Page 69 of The Scholar's Key
“Goodbye, Noah,” she said. “I wish you the best.”
He had taken two steps when she called out to him, and he turned around.
“Yes?”
“I truly am sorry — for everything. You are a good man and I hope you find love one day. In the end, Noah, we were not right for one another. That was why I left you. Not for any other reason.”
He didn’t want to hear it. Somehow it made it all the worse that she left him because of who he was and not because of his lack of title or wealth.
He turned around and continued, leaving his past behind him.
* * *
Percy pacedthe foyer of the home that Lord Ashford had rented in Bath. Cassandra and her husband were also staying here, even though she was sure they could have afforded two places. But Lord Ashford and Lord Covington were as close as brothers, so she supposed it made sense.
She tried to tell herself that she was only looking out the window to see what weather the day had brought, even though she knew she was lying to herself – she was watching for Noah, on edge as to what he wanted to speak to her about.
As much as a small piece of her hoped against all odds that he was coming to tell her that he loved her, that he wanted to marry her and begin a life together, the practical side of her knew better.
Which meant she was just going to have to convince him of the truth.
She continued to pace as the longcase clock ticked the seconds away, leaving her to wonder just what was keeping Noah, who was always punctual to a fault. Finally, she caught sight of him, recognizing his steady, purposeful gait, and she hurried away from the window so fast she nearly tripped over her skirts before he could see her watching for him.
His knock sounded, and Percy waited for the butler to show him in. She knew, the moment he stepped through the drawing room door, from the lines etched into his forehead and the grim set of his lips, that she was not going to be pleased with his approach to the conversation.
“Percy,” he greeted her in a low voice, and as he shut the door behind him, Percy decided that she wasn’t going to allow him to break this off with her – not without her protest. She took a few strides toward him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him close. He hesitated before his arms came around her, returning her embrace.
“I missed you,” she whispered into his neck, and she felt his arms tighten around her.
“I missed you too,” he said gruffly, and when she tilted her head up to kiss him, he only gave her a quick press of his lips before he stepped back and set her away from him.
“Noah, I need to explain.”
“There is no need.”
“But there is,” she insisted, searching his eyes. “I am not engaged. My father and Lord Stephen’s father arranged this without consulting me. I only found out the day that we – that we came together. I never agreed to the marriage.”
“Then why did your mother say you are betrothed?”
She dropped her eyes, knowing that the answer would be damning, but she wasn’t going to lie.
“I told them that I needed time to decide.”
“I see.”
She lifted her eyes to his. “I needed time because I first had to ask ifyoufelt anything toward me. It is you I want, Noah. Not Lord Stephen, nor anyone else for that matter. I never would have come to your bed if it was otherwise.”
She saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes, but then it quickly disappeared.
“You would tire of me.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You have no wish for a man like me – I heard you say it yourself.”
“When?” she demanded, having no recollection of ever saying she didn’t want him.
“At Whitehall’s wedding. You said you wanted a man of strength, and breadth, who enjoyed excitement and could show you adventure. I am the complete opposite of such a man.”
