Page 18 of Stolen by My Knave
CHAPTER SEVEN
Elizabeth hadn’t managed to have any time with Jack in days. He’d successfully avoided her at every corner. She didn’t know what she should do about it, but if he didn’t stand still long enough to have a conversation with her, she wouldn’t be held responsible for her actions. Whatever was going through his head, it had made him bolt, and she wanted to understand. The entire thing was too frustrating. She teetering on the edge of losing her temper and giving into it wouldn’t help in the slightest.
“What has you in a tizzy?”
She turned her head to meet Christian’s gaze. Her brother smiled, showcasing the dimple on his left cheek. It was never a positive thing for one of the twins to be smiling that brightly. They were up to no good. “Where is Nicholas?”
“He’ll be around shortly. One of the ladies has taken an interest in us.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “What exactly does that mean?”
Just once, she’d like to be wrong about the two of them. From that little statement, Nicholas was probably hurting some poor girl’s feelings. When Elizabeth saw him, she would have to make a point of explaining why that wasn’t the thing to do. It was rude and quite bruising to have your feelings thrown back in your face. She should know—after all, hadn’t Jack essentially done the exact thing to her?
“Nick lost the wager, so he’s the one who has to entertain her.”
That was even worse. What kind of bet did the two rascals make? She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Spill it all now, or I’ll tell Mama what the two of you are doing.”
“But you don’t know what it is we did, so how can you possibly tattle?”
Drat. He did have a small point. “I know enough, and I can make up the rest. You’re well aware of Mama’s stance on leading a girl on. It sounds as if you two are well engrossed in doing that.”
Their mother lectured both the twins repeatedly on being careful with a woman’s heart. She wanted them to be brave, but kind. So far, they hadn’t been living up to her expectations. Though Nicholas was the most sensitive of the two of them. Elizabeth suspected when he finally did fall in love, he’d do so completely and unequivocally.
“You wouldn’t dare,” He said alarmed.
“Wouldn’t I?” She raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to take that risk?”
Christian sighed. “It’s Lady Bianca. Her mother pushes her at every eligible gentleman. It’s been twice as hard at me and Nick. The dratted woman can’t tell us apart though, so she doesn’t know if she pushed her daughter at the first heir or the second. Truthfully, I’m not sure it matters to her. I actually feel sorry for her, but not enough to marry her. I’m too young.”
Elizabeth sighed. What was it with the countess and pushing her daughter to every man in sight? Surely she wanted a marriage with love and respect for her daughter. Wasanymarriage preferable to her? Did her daughter’s happiness take second to everything else? Christian was right in that regard. The girl deserved their pity for having such a dragon for a mother.
“Tell me what game you and Nicholas have going on.”
It was Christian’s turn to sigh. “The wager doesn’t matter. All that counts is he lost and I won. The loser had to keep Lady Bianca company whenever the need arose, so he’s currently walking with her through the garden. It’s all innocent I swear. It’s—well—tedious is all. We have better things to do than to pay any attention to a girl we have no intention of courting. But you know Mama raised us not to be rude.” He shrugged. “Nick happened to draw the short end of the stick.”
Elizabeth nodded. “As long as you’re not doing any irreparable harm, I suppose that’s all right. I’ll go check on them in the garden.”
“We’d never do anything of the kind.” He blanched. “Mama would skin us alive.”
“See that you don’t do anything stupid. I’m going to go to the garden now.”
Christian nodded. “Have fun.”
Elizabeth left him in the hall and headed toward the door leading outside. The garden was a short walk from there. Once she stepped outside, she ran into Lord Redmayne surprising them both into flustered silence. She barely suppressed the urge to groan. She’d been avoiding him as much as Jack had been avoiding her. It was a full party of people disappearing on one another. She had good reason. Lord Redmayne wanted to court her in truth, but she didn’t have the heart to discourage him. He seemed so eager to have her in his life, yet he did nothing for her. Not like Jack did. Her heart beat hard in her chest whenever she saw Jack. Her feelings for him grew with each interaction.
“Lady Elizabeth,” Lord Redmayne said eagerly. “It is so good to see you. Are you perhaps heading toward the garden?”
“Yes, actually I am.” She couldn’t very well lie when she had a need to check in on Nicholas and Lady Bianca. “I’m in search of my brother. Have you seen him recently?”
“I have not,” he replied. “But I wasn’t in the garden either. I went for a ride.”
Why couldn’t he have been riding longer? Was it too much to ask for him to leave her alone? Probably so... She’d have to be honest with him at some point. Now wasn’t the time for a heart to heart with him though. Elizabeth had more pressing matters to attend to. Number one on her list was Nicholas, and then it was hunting down Jack. “I trust your ride was pleasant.”
“It was.” He stepped beside her and matched her pace as they strolled toward the garden. Maybe she’d get lucky again and Lady Clifton would highjack his attention. Providence wasn’t on her side though, and he stuck by her side the entire length of the garden.
The silence between her and Lord Redmayne was deafening. She was at a loss on what to talk to him about. The usual social niceties about the weather and other inane topics had been covered in length earlier in the day. Seriously, how many times could one say, “Nice weather we’re having...” before they went insane? For that reason, she’d never been so glad to see one of her brothers lurking in the distance. Once she spotted him, it took all she had inside her to stop herself from sprinting to his side to escape Lord Redmayne’s company. She was aware she wasn’t being fair to the man. It wasn’t his fault she found him so unappealing. They continued moving forward at a snail’s pace until they finally were within shouting distance of her brother and Lady Bianca. Nicholas smiled in recognition and waved at them. Elizabeth waved back happily.
“Ellie,” her brother called out. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been a crazy sennight. We’re like two ships passing in the night and never noticing each other. Have you met Lady Bianca?”
