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“I have to fetch some supplies from the village, as father has already been told. You, however, are more than free to return.”
“Yes, do,” Ryan interrupted. “I am a reputable gentleman and will escort her home when she has finished.”
“But I cannot leave her out here alone with you.”
“Oh? Why?” Ryan asked.
“Well, I have heard about your reputation,” Cedrick puffed. His narrow chest billowed out like sails in an angry storm, but all he managed to do was look even more ludicrous.
Cedrick reminded Sian of an overly fluffy puppy squaring up to a bulldog and wondered if the little man had any sense of self-preservation at all. He certainly didn’t seem to know who Ryan was.
“He is aristocracy,” Sian inform Cedrick quietly. She threw him a warning look only for him to dismiss her as if she was a mere annoyance.
“Then I am sure he will understand how unacceptable it is for you to be out alone with him.”
“What do you expect him to do? Throw me over his horse and ride off to his lair with me?” Sian slammed her mouth closed when she realised just how that had sounded. Not that should have minded if he had. It was just that both men were now staring at her as if she had just revealed a rather intriguing facet of her character that they both wanted to know more about.
Ryan’s gaze slid to his horse, and he wondered what she would do if he did. Not that he had any objection to doing it of course, he just didn’t want to give Cedrick any scandalous gossip he could take back to that harridan, Wilhelmina. He knew, just as soon as Sian had told him that her aunt had arrived, that trouble had come with her. He hadn’t been lying when he had said that her reputation amongst the local gentry was questionable and meant Wilhelmina was unwelcome in a lot of homes despite her connection to Arthur.
Sian was also eyeing Ryan’s horse and felt a sense of longing that was startling. She contemplated what she would do if he did sweep her onto his horse and took her home with him. It was very unlikely she would object, especially after their conversation this morning. For the first time since she had met him, she sensed a few of the boundaries of propriety disappearing, and a warming of their acquaintance. They were, for the first time ever, starting to be on friendly terms.
What could bring about that change, though? The last time he talked to me he made me feel as if he really didn’t like me.
Rather than worry about it now, Sian resolved to focus on the positives instead, and the fact that there was a thawing. Not only that but Ryan seemed inclined to want to challenge Cedrick, her potential suitor, as well. Did Ryan not realise the ramifications of that?
Both Sian and Ryan were snapped out of their musings by Cedrick, whose next words changed their lives forever.
“Well, we shall have to see what we can do about your wayward behaviour once we are married.”
Sian blinked and felt the ground beneath her feet sway alarmingly. For a moment, a stunned silence settled over them all, until a fury unlike any other settled over her. Before she could vent it, though, they were all interrupted by the arrival of Wilhelmina, who was marching down the street toward them like a general marching off to battle.
“Now what?” Sian whispered in dismay.
Ryan blinked but didn’t hear a word Sian said. All he could do was replay over and over in his mind those fateful words he had always dreaded hearing: Sian was betrothed.
“Is it true?” Ryan demanded.
Sian blinked at him. “Is what true? No. I-”
“There is no point denying it,” Cedrick interrupted. “I am sure your father will agree that it is high time you married. It has all been agreed this very morning.”
Sian looked at Ryan, who stared at her for a moment before he sucked in a breath. Without a word, his face turned stony. Her heart wept as she looked at his now closed expression. She yearned to see the man he had been a moment ago but doubted she ever would now.
God, I hate you Cedrick.
“Ryan.”
“Lord Carson to you, my dear,” Cedrick snapped.
Sian blinked at him. She turned to look at Ryan but doubted she would get any help from him now. Ryan had turned back into a stranger. For a moment, she felt as if she was battling the world; a world that had turned completely against her.
“If you will excuse me. I must be on my way.” Ryan bowed at Sian and quickly mounted his horse.
Rather than go to Arthur’s as planned, he wheeled his horse around and, without stopping to wait to at least acknowledge Wilhelmina’s presence, raced toward home.
CHAPTER FIVE
Tears pooled in Sian’s eyes as she watched Ryan race out of her life. In that moment, she realised she would never be able to persuade Ryan to
