What a Reckless Rogue Needs Part 24

The marquess bowed his head. "I will love you until the end of time, Elizabeth."

Colin's eyes burned. He turned away and took out his handkerchief.

The marquess clapped his shoulder. "It's time to return."

Colin regarded his father. "Thank you for sharing memories of my mother. It helps."

That afternoon, Colin managed to evade a group outing and took Angeline to the stables where he chose a mare for her. "We'll only trot," he said. "Those side saddles are dangerous. On second thought, I'll take you up in front of me on Aries."

"You know I have a good seat," she said.

"Humor me. Your father will kill me if you fall."

"Colin, no."

"Yes, do as I say. Aries is waiting."

Aries snorted as if he agreed.

The groom helped her up even as she continued to protest.

"Hush," Colin said. "You'll enjoy this."

"I rather doubt it," she said.

He walked the horse along the path.

"Colin, why even ride if we're going along at a grandmother's pace?"

He kissed her neck.

"Keep your eyes on the path," she said, "or we'll both fall off."

"I'll not let that happen. Hence the slow pace." He didn't mention the enticing feel of her bottom against his groin. "You can enjoy the scenery much better at a walk."

"If I wanted to walk, I would use my legs," she said.

He laughed. "Relax."

"What else can I do?"

"That's better," he said. Lord, her soft bottom felt too d.a.m.ned good.

"Do you have a destination in mind?" she asked.

"Nothing in particular."

"I don't believe you," she said.

"Just a few more minutes," he said. Ahead, he saw a spot beneath one of the barren oaks. He halted the horse and slid off the saddle. Then he reached for her and let her slide down his torso.

"You did that on purpose," she said.

"Did what?" he said, pulling off the rolled blanket.

"If you're thinking of rubbing down Aries, you are wasting your time. He's probably put out that you forced him to a sedate walk."

Aries snorted again and cropped the gra.s.s.

Colin took her hand. "Come along."

"Where?" she said in a snippy tone.

He liked it when she got feisty. "Trust me."

"Hah!"

He spread the blanket and pulled her down onto it with him.

"Why do I suspect you are scheming?"

"Because you're smart."

"If I were smart, I would walk back to the house."

"Don't be a spoilsport." He lay on his side and propped himself up with his hand. "Relax."

She sat on the blanket and wrapped her arms around her shins. "I know what you're thinking," she said, "but it will not happen."

"What do you think will happen?"

"You want to kiss me."

"Will you let me?"

When she didn't answer immediately, his hopes leaped in his chest. "Do you want to kiss me?"

"What I want and what I should do are two different things." She looked at him. "What happened with Faraday?"

"He's trying to decide between Sommerall and another property."

"What is he like, this Faraday?" she asked.

"He's a gentleman. Arrived rather late." He told her about Faraday's wife.

"Has she seen the house?"

"Apparently not. My father thinks she would make up her mind quickly one way or the other, but she obviously wasn't feeling well enough to join him."

"So it ended up to be a waste of time," she said.

"No. My father asked me to accompany him to my mother's mausoleum. He told me quite a bit about her." When he told her the rest, she sighed.

"What?" he said.

"It must be wonderful to be so in love."

She sounded wistful. Angeline wanted hearts and flowers, after all. He supposed most women did hope for love and happily-ever-after. It would be so much easier if she only wanted to repair her reputation and see her sister make her debut in the spring.

"I'm glad your father told you about his relationship with your mother. You were so young, but now you know more about her. I'm glad you found out they were happy."

"It helps." He told her about how his father had met Margaret.

"She has been good for him. He would be lonely without her and the girls." Angeline took off her jaunty little hat and lay on her side to face him. "What will you do if Mr. Faraday makes the offer in six weeks?"

Her words felt like a kick in the gut. "There is nothing I can do unless you decide to make an honest man out of me before then." He'd spoken in a joking manner, but his nerves were on edge.

"We have three weeks to make that decision-well, two and one-half weeks, I suppose."

He didn't have much time. After meeting Faraday, the threat of losing Sommerall had become all too real. What could he do to persuade her? Desperation caught hold of him like talons. He took a deep breath and forced himself to ask the question. "Are you having doubts?"

