Page 96 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville
She wished to God she’d never laid eyes on Nathan Hyatt. If Papa had only realized what the man was. At least she had the satisfaction of knowing that Papa had been just as deceived in his character as she.
Or . . . maybe not. Papahaddragged his feet at their marriage. A pity that he had left his will intact.
They reached the inn. She was surprised that Freddy wasn’t waiting in the hall for them. He had to be spitting mad by now.
“What we need to do,” Mr. Pinter said as they climbed the stairs, “is hurry back to London and engage an attorney as soon as possible. I’m sure that your father’s will can be circumvented somehow. Don’t give up hope.”
She sighed. “Thank you, Mr. Pinter, but I think your generosity has been stretched beyond acceptable limits. I truly cannot afford to pay you any longer.”
“Nonsense,” he said with a wave of his hand. “It is to my advantage to pursue this to its ultimate conclusion. Think of it this way: if I can extricate you from Mr. Hyatt successfully, you will receive your fortune and be able to pay me, not to mention recommend me to all your friends.”
“Of which I have none in England.” She thought wistfully of the Sharpes, but seeking their help was impossible. Not only did they have their own troubles, but she could never face Oliver, considering how she had left.
He patted her shoulder as they halted before the doorto his and Freddy’s room. “You have one friend, Miss Butterfield. You have a friend in me. Remember that.”
She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Surely you have more pressing matters to occupy you in London.”
His expression turned serious. “I once knew a woman in a similar situation to yours. She truly had no friends, and it was her undoing. I like to think that by helping you, I’m doing what someone should have done for her.” He forced a smile as he unlocked his door. “But that is neither here nor there.”
The room was empty.
“That’s odd,” she said. “Freddy ought to have been back by now.”
“I’ll go fetch him from the pie shop while you go pack up.” Tipping his hat, he hurried back down the stairs.
She walked to her own room, discouragement weighing her steps. She couldn’t believe that it had come to this—Nathan threatening to sue her.
Reaching her door, she looked down to see a parcel. When she opened it, she found two kidney pies, still warm. So Freddy had already been here, and recently, too. Where was he now? Shaking her head in bewilderment, she unlocked her door and walked in.
Oliver’s voice said from the window, “It’s about time you returned.”
Startled, she dropped the pies.
Despite the shadows beneath his eyes, she’d never seen a more welcome sight. Even with his cravat badly tied, hisblack hair sticking out in all directions, and his expression uncertain, he made her breath catch in her throat.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“You forgot something when you left Halstead Hall,” he said hoarsely.
“What?”
Her heart leapt into her throat as he strode purposefully toward her. “Me.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Before Maria could even answer, he was kissing her, his mouth a feast of excess, his arms crushing her to him as if he wanted to absorb her into his body.
For one heady moment she gave herself up to the embrace, letting herself revel in the joy of it. Then reality sank in. Just because he’d come after her didn’t mean anything had changed between them.
She pushed him away. Though his eyes darkened, he let her go.
“How did you find me?” she asked as she edged away from him.
His gaze never left her. “Pinter’s coachman let it slip to one of my grooms. When I arrived I saw a pie shop, so I just waited until Freddy showed up. Then I followed him here.” He arched one eyebrow. “Your cousin never can resist a good English pie.”
A heavy sigh escaped her. “I swear, Freddy will be thedeath of me one day.” Painfully conscious of how dowdy her attire must look to him, she removed her bonnet and tossed it onto a chair. “But where did he go? He’s not here.”
“ThatI can’t help you with.”
