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“Elizabeth, wait,” he called out to her but she had disappeared. Several people openly stared at him.
Will blew out a strangled breath and walked to the door. When he opened the door, Nicholas stood there waiting for him.
“Who the bloody hell are you to make a fool out of my cousin?” Nicholas demanded.
“Also, her cousin,” Will replied. Although, if Elizabeth was correct, only Nicholas was truly her cousin.
“The prodigal duke has returned,” he sneered.
“Yes, I have. And now I must apologize to Elizabeth. I had no idea you were her cousin.”
“She is walking along the path,” Nicholas said.
“Thank you.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “Do not hurt her again.”
Will accepted the warning without another word and walked away. The gravel crunched under his feet, alerting anyone who might be outside to his presence. The path twisted and turned but Elizabeth seemed to have disappeared. He stopped to listen.
A small sniffle sounded from around the next bend. The noise from his shoes warned her of his approach.
“Go away, Nicholas. I don’t want to talk.”
He turned the corner and halted. The dappled moonlight highlighted her position on a bench. He’d never seen anyone look so forlorn and yet so absolutely beautiful in all his life. The violet silk dress shimmered in the soft light.
“It’s not Nicholas.”
Elizabeth turned her head at the sound of Will’s raspy voice. She wiped away a tear.
“Do you honestly think I want to talk to you?”
He stepped closer. “I would think not.”
“Exactly. So please leave me alone.”
“I cannot,” he whispered so softly she was not certain she heard him.
“Will, you embarrassed me in front of Nicholas and half the ton. Why?”
“I have no idea,” he admitted, taking another step closer. “I was furious watching you go outside alone with him.”
“He is my cousin. I love him dearly, but he is like a brother to me.” Elizabeth stared down at the violets embroidered on her dress.
“I am sorry.”
Elizabeth looked up to find him directly in front of her. His masculine presence made her feel dainty and insignificant. And she didn’t want to be that any more. She stood and faced him. She was tired of not knowing where he stood on a certain issue. While confronting him could cause even more problems for her, she knew she had no choice.
“If you knew I wasn’t carrying your child and Abigail arrived in England, would you marry her?”
Will’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of question is that?”
“A fair one, I think,” she retorted, placing her hands on her hips. “And one that deserves an answer.”
“This has nothing to do with Abigail.”
“Oh? We would never have made love if Abigail hadn’t sent you that note,” she whispered harshly.
“How can you be so certain?” He pulled her against him as if to prove a point.
