Page 31 of Her Wicked Highwayman
Rafe arched a brow. Two could play this game. He knew he looked like his older brother so much that they were often mistaken for twins, which meant he could usually read his brother’s expressions because it was like reading his own face in a mirror.
“ThenIwould suggest you take your meddling elsewhere.”
Ashton’s lips twitched, but his unshakeable self-control prevented any smile from showing.
“Well, in that case, I’d have to regretfully inform you that I’ve been tasked with such meddling by our dear mama.”
“Mother? What has she to do with this?” Rafe dropped the hypotheticals. What had he done to attract his mother’s attention? There was no way this would end well. When Ashton had been caught in their mother’s sights, she’d tried to match him with every eligible woman within fifty miles.
“She believes that because you are now a father, you need a suitable young lady to marry. She says Isla will need a mother figure in her life. And even more unfortunate for you, Rosalind especially agrees with her. She grew up with a cruel father, and while her brothers are fine gentlemen, they certainly weren’t motherly. There was no one who understood what her struggles were, especially when coming into womanhood. She would have given anything to have had a mother during such pivotal times in her life.”
Rafe’s gaze strayed to Rosalind, who had tossed her racket away and was chasing a squealing Isla about the well-cut lawn. Finally, she captured the little girl and swung her up in her arms. Something clenched in Rafe’s chest, and his fisted hand pressed against his heart as if somehow that would ease the pain there.
“For a man who loves to gamble, you certainly cannot hide your feelings well.” Ashton folded his paper and set it down on the table, a sure sign that Ashton was committed to this uncomfortable discussion.
Blast and damn.Rafe turned away from him. Damn the man for being right. Rafedidwant a woman in his life, as a wife, as a lover, and Isla needed a mother. It took him a moment to compose the thoughts that ran about in his mind before he spoke.
“It cannot be justanywoman, Ash. Whoever it is, she must be exceptional. Brilliant, beautiful, kind, brave, and loving.”
“Expecting perfection is a dangerous thing,” Ashton warned.
“It never stopped you.” Rafe’s shoulders dropped. “Besides, I don’t desire perfection. Heaven knows I don’t deserve it. You and I know that few people can offer you everything.”
And I offer so little as it is.The grim thought made his world bleaker than he knew it should feel given that it was a bright and sunny day.
“True enough, but you must also ask yourself what you would offer this woman in return? A good marriage is a marriage between equals. If you find this truly exceptional woman, what will make you worthy of her?” And there it was, Ashton, ever the soothsayer reading Rafe’s deepest, darkest, most shameful thoughts.
“Never good enough, am I?” Rafe muttered, unable to hide the bitterness in his tone. “No title, no money, no home of my own. Perhaps you and Rosalind should take Isla and?—”
“Rafe,” Ashton growled in frustration. “You and I both know that Isla is your child—she could not live without you. And as to the matter of possessing a title or money, none of those things matter to therightwoman. What she needs are the very same things you desire of her—bravery, kindness, and most importantly, love.” His brother’s eyes softened. “You will know the right woman when you meet her. Perhaps not love at first sight, but you will feel something beyond words, something that pulls you into her. Even when Rosalind and I were fighting over shipping companies when we first met, there was this wildspark that made it impossible for me to stay away from her. I could not erase her from my mind. Some men mistake lust and obsession as the signals to look for, but it must be deeper than your body’s impulse to possess her. It is the difference between simply wanting to bed a woman and wanting to be there for her afterward, eager to listen to her whispers as she shares herself, her thoughts, her dreams, and her hopes with you.”
How insufferable it must be to always be correct about everything, Rafe thought. He saw Rosalind and Isla collapse onto the grass. Isla raised her little hand, pointing at the clouds above their heads. It made Rafe’s thoughts drift back to that night in the hunting lodge, to the woman who had given him her trust and held her soul in her eyes.
He’d wanted to tell her his name, wanted to tell her about Isla, about his family, about everything. He’d wanted to ask her a thousand questions about her own life. He’d craved to know her, but he couldn’t. The more they knew about each other, the more dangerous it was for both of them, and he could not risk that young woman’s life. His little fire drake... his cunning little thief. He couldn’t help but smile.
“Now that is something I haven’t seen in quite a while,” Ashton mused.
“What?”
“You smiling with, dare I say, mischievous delight?”
Rafe leaned back in his chair. “I smile. I smile quite often.”
“Yes, you have smiles for Isla, smiles for Rosalind, and even a smile for me on occasion. But thatparticularsort of smile... It’s been years since I’ve seen that. Since before...” Ashton paused. “Since before Father died.”
Rafe said nothing. Thinking about who he used to be before that terrible night was too much to bear.
“Right, well.” Ashton cleared his throat. “You can begin wife hunting tomorrow evening.”
“Tomorrow evening?” Rafe didn’t particularly like his older brother’s amused expression, or the fact that he’d come to this conversation prepared for the outcome.
“Yes, we’ve been invited to a ball. I have accepted your invitation on your behalf.”
“Ash, I amnotin the mood to put on bloody knee breeches and run about fetching drinks for young chits for several hours on end.”
His brother’s brows rose. “Would you prefer to hunt for someone in London? I could easily send you off to stay with Mother. I’m sure she would bemorethan happy to take charge of such a noble mission herself.”
Rafe shot to his feet, scowling. “Good God, man! You are a heartless devil.”
