Secrets of a Runaway Bride (9 page)

Jordan clenched his jaw. That was it. Something about Annie reminded him of his own foolishness years ago. That was why her situation affected him so greatly. For some inexplicable reason he was determined to keep her from making the same mistake he had.

Jordan leaned against the coach cushions and scrubbed a hand across his face. His mind drifted back to a time over five years ago, a time when he’d been just as foolhardy as Annie. He’d fallen for a young lady. A young lady who had managed to convince him that she loved him. Him. Not his bloody title and his bloody fortune or his bloody looks, but
him
. And hadn’t he played the fool as if he’d invented the role? Bringing her flowers, telling her he loved her, asking her to marry him …

He shook his head. He’d found out soon enough that it had all been a game to her. A game involving money and titles. Nothing more. Thank God he’d found out before it had been too late. Yes, he’d been saved. And he would never make that mistake again. His brothers didn’t have to worry about a woman wanting them for their titles alone. They were not the heirs to the earldom. And while each of them had a sizable income, they would fare much better on the marriage mart. It was a risk Jordan had vowed never to take again.

He expelled his breath in a rush, bringing his attention back to the coach and his frustrating night with Annie Andrews. Damn it, he couldn’t see Nicoletta now. That infernal kiss with Little Miss Mischief earlier had left him more aroused than he realized. And he couldn’t get the confounded chit from his mind. Somehow the idea of losing himself in Nicoletta’s lush exoticness didn’t entice him the way it usually did. Nicoletta was all cynical and worldly and Annie was … the exact opposite. Since when did he find himself aroused by innocents, anyway? Good God, she was messing with his bloody head.

Very well, he’d go to the club and have a drink. There was always an amusement of some sort at the club and it was happily lacking in females.

He rapped on the door to the coachman. “The club, John,” he commanded, and the conveyance started down the street with a jolt.

*   *   *

Jordan was two hands into a mildly entertaining card game when James Bancroft, Viscount Medford, appeared at his side. Jordan and Colton were old friends—well, enemies really—with Medford. The three had attended both Eton and Cambridge together. Devon and Jordan had been devil-may-care rogues. Medford was an impeccably starched perfectionist who made stellar marks and was the darling of the schoolmasters … and now the
ton
. His nickname was Lord Perfect.

In short, the man was … nauseating.
Perfectly
nauseating. But Lily was friendly with the man and that meant he and Colton had to be civil.

Medford pulled up a chair next to him and sat. “Fancy seeing you here, Ashbourne.”

Jordan groaned. “Oh, excellent. The ideal end to this hideous evening.”

Medford flashed a smile. “Ah, do I mistake my guess or do you mean you are not happy to see me?”

Jordan eyed Medford with a look of excruciating distaste. “When have I ever been happy to see you, Medford?”

The viscount straightened his already straight shoulders. “There is a first time for everything, Ashbourne. A first time for everything.”

Jordan tossed his cards on the table, the end of the hand. “Are you going to play cards or bore me with meaningless witticisms all evening?”

Medford nodded to the dealer. “I’m in.”

“Very well. Now leave me alone.”

Medford cleared his throat. “I heard you’d escorted Miss Andrews to the Lindworths’ this evening.” He scooped up the cards he’d just been dealt.

Jordan groaned and ran his palm over his face. “Of course you did. Nothing in this town is unknown for long. But cut to the chase, Medford. What exactly do you want to know?”

Medford shuffled the cards in his hand. “Know? Nothing. I merely wanted to remind you that Annie is like a sister to me.”

Jordan inclined his head toward Medford. “I’m happy to relinquish my chaperone duties into your perfectionistic hands, Medford. Just say the word.”

“No, no, that’s not necessary. I intend to enjoy watching you squirm.”

Jordan rolled his eyes. “Oh, perfect.”

Medford tossed a card on the table. “Lily did ask me to keep an eye on the two of you though. Perhaps she didn’t trust you completely, although I can’t imagine why.”

Jordan narrowed his eyes on the other man. “As I said, I’m happy to relinquish my duties. It surprises me, in fact, that as close as you and Lily are, she didn’t ask
you
to chaperone her sister. Says something, doesn’t it?”

