Page 71 of The Dangerous Love of a Rogue
She was as still and pale as a statue.
She was listening to him.
Drew’s muscles stiffened. If it would have gained him anything he would have hit Pembroke. But there was no point, Marlow would join the fight and Drew would end up more bruised and have gained nothing.
Damn her, why was she listening?
You should be loyal!
Drew’s instinct was to reach for her but even begging her physically to believe him and not them would unman him. He would look vulnerable in front of them.
‘I warned you,’ her father said, raising an arm, as Drew had earlier, offering to hold her.
She walked quicker to her father than she had ever walked to him, and embraced him as he embraced her.
Mary! You know they are wrong!Drew gritted his teeth on the words his pride would not let him shout. Her rejection stung even more as she sobbed against her father’s shoulder as though Drew had hurt her. He had tried so hard not to hurt her…
Drew turned away and picked up his underwear.
The pain in his side burned as he dressed. Already there was a vivid red bruise spreading across his side.
He looked at Mary’s father as he secured the buttons of his waistcoat. ‘You will want to obtain a special licence, or perhaps you would prefer to wait for the bans and have a public wedding so that society believes this was not clandestine.’ He picked up his boots without looking at Mary.
Marlow’s expression said,I would prefer to kill you.
‘I am sure you wish to protect Mary’s reputation. But remember, a child may arrive early if we wait for the bans.’ Drew’s voice deliberately thrust their punches back at them.Fuck them and their lies.
Marlow glared.
‘A licence or bans…’ Drew mocked him as he sat to pull on his stockings and boots. Drew could say,I love her. He could promise to protect and care for her. He did not. Why should he make promises to a man who had no respect for him? Let Marlow sweat. Let him fear for his child. Let him believe what he liked.
Drew stood.
Marlow looked at Mary. ‘What do you wish for?’
Drew looked at her too, as he picked up his morning coat. Her pale gaze looked at him as though she looked at a stranger – with doubt, not love.
A sour taste filled his mouth. It was not blood; it was the taste of disgust. He felt betrayed. Yet, he was even more convinced he loved her because it hurt so much. He wanted to be everything to her because she was all to him.
Anger and jealousy twisted inside him as his soul screamed.You should knownothing they said is true!But he would not vocalise it still. He had never begged anyone in his life, for anything. But God, her rejection kicked the hardest of all. He should have known he could not compete against the deep affections that ran like a seam of granite through her family. Not like granite, like gold. Love like that was as precious as gold – he understood that much about love now.
Drew looked away from her.
‘Obtain a special licence, Papa.’
‘I will hire a carriage from this inn. A groom will drive your rig back, Framlington. I want you where I can see you. I shall send up a maid to help you dress, Mary.’ Marlow had taken back control.
Pembroke hovered near the door, watching. ‘None of us can help you now,’ he told Mary.
She said nothing.
Damn it.He looked at Marlow. ‘There is no need to send for a maid. I shall help Mary dress, and we will join you downstairs.’
Her father’s and brother’s heads spun to look at him.
He was to be Mary’s husband. He had learned every inch of her body in the last few days. It was too late for prudishness.
Marlow looked at Mary. She nodded her agreement. There was some hope for him if she did not fear being alone with him.