She shrugged one shoulder, the way she'd done the first night he'd seen her at Deerfield. "I suppose it is only natural for us to have doubts under the circ.u.mstances."

Given her skittishness, he feared she would decide that she couldn't marry him, even to ensure her sister's debut. If that happened, he would lose Sommerall.

"Do you like living in London?" she asked.

"I suppose. Harry is always up for a lark." He remembered his friend's reaction to the actress upon seeing her in his rooms and grinned.

Angeline huffed. "He's like a little boy, always wanting to pour spirits in the punch bowl."

"Do not let Harry fool you. He may like a lark now and then, but no man crosses him and walks away unscathed."

"I've never seen that side of him," she said.

"Few do." Colin grinned. "Did I tell you he almost drowned last year?"

"That's horrible. Why are you smiling about it?"

"We were foxed from one too many bottles at Vauxhall, and Harry was supposed to pay the waterman to take us across. My purse was empty from paying for all the bottles, but Harry discovered he had pockets to let. Somehow or another, he fell into the Thames. I jumped in to save him, and then another fellow dived in to help. That's how I met Bellingham."

She laughed. "That's awful."

"Good memories," he said, smiling.

"Men," she said, rolling her eyes.

He smiled. "I had a feeling you wouldn't appreciate it."

She regarded him with an intense expression. "Was there a reason you brought me here?"

"Yes." He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips, and then with more intention. When she opened for his tongue, he grew aroused and thought at least in this they would be more than compatible. He cupped her face, and for a rash moment, he considered lying and telling her he loved her. With a deep breath, he started to form the words, but she spoke first.

"I'm reluctant to leave, but we had better return." She sat up and pinned her silly hat to her hair. He helped her up. Say the words. Lie to her. Make her believe you. His breathing was too fast and he couldn't force the words out.

"Colin, what is it?"

He met her gaze and the guilt got hold of him again. "It's nothing." He rolled the blanket. Then he mounted Aries and gave her a hand up in front of him. He kept his eyes on the path, but the entire time he was aware of her scent, her sweet bottom, and her trust in him. She deserved better, and he wasn't sure how he could convince her to marry him. He needed to prepare himself mentally first. Now was not the right time, but he didn't have much time left.

After leaving Aries in the care of a groom, Colin offered his arm to Angeline and escorted her along the path. He knew what he had to do, but his chest tightened. The devil. Surely there was another way to ensure she would marry him, but he'd racked his brain and could not think of an honorable way.

When they walked inside Deerfield, Wycoff and his father were standing in the hall in muddy boots as usual. The marquess was scowling at Bianca and Bernadette.

Colin noticed tear tracks on his sisters' faces and the dog sitting there lolling his tongue. "I take it something is amiss."

Bernadette sniffed. "Papa means to give Hercules away to one of the tenants."

"Hercules didn't mean to have an accident in the water closet." Bianca dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes. "H-he is still a puppy."

"Thus far, he has ruined a pair of boots, several legs on the tables, and to top it all off, he breaks wind," the marquess said gruffly.

Colin burst out laughing.

Angeline clapped her hand over her mouth, but her shoulders were shaking.

Margaret hurried down the stairs. "What is all this commotion about?"

"Papa is making Hercules an orphan," Bianca said.

"Oh, for pity's sake," the marquess said. "I rue the day that dog set foot in our house. Enough is enough. Margaret, I know you side with the girls about the dog, but he is damaging our home and is uncouth."

"Lord Chadwick," Angeline said. "Hercules is a smart dog. The girls have already taught him how to shake hands. He only needs to be trained properly. I will gladly help the girls with his training."

"You know how to train dogs?" Colin said.

She nodded. "I had a dog, but he died before we left for Paris."

Colin met his father's gaze and then looked at his sisters. "If you want to keep Hercules, you should demonstrate to our father that you will teach him how to behave."

"You must be consistent," Angeline said. "When he does well, reward him. That is how he will learn."

"Papa, will you give us another chance with Hercules?" Bianca said. "We promise to train him."

"I don't know," the marquess said.

Margaret walked over to her husband and patted his arm. "Perhaps we could train you to remove your muddy boots before you walk in the house."

Colin shared a smile with Angeline and then he turned to his sisters. "You might thank Angeline," he said.