Page 30 of The Highwayman's Hidden Heart
Miss Millington’s voice faded as she looked into Elizabeth’s eyes, perhaps seeing the same fears there which she evidenced with her words.
“Yes, this is my own.” Elizabeth’s voice was shaking. “I dare not even imagine what…” Her eyes closed and she swayed a little. “Yet I must know for certain.” Her mind fixed upon an idea that would not let her free. Whirling around, her skirts flying, she went in search of Lord Winterbrook, the brooch tucked tightly into her hand. With great strides she went through each room, only to discover him in the parlor, speaking with another gentleman. At that moment, no other people were in the room, for which she was grateful. When Elizabeth entered without a chaperone, both gentlemen’s eyebrows lifted. “Pray excuse me, Lord Bramwell.”
Elizabeth knew that she was being bold, but she found that she did not care about any suggested impropriety. The gentleman blinked in surprise but upon seeing her lift her chin, he hurried quickly from the room, leaving Elizabeth to push the door closed.
“Lady Elizabeth.” Lord Winterbrook, who stood by the fireplace, turned towards her with eyebrows lifted high. “I…” His gaze went to the closed door. “Are you quite well? I am sorry that I have not yet greeted you. It was not my intention to delay.”
Elizabeth did not allow him to finish speaking. Tears fell as she stepped close to him, put her hand on his shoulder, and pressed her lips to his.
She knew in an instant.
Lord Winterbrook was the highwayman who had kissed her and taken her brooch. The way his lips felt, the strength of him under her fingers, even the scent of him near her – it was all the same. How could she have been so entirely blind?
Tears dampened her cheeks and, with the kiss, fell to his also. With another sob, she stepped back, one hand to her eyes, covering them to hide the sight of him.
“Lady Elizabeth.” Lord Winterbrook’s voice was hoarse, his hand finding hers, gently tugging it from her eyes. “Whatever is the matter?”
The door behind them opened suddenly, but Elizabeth did not so much as glance at it. Instead, she held Lord Winterbrook’s hand and, her chest heaving with unspent sobs, opened her hand and showed him the brooch.
Lord Winterbrook’s face fell.
Chapter Twelve
“Whatever is the meaning of this?”
Felix could not understand whether it was Lady Elizabeth who had spoken or someone else entirely. Blood was roaring in his ears, his eyes fixed on the brooch in her hand, horrified now that she had found it. Yes, he had been seeking to give it back to her but, in truth, had not considered it particularly urgent. He had become so transfixed with the closeness of their acquaintance that he had set it to one side in his mind.
How did she find it?
From what he remembered, he had placed it in the library, within a small velvet bag behind a book, and had never once imagined that anyone would discover it – not even his staff. Servants whispered and he could not allow any of them to know of what he had been doing as the highwayman. Now it appeared as though guilt and shame were to bring down heavy consequences upon his head.
“Are you betrothed?” The voice spoke again, and Felix dragged his eyes away from the brooch, finding himself gazing into the face of another. “Isthatthe reason you are in here alone with the door shut tight? Or must I fetch Lady Longford?”
Felix blinked rapidly, looking into the eyes of Lady Dresden who was, unfortunately, one of the worst gossips in all of London. What was he to say? Lady Elizabeth had done the most extraordinary thing, first striding into his parlor, then demanding that Lord Bramwell take his leave and, finally, pressing a kiss to his lips. But now her reputation would have to be salvaged in some way, and the only thing he could think to do to protect Lady Elizabeth was to concur with Lady Dresden.
“There is a reason.”
His voice was gruff as Lady Dresden caught her breath, her eyes sparkling.
“Then youarebetrothed!”
“I was just about to ask the lady, in fact,” he stated, demanding silently that his smile linger. “Lady Dresden, I know that you will be most eager to spread this news, but might you give me only one more minute alone with Lady Elizabeth? I have not yet asked her, and I should very much like to be able to do so before I present her to my friends and acquaintances as my betrothed.”
Lady Dresden’s eyes lit up. She nodded, clapped her hands in evident joy, and stepped away, ready to revel in the fact thatshehad been the one to first find out about the betrothal.
“I will not marry you.”
Lady Elizabeth’s spat those words towards him, her eyes sharp but still glassy with tears. Felix’s heart broke asunder. He was the cause of this. He was the reason for her sorrow, for her sadness, for her broken heart. By keeping this from her, he had managed to ruin himself entirely in her eyes, and yet the problem which was now between them was entirely insurmountable if they did not wed.
“You must.” Taking a deep breath, he threw out both hands, seeing her scowl at him. “I know you have no wish to, and no doubt you will require a great deal of explanation, but after what Lady Dresden has just seen, wemustmarry, I will not have your reputation ruined for my sake, not after I have broken so much already.”
“A noble desire.” The irony in her tone lashed out at him, hard, and Felix winced, accepting that he deserved her censure but struggling to accept it nonetheless. “I would rather my reputation be ruined entirely so I did not have to marry you.”
With a sigh, Felix took a step towards her, hating to see her flinch.
“And yet it must be so,” he said quietly. “Far be it from me to advise you but, in this, you must be wise and cautious. Wemustmarry. The rumors will begin the moment we step out of this room and, if we are not betrothed, then it will be a scandal. Your father’s name will be affected – and the reputation of your sisters, even though they are already wed, will also be tarnished. It is for the best for everyone for us to marry, even if you do not wish to do so.” Another step brought him to within a handsbreadth of her. “I will give you whatever you wish, even if it be your own estate where you might live far from me. I will give you all that you desire. Do not ruin yourself over this, I beg of you.”
Pink came into her cheeks as she looked back at him. Her lips were trembling, no words coming from her and the sadness in her eyes was almost more than he could bear. Silence filled the room. Felix closed his eyes, swallowing hard, silently praying that he would not be the cause of Lady Elizabeth’s ruination.
