Page 57 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
They do not trust me,he thought. And I cannot blame them, in the least.
He took a deep breath. “Of course I shall join them in the drawing room,” he said slowly. “I am able to walk, and even though the wound is throbbing, it feels much improved from yesterday.” He touched his bandaged arm lightly as he spoke.
The maid nodded. “That is good to hear, sir! We were all very worried about you. I know that the young mistress was beside herself when the doctor was removing the bullet. Pacing the floor, almost tearing her hair out, so she was…” She bit her lip, blushing a little. Miles could see that she had not been meaning to say as much as she had.
His heart swelled, filling his chest, so that he could barely breathe.
She does care for me,he thought, his eyes filling with sudden tears.She is fighting it mightily, but she does.
He pictured her lying on this very bed, her nightgown bunched around the top of her legs as he ravaged over her body. Her face, in its moment of ecstasy. His fingers tingled slightly at the memory. What might have next happened if they hadn’t been interrupted? Would she have admitted, at long last, that she loved him as much as he loved her?
The maid placed the tray on his lap, and then walked out without another word. Miles picked up a bread roll, chewing thoughtfully.
Hemustsee her again, before he left for Thorn House. He simply had to convince her that they were meant to be together. He simply didn’t know how he was going to live, if he didn’t.
***
Miles followed the butler into the drawing room, adjusting the sleeves on the slightly oversized jacket he was wearing. He had been provided with clean, fresh clothes to change into, while his own were being laundered after the incident yesterday. But they were obviously intended for a larger man than himself. The breeches sagged, and he was swimming in the shirt.
He gazed around the room. It was richly, if sparsely, furnished, with mahogany and teak items. A pale pink and blue Abyssinian rug lay underfoot. Mrs. Nott sat on the upholstered blue chaise lounge in the centre of the room, while Mr. Nott stood next to her, gazing down at a newspaper which was lying on a side table.
They both looked up as he entered. He saw Mr. Nott’s mouth tighten a little, but he masked it quickly, nodding politely. Mrs. Nott kept staring at him, unsmiling, even when he nodded at her.
The older man cleared his throat. “My Lord,” he said slowly. “Please, sit down. I am glad to see that you are recovered enough to dress and see us.”
Miles nodded, doing as he asked, feeling uncomfortable. There was a strained silence.
Miles took a deep breath. “I am glad that you sent for me,” he said eventually. “I wanted to convey my gratitude, for what you have done, in person.”
Mr. Nott nodded quickly. “It was what anyone would have done in the circumstances, sir.” He frowned. “It is a terrible business, indeed! The sooner that they catch this rake, the better. No one can sleep easily in their beds while he is at large.”
Miles nodded too. “Quite so. And while he hid most of his face, Ididsee his eyes. They were quite distinctive. I feel sure that I would be able to identify him, if it came to it…”
“Good, good.” Mr. Nott looked distracted, and slightly uncomfortable. “There is another reason we have asked to speak with you, sir. It concerns my daughter, Arabella…”
Miles felt his heart start to thud uncomfortably in his chest. He knew that this would be coming, and he also knew that he deserved it after what he had done in London.
Mr. Nott gazed at him steadily. “There is the matter of your deception, sir. Arabella was bitterly disappointed with what happened in London. And the resulting scandal meant that we all had to flee the city until it blew over.” He paused. “What have you to say on the matter?”
Miles took a deep breath. “I am thoroughly ashamed of myself,” he said quietly. “My brother, the Duke, and I, proposed the wager, when we had partaken of one too many drinks. We did not think it through…what the consequences might be.” He took another deep breath. “I am so sorry that I hurt Arabella, and all of you, through my careless actions.”
Mr. Nott’s face tightened. “I was convinced that I would challenge you to a duel if I laid eyes on you again, sir. I am protective of my daughter, and I do not like when someone treats her in such a cavalier fashion.” He paused, glaring at Miles. “Arabella has not been herself ever since she met you, and especially since that ball. She has a melancholy spirit that I have never seen in her before.”
Miles flinched, as if he had been struck. Hearing how his thoughtless actions had hurt her was a bitter pill to swallow, indeed.
“We all had such high hopes for you, sir,” said Mrs. Nott, in a shaky voice. “I thought that you had a genuine regard for our daughter. You have misused her abominably…”
Miles ran a hand through his hair. “I know what I have done, madam. I am trying to make it up to her.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “Idohave a genuine regard for Ara. I was trying to convince her of that, when we fought at the ball. I never meant to hurt her, but I did not know how to tell her that I was not the Duke of Lancaster….”
“You were a coward, sir,” spat Mr. Nott, his eyes hard. “To let her go to that ball and be introduced to your brother. It was a terrible shock for all of us.”
Miles nodded, feeling about as low as he ever had. “I cannot undo what I have done, sir. But I am sincere in my apology, and sincere when I tell you that I care for your daughter. I wish to see her again. That is why I am here, in Dorset….”
Mrs. Nott leaned forward, her eyes sharp. “You genuinely care for Ara?”
He nodded, feeling sweat pouring down the back of his neck. “I admire her more than any young lady that is in my acquaintance. I am just trying to convince her that I am genuine in what I say.” He gritted his teeth in frustration. “She is very hurt, and does not trust me, but I willnotgive up…”
There was a sudden silence. He knew that the intensity of his words was shocking them, just a little. But he didn’t know what else to do. He was desperate. If he couldn’t convince Ara’s parents of his sincerity, then he knew that it would make it so much harder to convince her.
