Page 46 of Wicked Rivals
Lucien’s younger sister was a brilliant scholar but could not attend university. Audrey Sheridan was one of the most politically minded women he’d ever met, yet she covered her interests with talk of fashion to avoid ridicule. She would never have a voice in the House of Lords. And then there was Rosalind. She was the most cunning and intelligent business rival he’d ever faced, and he’d been bested by her clever strategies more than once. He suddenly realized that Emily’s Society of Rebellious Ladies might have more of a purpose behind them than to simply distract their husbands.
She gazed into the distance, her eyes full of that sadness that ate away at his resolve to talk her into marrying him.
“I would not give any of that up. Not unless I knew I would be loved and that I would be free. The first you cannot promise, and the second you cannot give.”
He reached out and stole one of her hands, closing his fingers around hers and raising them to his lips for his slow kiss.
“Consider this. I have my reasons for wishing to control your business, but they are not what you believe them to be. I would return control of them to you in time.” It was the most he could reveal without telling her about Hugo Waverly. None of the League had ever divulged the depth of their worries when it came to Waverly. He was far too dangerous, and the less involved their families and friends were, the safer they were. At least, that was what Ashton believed.
“Assuming you could even find a way to legally protect my property as my own after marriage, when would you give me control back?” A hint of hope in her eyes made him feel wretched since he couldn’t say for sure when it would be safe to do so.
“I don’t know the exact time—”
She jerked her hand free of his and turned her face away. “Because there is no such time. My answer will always be no. I shall not marry you. We shall play our charade for your mother’s sake, and that is all.”
He attempted to ignore the sting of that refusal, but he failed.
“That does not solve your problem, Rosalind. I own your entire life still—do not forget that,” he warned her.
Her eyes glittered like sharp silver pieces of a broken mirror. “Oh, I haven’t forgotten. I suppose trusting you to hold to our agreement was foolish of me. You will return one company to me, but now it sounds as though you’ll hold the rest hostage unless I marry you? Forgive me for not being pleased with the situation.” She paused, and with a sharp look she added, “If necessary, I shall marry another man, and then you mayown himwhile I shall be free of you.”
“Bloody hell, woman!” He lunged for her, but she moved fast for a woman burdened by skirts. She was up and dashing back towards the children in the field.
“Ashton!” Joanna’s voice interrupted the stream of wild thoughts he was currently entertaining.
“What is it?” he snapped.
“Don’t be a fool.” Joanna was standing over him, arms crossed and glowering.
“My apologies.” He only half meant it. Rosalind’s stubbornness was putting him in a foul mood.
“Mama is right. You are a wretched seducer. I am beginning to wonder if the rumors about you from London are in factonlyrumors.”
Ashton got to his feet and frowned at his sister.
“You aren’t supposed to hear such things.” She wasn’t allowed to go unchaperoned to any events and even then only to events he and his mother deemed appropriate. Rumors about his seductions should not have spread to any such places.
Joanna frowned. “Rosalind is right—you don’t understand women, and you clearly underestimate them. Stop being a pompous idiot and court her properly. I’ll see if I can convince her to go to the Mertons’ ball tonight.”
Joanna twirled her bonnet on one finger and walked away.
Fuming, Ashton stalked toward Charles and Jonathan, who were both sniggering and not even attempting to hide it.
“Trouble with your lady love?” Charles asked.
“Laugh again if you wish to have a bloody nose.”
Charles threw up his hands in mock surrender. “Touchy, eh? Jonathan, you owe me a pound. I do believe a certain lady will not be attending the ball tonight.”
Jonathan dug around in his pockets, but Ashton caught his arm.
“Don’t pay just yet, Jon. Double your wager. I will see that she attends tonight.” And then he left in search of his horse. He needed to go on a long ride to cool his heels. If he was to play the courtly gentleman tonight, it would take all of his focus and control. Or else he’d do what he’d been threatening to and take Rosalind to bed because she needed a release as much as he did.
Courting her is going to be the bloody death of me.
Chapter Twelve
Mr. Pevensly took pride in being Lady Melbourne’s butler and seeing to the duties which helped him care for Her Ladyship’s residence. Holding his head high, he descended the stairs, white gloves running the length of the banister. When he reached the bottom stair he lifted his gloved fingers, examining them for dust. They came away clean. With a satisfied smile, he proceeded through the rest of the house, checking on each room. The last door he came to before he was to join the staff downstairs for supper was Her Ladyship’s study.
