Stolen Love (28 page)

"No!"

"You could delay. A long engagement isn't necessarily out of the question."

"People always talk when there is an early birth. Should it come to that, I don't want anyone wondering whether we married for love or for necessity."

"Well, then, I hope you can convince her to change her mind."

Mr. Willard came in just as Lord Eversleigh finished speaking. He glanced at Nicholas, then quietly took a seat across from the viscount. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"

Nicholas came directly to the point. "Mr. Willard, I wish to inform you that Elizabeth may be with child."

Havoc's only sign of emotion was a slight lift of his eyebrows. "And if she is, would it be pointless to ask who the father might be?"

"It is myself, sir."

The gray eyes, so like Elizabeth's widened. "I see." He looked at Lord Eversleigh. "It grieves me to hear you tell me this news, Mr. Villines." He rose, hands clenching and unclenching inside the pockets of his coat. "Am I correct in assuming His Lordship's presence here means the acquaintance between our two families has come to an end, in respect of the social amenities, that is?" He did not wait for an answer. "I cannot believe, Nicholas, that you would take advantage, not just of me and my misguided hospitality to you in the past, but of Elizabeth. That girl worships the very ground you walk on."

"Mr. Willard—"

"I love her as if she were my own." He appealed to Lord Eversleigh. "My lord, surely it would not be so objectionable a match? Elizabeth is not poor. I have for some time now been putting away money against the day of her eventual marriage. This sum now amounts to some twenty thousand pounds, an amount I am fully prepared to double."

"An admirable sum, Mr. Willard, but not persuasive. Last night Nicholas and I discussed your niece at some length. I told him then if he wished to marry her, I had no objections."

"I spoke to Elizabeth last night—" Nicholas began.

"You apparently did a bloody lot more than that! Mr. Villines, Elizabeth loves you, and I think last night you probably found it quite easy to take advantage of the fact. She loves you far too much to refuse you anything you might ask of her."

"The blame is wholly mine," Nicholas said. "In intended only to apologize for my recent bad behavior and to ask her to become my wife. I did both those things, and then… well, I've told you that." He took a deep breath. "We agreed to a long engagement, contingent, naturally, upon your permission. An engagement of any length is now out of the question. I should like to have your permission to marry Elizabeth on the thirty-first of this month, Mr. Willard."

"I fail to understand why my approval was not solicited last night."

"I assure you, Mr. Willard, I meant to do so."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm not convinced of that. I've not been blind to your behavior toward Amelia. It seems to me these last weeks your intentions lay very much with her."

"I agree it might have seemed that way, a circumstance I find I regret extremely. But I have never been the least bit in love with your daughter."

Havoc's expression finally softened. "I only want Elizabeth to be happy."

"I assure you, I want the same thing for her."

"If she wants to marry you, I have no choice but to give my permission." He shook his head. "Under the circumstances, I must agree that the thirty-first is not too soon."

"May we have your blessing?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course."

Eversleigh cleared his throat. "There appears to be only one further obstacle, Mr. Willard."

He turned. "And that is?"

"Miss Willard insists on returning to London this morning—without the benefit of marriage."

"Is that so?" Havoc glanced at Nicholas. "Elizabeth does not seem to share your feelings, after all."

"It is only a misunderstanding. It will be quickly rectified, I assure you."

"Did it suddenly occur to you that I might not let Elizabeth marry with nothing? Is it the prospect of forty thousand pounds that makes you so anxious to marry her?"

"If that were so, Mr. Willard, I would be rather better off if I married Amelia. I love Elizabeth, and I would marry her even if you refused your permission. And you and your money may be damned."

"Nicholas, sit down. Mr. Willard has given his consent to the marriage. You needn't convince
him
of anything."

"We had better call Elizabeth," said Havoc. "But if she does not want to marry you, I won't force her."

"No, you'd rather force her to marry a dried-up man like Beaufort Latchley."

"Please!" Lord Eversleigh lifted his hands. "Remember, if you will, that you both love the same woman. It does no good to argue over which one of you loves her the more."

