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Merrifield, who had dismounted when Matthew did, chuckled. “I do believe I like you.” He bowed. “I’m Lord Merrifield. Who might you be?”
Cesca turned toward him and tilted her lips upward into a sensuous smile that Matthew wished she had bestowed on him. Why was she looking at Merrifield that way? If she didn’t stop soon, he’d have to murder his friend. “I am Lady Francesca Kendall.” She gestured toward the other two women with her. “This is Lady Violet Keene, and her sister Lady Iris Keene. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lord Merrifield.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Merrifield said in a husky tone. Matthew recognized the shift in his voice. He found Cesca attractive, and at the first opportunity he would discover why that was a bad idea. “Are you enjoying your walk in the park?”
“I am,” Cesca said, focusing all her attention on Merrifield. “Would you care to walk with me?”
The hell? “He wouldn’t,” Matthew said through gritted teeth. He handed the reins to his horse to Merrifield and then turned back to her. “However, I would.” He looped her arm with his and forced her to walk with him. He left her companions and Merrifield alone. When they were some distance away, he turned his attention to her. “What games are you trying to play?”
“I’m not the one playing,” she said. “Your friend seems nice enough and more worthy of my attention.”
Cesca was still angry with him. He would have to soothe her ruffled feathers. He’d been with plenty of angry women. She was no different. “Merrifield is a rake, and you would do well to steer clear of him.” He hadn’t meant to say that. Bloody hell. What was wrong with him?
She burst into laughter. “And how is that different than you?”
“Matty?” A female said in a throaty purr. “Is that you?”
Matthew stilled. There was only one woman that had ever called him that, and he had hoped to never see her again. Slowly he turned his gaze to meet hers. “Countess Briarton,” he said in a cool tone.
“How lovely to see you.” She turned her attention to Francesca. “And who is this? A sweetheart? I thought you no longer believed in love.” Edith Whitcomb…now the dowager countess of Briarton was as beautiful, and as poisonous as Matthew remembered.
“You do not know me and never did.” He hated her and probably always would. He wanted to tell her that despite what she might believe he did not live his life to spite her; however, he couldn’t. She had ruined his life and made it impossible for him to believe in love, or that a woman might be telling the truth. It was because of her he’d been so horrid to Cesca. He owned his actions, but he couldn’t help wondering who he’d be if not for Edith. He didn’t introduce them. He didn’t want Edith’s poison to touch Cesca or their child. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we were enjoying our walk.”
“Who is she?” Cesca asked quietly.
“No one of importance,” he said quickly. “She is nothing.”
“Now who’s lying?” She shook her head. The disgust in her tone was unmistakable. “You like to claim it is me, but we both know the truth. Is she right? Are you incapable of love?”
“That is not what she said.” That evil woman was already ruining his life again. “She said she thought I no longer believed in love.”
“I see,” she said quietly. “Because you used to love her and no longer do? Or is it because she still holds a piece of your heart and you hate her for it?”
“I do not love that woman.” His tone was a bit harsh, but his feelings toward Edith were not congenial. He didn’t want Cesca to think he cared one bit for Edith. “She’s not to be trusted.”
“Like all women?” She lifted a brow. “I understand.”
Matthew didn’t think she did. She was staring at him with pity in her eyes, and he did not like it. This walk was not supposed to go like this. She was supposed to fall into his arms, and he could tell her they’d marry soon. Instead, she’d paid more attention to Merrifield than him, and then Edith had to walk back into his life at the most inopportune time. “What exactly do you think you understand?”
“She broke your heart, and you decided that you never wanted to feel that pain again.” She sounded intensely sad as she spoke. “It led you to believe breaking mine didn’t mean anything. She ruined a part of you, and I cannot allow you to do the same to me.” She shook her head. “And that’s why it’s best we part now. We will only make each other miserable, and I refuse to become bitter like you.”
She broke free and walked back to her friends. Matthew let her because she had stunned him with her observation. Was she right? Had he broken her heart the way Edith had his? If so, how could he ever make it right with her?
