Good Earls Don't Lie (24 page)

She extricated her hand from his and introduced them. “Lord Burkham, may I present a friend of the family, Iain Donovan, the Earl of Ashton.”

Burkham nodded in greeting. “It is good to see you again, Ashton. I seem to recall speaking with you at length, last season.”

Iain only sent the man an amused look. Whether it was a lie spoken to give the illusion that they’d met before or whether Burkham genuinely thought they had met, he didn’t know. But before he could respond, Rose interjected, “No, Lord Ashton has never been to London. You must be thinking of his older brother, Michael Donovan.”

The viscount’s smile dimmed. “Forgive me for the mistake. If you are now the earl, then I must offer my condolences.”

Iain could only nod and shake the man’s hand. “Thank you.” It occurred to him that there was no way of knowing what connections Michael had made in London. His brother might have friends here, and that might prove useful.

Burkham turned to his companion, likely with the intent of introducing the young lady, but one of the matrons approached first. The older woman eyed Iain from head to toe before she introduced the girl as Miss Everett. Iain bowed and spoke the necessary courtesies, but he didn’t miss the stiff expression on Rose’s face when she met the debutante.

“Will you be attending the Duchess of Worthingstone’s ball tomorrow evening?” Lord Burkham asked Rose.

She is, and if you dare to break her heart again, I’ll be breaking every bone in your body.
Iain took every effort to keep from revealing his annoyance.

Lady Rose only nodded. “I am. But please, Lord Burkham and Miss Everett—” She sent a pleading look toward the chaperones as well. “My family does not know that I’ve begun walking again. It was my intention to surprise them at the ball.”

“Then may I ask that you save your first dance for me?” the viscount asked with a warm smile. “For old times’ sake?”

When I’m cold in the grave,
Iain thought.

But Rose blushed and answered, “Of course.”

Miss Everett’s cheeks reddened, for the viscount was now behaving as if she were invisible. She couldn’t have been more than nineteen, Iain decided. And her chances of wedding the viscount were disappearing before her eyes. He felt rather sorry for her.

“Until tomorrow,” the viscount said, and he bowed to Rose before escorting Miss Everett back to the pathway.

Rose kept a smile fixed upon her face until they’d gone, and afterwards, she groaned. “I cannot believe I was so foolish.”

Iain didn’t know how to respond to that. “What do you mean? You had your moment of triumph.”

“Not in the way I imagined it.” She watched Lord Burkham as he departed with Miss Everett and their chaperones. “I doubt if he will keep my secret. And furthermore, those women will go and spread gossip that we were seen walking together unchaperoned. Especially Mrs. Everett.”

“We weren’t precisely unchaperoned. Hattie is only standing over there.”

“No, but she will make it sound as if you were kissing me within the bushes, ready to defile me. Mrs. Everett is a notorious gossip, and she made Lily’s life miserable last Season. She wants her daughter to marry a titled lord, and she will denigrate anyone who stands in her way.”

Iain took her arm in his. “I wouldn’t let it trouble you,
a chara
. Or are you planning to fight Miss Everett for your viscount?”

“I don’t know.” Her face fell, and she regarded him. “Right now, I feel so uncertain about everything. I know I said I would save him my first dance . . . but all I could think of was how he said what I wanted to hear. He only wrote to me six times in half a year. And even those letters were only replies to letters I sent to him.” Her expression furrowed, and she added, “He has already replaced me . . . as if he believed I would never get well.”

There was bewilderment in her voice, and he took her hands in his. But instead of heartbreak, there was frustration in her eyes. “Iain,” she murmured. “What am I to do now?”

A strand of reddish-brown hair had fallen loose from her bonnet, and he envisioned untying the ribbons and tossing it away, kissing her hard. He wanted to release her hands, for he didn’t trust himself right now. She was beautiful and vulnerable, and God help him, he wanted to console her wounded feelings.

“You should hold your head high and know that you deserve better.”

“I thought I knew what I wanted,” she murmured. “I thought everything would be different once he saw me walk again. But Thomas wasted no time in finding someone else.” Her face tightened with anger, and she bit her lip. “You were right about him. I just didn’t want to admit it.”

He guided her off the path, away from anyone who might intrude. Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears, and he couldn’t stop himself from tracing the edge of her face. “He doesn’t deserve your tears.”

She closed her eyes, gathering her composure. Then she leaned in and rested her cheek against his chest. He put his arms around her, holding her close. The embrace was unexpected, but he would never turn her aside when she needed him. It was as if she took strength from him, and he inhaled the fragrance of her hair.

Don’t do this,
his conscience warned. He was letting himself trespass beyond friendship when he had no future to offer Rose—nothing, save poverty. She was a good woman, but he didn’t want to bring her suffering.

At last, she pulled back from him. With a chagrined look, she confessed, “I apologize for throwing myself at you. I don’t even know why I did.”

“It’s naught to worry yourself over,
a chara.
But we should return to the carriage.”
Before I lose myself and kiss you again.
He reached down and lifted her into his arms.

Her face flushed. “It does feel wrong, allowing you to carry me, when I can walk now. Someone might see us.”

“If anyone does see me carrying you, then I shall toss you into the bushes,” he teased.

She sent him a weak smile and sighed. “I know I’m being silly. It’s just that I don’t want there to be a misunderstanding. It would hurt your chances of finding a bride if others believed we were more than friends.”

Iain walked exceedingly slow, wanting to hold her a little longer. He studied her face, watching her skin flush. “Will it?”

“It might,” she answered. But he heard the slight note of hesitancy in her voice. He stopped walking for a moment, studying her expression. She appeared flustered, almost afraid to speak.