Medford’s smile was tight. “Don’t think I didn’t volunteer, but Lily’s sensitive to the fact that she asked a lot of me this year and didn’t want to bother me with more. You’ll do, Ashbourne. I daresay I prefer to see Annie in your company as opposed to Arthur Eggleston’s. The man is named after a breakfast food, after all.”

Jordan pressed his lips together to squash his smile. “Your point, Medford?”

Medford stood and tossed his cards on the table. “I’m out. I’m not much for gambling, as you know.”

Jordan inclined his head. “Don’t let me keep you.”

Medford stared down his perfect nose. “My point is, Ashbourne, you’re keeping an eye on Annie, and I’m keeping an eye on you.”

CHAPTER 10

Jordan paced the salon at Devon’s town house, waiting for Annie Andrews to grace him with her elusive presence. When she finally deigned to arrive, Jordan did his best not to notice she was wearing a yellow day dress that hugged her curves and brought out the sparkle in her dark eyes.

He rose to greet her and bowed over her dainty hand. She looked bright and fresh and pretty, with a smile that should lead many greater men than Arthur Eggleston on a merry chase. Jordan cleared his throat. “I thought I’d save us both a lot of unnecessary time and trouble and invite you to the Roths’ this evening.”

Annie pulled her hand away and snorted. “My, but you turn my head with your pretty invitations.”

Jordan shrugged. “I’ve discovered that Lord Medford is watching my association with you, and with Lord Perfect taking note, I dare not make any mistakes. Besides, I am tasked with keeping an eye on you, and I’ve decided to do so with your cooperation rather than your petty unhappiness.”

Annie laughed. “And now I’m petty? Honestly, I do not know how you’ve remained a bachelor this long, my lord. I also don’t know why Frances finds you so attractive,” she mumbled.

“Is this the same Frances who called me a rakehell?” He grinned. “She said I was attractive too?”

Annie shook her head. “Oh, never mind, I daren’t inflate your ego any further.”

Jordan slapped his gloves against his thigh. “Look. You’ve been keeping me from my pastimes too, m’dear. Believe me, attending balls is hardly the way I prefer to spend my evenings.”

Annie glanced away. “I’m sorry, truly I am, for being such a bother. But you’re not exactly making my life easy, either. Can’t we just agree to be pleasant acquaintances at these affairs?”

He eyed her skeptically. “Pleasant acquaintances?”

Annie nodded. “The truth is, Lord Ashbourne, I am feeling a bit churlish. Despite the fact that you were
exceedingly
rude to me last night”—she paused and gave him a brief, disapproving stare—“you don’t deserve to have your schedule interrupted by seeing to me. I very much want to give you your freedom.” She smiled at him.

Jordan narrowed his eyes on her. “My freedom? How would we manage that?”

Annie took a deep breath. “Aunt Clarissa is, ahem, a bit under the weather today. I can attend the Roths’ dinner party this evening with my friend Frances and her mother. You can arrive late, make sure I’m minding my manners, and then leave. Go off on your usual … pursuits.”

Jordan contemplated the matter. He liked the sound of it. He might make it to Nicoletta’s house tonight after all. The lady had been more than peeved when he’d failed to pay her a call last night. He’d had to send a virtual hothouse of flowers to make up for it this morning. No doubt jewelry would be in order if he missed another visit.

Yes, he did like the sound of Miss Andrews’s offer,
if
he could trust her. But what if she were just trying to trick him? The girl seemed honest enough, if completely misguided, but there was always the possibility …

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you promise not to take off into the gardens again with that sop Eggleston?”

Annie rubbed her temples. “
Must
you insult him?”

“Believe me, I’m doing the best I can. ‘Sop’ is the least offensive thing I have to say about him.”

“Very well.” Annie nodded. “I promise.”

He eyed her suspiciously.

She smoothed her skirts “You don’t believe me, do you?”

“On the contrary, Miss Andrews, I am merely considering your spotted past, including such endeavors as running off to Gretna Green.”

Annie pressed her lips together. “That was a long time ago.”

“That was six months ago.” His arms remained crossed.

She pressed the palm of her hand to her forehead. “Be that as it may, I have no intention of—as you say—chasing after Mr. Eggleston.”

“You’ll excuse me if I say I find that difficult to believe?”

