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That did make him sound nicer, and Ella couldn’t be picky. Anything was better than where she had just come from and she greatly appreciated their help. But marrying a man she didn’t care about seemed wrong. Wouldn’t it be better to get a job and support herself? No man had ever loved her enough to be there for her no matter what. How could she trust that would ever be true? “You don’t need to do this.” She put up her hands. “A job that keeps me off the street will be enough.”
Tricia chuckled. “Want to know something?” Her smile grew as she continued, not really asking a question. “I imagined I wouldn’t marry either, and instead devote myself to charitable causes. But fate stepped in.”
“Actually, Ryker stepped in.” Tabbie laughed. “Quite literally.”
Tricia shushed her sister. “There’s no harm in attending the dinner. The position will be waiting for you. I swear it. But just see if you feel a connection with any of the men. Perhaps, fate will intervene on your part.
“Or Matthew will.” Tabbie’s eyebrows waggled. “He fancies you.”
Ella looked at her lap but a touch of hope bloomed in her chest. She ignored it. Tabbie’s statement was ridiculous. “He doesn’t.” Besides, what would become of her when his affection was gone? Men only kept mistresses for a short time. While it had been a bargain she would have made without any other options, it was far wiser to take the steady position.
“Why would you say that?” Tabbie asked. “I see the way he looks at you.”
“I am certain he doesn’t.” She wouldn’t admit to them what she thought he had wanted last night. Or what she understood about her own worth.
“Of course he does.” Tabbie’s voice sounded absolutely certain. “I’ve seen this sort of thing a time or two.”
“Try to understand,” Tricia’s voice was more soothing. “He was so badly hurt.”
“Hurt?” Her eyes snapped up then. Her heart squeezed in her chest. It was because he’d done so much for her, of course. But something deeper simmered. She didn’t understand it but she knew it was there.
“Miss Sarah Wentworth. They were on the eve of being engaged when she told him that she no longer wished for his favor. It was just after Camille had disappeared and she betrayed him.”
How could any person do that to Matthew? What more could this Sarah have possibly wanted in a man? To her thinking, he was as perfect as any man she had ever met. “That is terrible,” her voice quivered as she spoke.
“There is more to the story, but it is Matthew’s to tell.” Tricia’s lips pursed as though she didn’t approve and Ella wondered what bothered her. “I hope he sees fit to tell you everything.”
Ella nodded, hoping Matthew did open up to her, but why would he? She was a tavern wench whose family hadn’t cared enough to provide her with even the most basic comforts. And he was a man of means who didn’t need her for anything but translating. Good. Because she didn’t want or need a man any longer.
Chapter Five
Matthew and Luke stared across the back of Ryker’s horse, each man’s eyes hard. Matthew had only grown angrier as they’d made their way to the barn.
“What the bloody hell is wrong with you?” Luke asked harshly.
“What’s wrong with me? You’re the one ogling poor Ella. She’s alone and she’s been frightened and—”
Luke glared at him. “I was not ogling her. Simply making a statement about her features and how they would make it easy to find her a husband.”
Anger swelled inside him as he clenched his fists. “She doesn’t need a husband, she’s got me.”
“Do not even tell me you plan to make that woman your mistress.” Luke practically spit. “She’s vulnerable and afraid. You shouldn’t take advantage.”
Matthew stared at his friend open mouthed. Luke had been one of the most notorious rakes of London’s elite until Tabbie had tamed him. This man dared to lecture him on not taking advantage of women? “Don’t be ridiculous. I am a man of principle.”
Luke’s lip curled and Matthew knew that the other man had caught the insult.
“Then you should marry her,” Luke said. “You obviously don’t want anyone else to have her.”
“Why don’t you mind your own affairs?” Matthew growled, stepping closer. Rather than talking, he’d prefer to start hitting. That seemed far easier than examining his feelings.
“You came here for help.” Luke jabbed his finger across the horse’s back.
“From Tricia and Tabbie. Not from you.” Matthew shot back.
Luke stepped around the horse then. “You need my help all right. Mayhap a good swift kick in your ass will get you moving in the right direction.”
“Someone’s going to get licked but it isn’t me,” Matthew said. Hitting sounded like a marvelous idea, far better than thinking.