And when he looked into her brown eyes, he saw that she was not unaffected by him. God help them both.

Damn it all, he liked Rose. She was beautiful, resilient, and passionate. He had a feeling that no other woman in London had half of her resourcefulness. But there would be no safety, no steadiness at all in Ireland—only ruins. He didn’t like to admit it, but it was the truth.

Better to hold the distance between them than to imagine a life where he would cause her misery. He never wanted to see those eyes fill up with pain or resentment.

He changed the subject and asked, “Are you wanting to return home or would you prefer to drive a little longer?”

Rose sent him a sidelong smile. “I want to avoid that prison for as long as possible.”

He brought her back to the carriage and helped her inside. Then he offered her the reins. “Would you like to drive the horses, then?”

She appeared startled, but her eyes gleamed at the prospect. “I’ve never driven a team of horses, but yes. Yes, I would like to try.”

He instructed her on how to guide them, and it was the perfect distraction. Within moments, they were driving along the banks of the Serpentine once more. She kept the pace steady instead of racing them, and from the delight in her expression, she was enjoying herself.

After the third time they circled the lake, she handed back the reins. “Though I don’t want to, I suppose I have no choice but to return for luncheon. Unless you brought food?”

He hadn’t, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t remedy the situation. “I can send Hattie to fetch some for us,” he offered.

Rose shook her head. “It’s all right. I’ll return home and my grandmother will send me off to my room to rest. Then I’ll be able to stare at the wall a little longer.”

“There’s no need for that.” He turned the curricle back toward the road. “I will invite myself to luncheon, and afterward, we can play whist or another game, if you’re wanting company.”

Her lips tightened. “No one could ever accuse you of subtlety, Lord Ashton.”

“I don’t know the meaning of the word.”

She laughed at that, and he directed the team in the direction of her family’s townhouse. “You seem overly confident that I would want you to stay.”

“Why wouldn’t you be wanting me to stay? It is preferable to staring at the wall, I hope.”

“I would welcome your company,” she said. “But again, I worry that others will believe you are courting me.”

“Don’t be so concerned about what others think.” He drew the horses to a stop when they reached her townhouse. “Is there any harm in spending an afternoon playing cards with me? Your sister can join us, along with your mother.”

Her spirits lifted for a moment. “My mother would like that, I think. Grandmother has been keeping her behind closed doors as much as possible. I think she is becoming more melancholy each day.”

Before the footman could come to help her disembark, Rose turned back to him. “Thank you for taking me for a drive.” With a soft smile, she added, “And you may stay for luncheon, before you suffer the indignity of losing to me in cards.”

He only shook his head. “Nay,
a chara.
We’re to be partners in the game. It is your mother and sister who must prepare to lose.”

Rose stared into Iain’s eyes when she laid down the ace of spades. His mouth tightened, hinting that he had very few of that suit. She lowered her gaze and then looked back at him to let him know she understood.

“Stop cheating,” Lily warned. “I know the pair of you are up to something. You keep staring at one another.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Rose smiled sweetly at Iain. “We haven’t said a word.”

“You’ve trounced us in three games. Mother, forgive me, but I think we should switch partners.”

“Only if I get
him,
” Lady Penford said. She sent Iain a brilliant smile. “My dear husband and I were quite good at whist, I must say. George adored cards.”

“It’s not my fault I’ve had three hands of rubbish cards,” Lily moaned. She twisted her necklace in despair, and Rose nodded toward Iain, glancing at the necklace. He gave a nod, and she led with the ten of diamonds.

He trumped Lily’s queen with his own king, while her mother threw away a ten of clubs. “Oh, well done,” she told Iain.

“Thank goodness we aren’t wagering anything,” Lily said. “I would be a pauper by now.”

“A wager sounds like a grand idea,” Iain countered. “If I win this next hand, I’ll claim a prize of my choosing and then switch partners by way of thanks.”

Oh no. Rose didn’t like the wicked look in his eyes. “And what about me? What if
I
win the trick?” She had a few high cards remaining. “What if I don’t want to switch partners? We
are
winning, after all.”

“Do be fair, Rose,” her sister said. “The two of you have beaten us enough. It’s time to give me the Earl of Ashton.” To the earl, she asked, “Lord Ashton, exactly what did you want for your prize?”

“The first dance with your sister at the Worthingstone ball,” he answered quietly.

The room fell silent, and Rose paled. Neither her mother nor her sister knew of her ability to walk, much less dance.

“I cannot promise that,” she answered. “You ask too much.”

Lily attempted to intervene. “While I’m certain Rose would be delighted to grant that to you when she walks again, I fear it may be some time yet before she can.”

Rose couldn’t bring herself to speak. Although she had already promised her first dance to the viscount, both of them knew it was unlikely that Lord Burkham would offer. But why would Iain want her first dance? She suspected there was something more behind the wager. Almost like . . . jealousy.

When he’d embraced her in Kensington Gardens, she had felt safe and comforted. His strong arms had held her, and she had nestled against his chest. They had a good friendship, and she couldn’t deny her attraction to him. If she were truthful with herself, she’d wanted him to kiss her. She’d wanted to feel as if someone desired her, as if he cared.

The thought of dancing with this man in front of the ton filled her with apprehension. Not only because she was afraid of humiliating herself . . . but also because the very thought made her heartbeat quicken. His hands would be upon her again, those green eyes watching her with interest.

You’re trying to help him find a wealthy bride
, she reminded herself
. He’s not courting you. His offer means nothing.

Lord Ashton was watching her, revealing none of his feelings. She tried to tell herself that one dance would pose no harm at all. It might be that
she
would win the wager and could redirect his attention elsewhere.