Annie tossed her hands in the air. She paced over to the sideboard and rang for tea, then she turned back to face Lord Ashbourne. “You have no reason not to trust me.”

“I am a student of history, Miss Andrews. And as such, I’ve learned that history
always
repeats itself.”

Annie was glad she was not facing him at present so he couldn’t see her roll her eyes. The man thought he knew absolutely everything. About everything. Specifically, about her. But he didn’t know her at all. It was true, she had been feeling churlish, and she had hoped they might declare a truce, but here he was acting arrogant again. Apparently, there was no reasoning with him.

Evans soon arrived with tea and Annie made a show of sitting down and pouring. “Don’t let me keep you, Lord Ashbourne, if you’re too busy for tea.”

Jordan took a seat. “I’m not much for tea, to be honest, but I don’t think we’ve concluded our discussion yet.”

She gave him her most fake smile and pushed his teacup and saucer toward him. “Very well. What else do you intend to lecture me upon?”

“Lecture you? Bah.” He swiped a hand through the air. “If you weren’t so deuced sure of yourself, you might actually listen to what I have to say.”

She batted her eyelashes at him and raised her teacup to her lips. “I’m listening. On tenterhooks, actually.”

The silver of his eyes glinted through slits, but the hint of a smile rested in his perfectly molded lips. “Don’t you think that just perhaps I’ve seen a bit more of the world than you have? Know a few things that you do not?”

She took a sip and set the delicate cup back on its saucer. “It’s clear you think you know more but I’ve yet to hear anything I’ve found particularly wise.”

He smiled then and shook his head. “You, Miss Andrews, are incorrigible. You were this way as a child, were you not? I can tell.”

She straightened her shoulders. “I can only imagine you as a child. A short dictator. Ordering your brothers about?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Something like that. But I was never short.” He flashed her a grin.

Annie settled back into her chair. “I know how you older siblings are. Completely sure of yourselves and used to everyone falling into step behind you. You have very little concept of being wrong. But I assure you, it’s possible.”

*   *   *

Jordan watched her through grudgingly admiring eyes. He liked the young lady’s confidence. He would allow her that. Of course she was entirely misguided, but give him a misguided confident person any day over a vacillating sort. Like Arthur Eggleston, for instance.

“I am not wrong about this, Miss Andrews. I stand by what I said last night. Eggleston is not the man for you.”

“And I cannot fathom how you could possibly know that.”

Jordan groaned. “Let’s go about this in a different manner, shall we?”

She shrugged. “Very well.”

“Why do you think he is the
right
man for you?”

Annie took a sip of tea. “When I met Arthur, I just knew.”

Jordan had to fight to keep his expression blank. She was right. He
had
been exceedingly rude to her last night, and he was doing his deuced best to make up for it today, but she certainly wasn’t making it easy for him. “How did you know?’

She got a downright dreamlike look in her eye. “I was coming back from the market with Mary one day. I’d dropped one of my parcels. Arthur picked it up for me. He smiled at me. He said, ‘I thought the weather today was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen until I saw you.’”

Jordan couldn’t stop the eye roll this time. “Really? That’s it? That’s the entire reason you think you fell in love with him?”

“I don’t think, I know. Besides.” Annie glanced down at her hands then but not before Jordan saw a flash of pain in her eyes. “I don’t expect anyone as beautiful as you to understand what it feels like when someone admires you for the first time in your life.”

Jordan couldn’t stop the jolt of masculine pride that shot through him. Annie apparently found him attractive. But her other words made Jordan frown. Admire her for the first time in her life? That couldn’t possibly be true. Why, the girl was an undeniable beauty. What the deuce was she talking about? “No, Miss Andrews, but I do know the feeling when people falsely pretend to like you for who you are when really all they care about are your looks, or your connections, or your money.”

Annie’s brow wrinkled. “I’d never considered that, but it hardly applies to Arthur’s feelings toward me. I had barely any connections when we met and no money at all.”

Jordan shook his head. He shouldn’t have said so much. And Annie was right. It had nothing to do with her. Besides, he was wasting his breath trying to convince her that she was not in love with Arthur Eggleston. He’d do well to keep his nose out of it for the next three weeks. Convincing her he was right was not part of being a chaperone. It was time to change the subject. “By the by, how is your fox?”