fearful her legs would give out, she leaned against it. “If that is all, I must finish packing for the country. Now that the babe is born, I won’t have much time.”

To his credit, he winced at her statement. “You needn’t bother.”

“I do believe I have no choice.”

A look of distress flashed across his handsome face. “You were right all along, Ellie. I’ve been a fool. I’m here to ask for your forgiveness.”

Her fingers tightened on the edge of the desk. “My forgiveness?”

“I was wrong all those years ago for luring you into the gardens and then kissing Isabelle. I should have told you about my parents’ disapproval. Most importantly, I should have ignored their cruel demands and married you. I have no doubt now that we would have sorted everything out together. Even if we lived impoverished, and I know Castleton wouldn’t have allowed that, it was wrong of me not to confess the truth. Because of my stubborn pride, you never had a say.”

She stood before him, amazed and shaken by his words. If only they could have changed the past. If only he hadn’t talked to her brother and betrayed her. If only she didn’t have to return to her bedchamber and pack her portmanteau. “My lord, I—”

“Please, let me finish. You deserve to hear this. I should never have spoken to Castleton about your activities at the club. Both times I believed I was protecting you, but I should have trusted you. I know it is too much to ask for forgiveness now, but I must try.”

Her gaze traveled over his face. His expression was one of wretchedness commingled with hope, and she realized his disheveled appearance reflected his misery over the course of the past several days. She ached with an inner pain. It was too late. Nothing could change her future. Her brother had made a decision, and she was powerless to fight him. She dropped her lashes to hide her own misery. “Thank you for telling me. Please pardon me, but I must prepare for my journey.”

He touched her arm before she could fully turn away. “Wait. There is more. I love you, Ellie. I always have.”

Her heart pounded at his confession. His expression was earnest and his green eyes full of intent and purpose. Why, after all this time, did he tell her now? She’d loved him for a lifetime, and now it was too late.