Page 84 of Earl, Enemy, Husband?

‘Huge debts, without her husband’s knowledge. George couldn’t help her; the poor fellow doesn’t have a feather to fly. They asked me for help, George and her, for the sake of our past closeness. I’ll not deny, it was a great deal of money and I was not at all happy, but she feared what her husband would do to her if he found out, and what these fellows might do to her child if she failed to pay. Well, to get to the point, I agreed.’

There it was, out in the open.

‘Our rule said you would consult me about any major expenditures.’ Her shoulders were stiff, her lovely mouth set in a straight disapproving line.

‘Honestly, I worried that you might be opposed to my helping her. The men she got involved with are brutes. I couldn’t allow them to cause her or her child harm. I am sorry I broke our rule. I do not blame you one bit for being angry.’

She gave a bitter little chuckle. ‘That and more.’

He closed his eyes briefly. How did he explain the kiss? Honesty: doing what was right. He took a deep breath. ‘My parents lied to each other all of their married lives. Father, about everything. Mother, about the small things she did to make her life and my life easier. I vowed I would never do that. And the first time I was tested, I fell right into the trap.’

‘They lied to each other?’

‘Father lied to everyone, cheated and lied as you know, but he was worse to Mother. He was cruel, violent when angered. And, in fear of what he would do to me, she hid my every small transgression. It was a nightmare. It was one of the reasons why I left for Canada and she lived in Bath.’

‘Not because Lady Standish rejected you?’

He grimaced. ‘Well, that was part of it, to be sure.’

‘And you came home hoping to rekindle the flame?’ The hurt in her voice was palpable.

‘No. Never. I wanted to show her how wrong she had been to doubt me. But rekindle? No. When I saw her again, it was odd. I felt nothing. All my feelings…’ He hesitated. He felt like a fool. ‘The moment I saw you…it, we, felt right.’

‘Oh,’ she said softly but her face was hidden from his view as she looked down at the ground. He couldn’t be sure she believed him. No matter what, he had to finish what he had started.

‘When I met Lady Standish in Hyde Park that morning I met her in public, where I thought it would be safe.’ He gave a hard laugh. ‘I returned her vowels and told her if she got in such a fix again not to apply to me. I think she saw you and that was when she made her dramatic show of appreciation.’

‘She kissed you.’

‘Most unexpectedly, given we were out in full view of the rest of the world. She said she was proving I was still hers.’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘Beneath that lovely face lies a manipulating female. Truth be told, I had a lucky escape when she turned me down.’ He threw the little bits of grass aside. ‘George is furious with her.’

‘George fell out of love with Lady Standish and under Lady Deirdre’s spell,’ she said dryly.

‘Typical George—always wants the unattainable.’

‘So you really are not pining after Lady Standish?’ she asked, sounding shy.

‘No. I am pining after my charming, lovely, calm, clever wife.’

He held his breath. Would she believe him?

She gave an odd laugh. ‘I will accept calm and clever but, really, Graydon, charming? Lovely?’

He reached for her hand and held it to his heart. ‘You are the most alluring, charming, lovely woman I have ever met or ever want to meet.’

Astonishment filled her face.

Why could she not see what he saw? ‘I love you, Florence, my dearest one. There will never be anyone else for me but you.’

She lunged forward and he fell over backwards. Somehow, he kept her from falling to the ground, holding her close against his chest.

With horror, he felt moisture drip on to his face. She was crying. He felt like an ogre.

‘No, no, sweet. Please, don’t cry. I didn’t mean to hurt you; truly, I didn’t. If you don’t want me, it’s fine. I am not like my father; I will make everything easy for you. I will make sure you have everything you need and you can stay here with your family. I won’t ever trouble you again.’

‘Idiot,’ she said, pushing herself up with her hands on his shoulders, and trying to shake him with her puny strength. ‘I’m crying for happiness. Oh Graydon, I love you so much. I thought my heart was going to break when I saw… Well, never mind that. Now I really do understand. You must promise to tell me everything from this day forward.’

‘I promise.’ God, how he promised.