All three men turned around when the door opened. Elizabeth hesitated when she saw them, then walked to the center of the room, where she stood looking from one to the other of them. She was wearing a dove gray traveling dress, her hair was hastily pinned up, as though she had not quite finished dressing when she was called.

"Elizabeth," Havoc said, "Nicholas has asked me for permission to marry you at the end of this month, and I have given it."

"And if I refuse?" In spite of her dry eyes, it was obvious she was near tears.

"Why would you refuse?" he asked gently. "Is this not what you wanted?"

She did not answer.

"Elizabeth!" Nicholas stepped forward. "What's happened?"

"Miss Willard, surely—"

Elizabeth turned to Nicholas. "I'm the worst thing that ever happened to you, Nicholas. It would be disastrous if we married, or don't you remember saying that? Well, you needn't worry. I won't be the one to ruin your life."

"Dear boy…" The viscount sighed. "When you have spent the night in the arms of a beautiful woman, you ought never to tell her in the morning that it was a mistake."

"Elizabeth, I didn't mean it."

"You won't be forced to marry him," said Havoc, "but think carefully what your life would be like if you refuse and find yourself with child."

"Mr. Willard," Eversleigh said, "perhaps we ought to leave them alone." He took Elizabeth's hand and patted it consolingly. "Your uncle and I concur with Nicholas that your wedding should take place on the thirty-first of the month. I will make the formal announcement tonight—if you agree to be married to my grandson, that is. It is my hope that you will. Now, if you will excuse us. Mr. Willard?"

Nicholas turned to Elizabeth when they were alone. "You were awake when Aunt Winifred came in."

"Yes."

"I do want to marry you. How could you believe otherwise?"

Elizabeth said nothing.

"What did you expect me to think when she saw me in your bed without a stitch of clothing on me?" He crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders. "It's true I did not want to be married so soon. It's even true that a short time ago, I did not want to marry at all. My grandfather offered to send you away. It would have been quite simple to arrange. He's done it twice for Henry." His fingers tightened on her. "But, Elizabeth, I would be miserable without you." He gathered her in his arms when he saw her tears. "Now, you must trust me," he whispered.

She sagged against him, arms tight around his waist. "I was afraid you had changed your mind," she said. "I thought you were sorry."

"Never, Elizabeth."

"We could wait, Nicholas." She looked at him, eyes glistening with tears. "We don't have to be married so soon."

"No. Even if we knew there was no child, I could not leave you alone. Not now." He held her face in his hands and, with his thumbs, stroked her cheeks. "Not ever."

"Will you tell me why you wanted to wait?" This time, he did not answer. When he started to speak, she put a finger to his lips. "I could stand many things from you, Nicholas, but never a lie. Say you cannot tell me, if you must, but do not tell me a lie."

"Then, I cannot tell you."

"Someday, Nicholas, you will." She put her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers. It was a long time before they stood apart. "Aunt Mary will be furious," she said when they did. "She believes you will marry Amelia."

He stood close to her and stroked her hair. "I expect she'll be over it before long." He chuckled. "She will still have me for a relative, you see."

Havoc closed the door to the drawing room and heaved a sigh. It was a peculiar and trying way to start the day. Nothing was going as he expected. Though he might never know what was behind those black eyes, Nicholas struck him as a man who was, above all else, consummately in control of himself. For him to have allowed things with Elizabeth to have come to such a pass bespoke a powerful emotion. Whether it was love, he did not know.

He found Russell Villines sitting with Mrs. Willard and Amelia when he went in to the breakfast room for coffee and some eggs. The significant look Mr. Villines gave Havoc told him he was well aware of the events of the morning. When Havoc shook his head he smiled ruefully before applying himself to the eggs piled on his plate.

"Good morning, Father."

"Good morning, Amelia."

"Goodness, it seems we are missing only Lord Eversleigh and Nicholas. Do you know where they are, Mr. Villines? We might have a rather grand party if they were here."

"The last I heard, Nicholas and my father were locked up in one of the drawing rooms."

"Were they?" said Mrs. Willard with a pleased expression. "Whatever for?" She glanced at Amelia.

"I believe it has something to do with Nicholas's future happiness." Mr. Villines ignored Havoc's warning frown. "There appears to be some difficulty."

Mrs. Willard looked alarmed. "Surely Lord Eversleigh would not stand in the way of his grandson's happiness?"

"I am afraid I cannot say, Mrs. Willard. Though I have the greatest hope the situation will have a happy resolution."

"Lord Eversleigh's celebration is tonight," Havoc interrupted. "Have you a decent gown to wear, Amelia?"

"We were hoping to send a servant into Dover this afternoon to pick up Amelia's dress," Mrs. Willard said to her husband.

"Perhaps you might make an outing of it and drive in yourself," Havoc suggested.

"An excellent idea," said Mrs. Willard. "Perhaps you will come with us?"

"Impossible." He shook his head. "I have some business to attend to that will occupy me for the better part of the day."

"What a pity," said Mrs. Willard with a broad smile.

"But, here." Havoc reached into a pocket for his notecase and drew out two ten-pound notes. "Do your best to spend it all." He could not bring himself to tell his wife how things stood until they were decided one way or another.

"Is Beth up yet?" Amelia asked.

"Elizabeth is not feeling well. I'm afraid you'll have to go without her."

"Oh, well." Amelia shrugged. "Do you think Nicholas could be persuaded to come with us?" she asked Mr. Villines.

"Nicholas?" he said doubtfully. "I am unable to answer your question, Miss Willard. I rather think not."

"What a pity. Well, Amelia," said Mrs. Willard. "Shall we go?"

"Yes, Mother. Good day, Mr. Villines, Father."

When they were gone, Havoc dropped his fork on his plate and sighed loudly.

"Mr. Willard?" Mr. Villines had refilled his own cup and was holding the coffeepot tilted over Havoc's empty one.

"Yes, thank you."

"I regret to say, I feel somewhat responsible for my nephew's lack of control, Mr. Willard. Nicholas is like a son to me, and it grieves me no end to learn he has handled things so badly. I ought to have told him from the very first that I would be proud to have Elizabeth as a relative."

"Thank you. Though to be perfectly honest, Mr. Villines, I have been urging her to accept the offer of Mr. Beaufort Latchley."

"Beaufort Latchley?"

"He made the proposal to me nearly a month ago. I put him off because I knew how she felt about your nephew, and, at the time, I thought it possible he felt the same."

"I assure you, he did. I meant to speak to Nicholas about her, to let him know my wife and I think highly of Elizabeth. I did not, as I was under the impression they had come to an understanding the evening of Lord Lewesfield's ball."

"And it was my impression that they had not. Are you aware Ripton Rutherford proposed to her the very day after?"

"Indeed?" He smiled a. little. "Then it's no wonder he was so impatient when he arrived here. Had my father not told him to invite you here, he'd have left for London that very afternoon. It is my own opinion that Nicholas has been in love with Elizabeth for quite some time, probably since the moment he saw her at Fitzroy Square. It simply took him time to get used to the idea."

"Mr. Willard?" Carsons came gliding into the room. "His Lordship wishes to inform you he is waiting in his study."

"Good morning, Mr. Villines." He threw his napkin on the table and stood up.

"Mr. Willard!" he called out when Havoc was at the door.

"Yes?"

"Let me be the first to welcome you to the family."

"Only let it be so, Mr. Villines."

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E
lizabeth was in her room writing a letter when someone knocked on her door. "Come in," she called out. She put down her pen when she saw it was Nicholas. He leaned against the door frame instead of coming in. "I was writing to Jane Smithwayne," she said. "I would like to have her at the wedding. Do you think it would be all right?" His lazy smile made her breath catch in her throat.

"Anything you like. You may even invite Mr. Beaufort Latchley, so that I may have the pleasure of passionately kissing you in front of him."

"You could do it now," she said.

"An excellent idea." When he reached her, he pulled her to her feet, tipping up her chin to kiss her softly. She let herself relax into his arms. After a moment he said gruffly, "We had better get downstairs."

"What for?"

"My cousin Henry has arrived," he said.

"You don't sound happy about it."

Nicholas scowled. "He has already started drinking. It was the first thing he headed for when he arrived."