Page 58 of Loving an Earl
“You seemed quiet during the ride here. Is all well?” As he spoke, the strange blue of his eyes bored into her soul, causing her to quiver. The intensity of his stare felt invasive. “You shivered. Are you cold? I can retrieve your wrap if you’d like.”
He said all the correct things, and his concern seemed genuine. “Thank you, but I’m fine.” He twirled her around the dance floor with ease. He was a wonderful and graceful dancer. Better than her. “This place takes my breath away with its beauty.”
Peter pulled her closer and whispered, “You take my breath away with your beauty.” She fought not to pull away when his hot breath wafted against her ear. His nearness caused her to feel unsettled. How would she ever make it through tonight?
She realized he was staring at her, waiting for her to reply to his compliment. “Thank you. You look handsome and dashing this evening as well.” She wasn’t used to seeing Peter in black and it suited him.
When the final strings of the waltz concluded, Lilly exhaled with relief, and they made their way to Emmeline and Blackstone who were standing near a tree sipping wine.
“You did not dance,” Lilly said, surprised that Blackstone would not take advantage of the opportunity to hold Emmeline close to his heart.
They looked at each other with mischief in their eyes, “We took a quick stroll through the gardens. The smell of the jasmine in bloom is lovely,” Emmeline said with a secret smile.
“I love the smell of jasmine,” Peter said. He turned to Lilly. “Care to take a stroll?”
Lilly took his offered arm, and they entered the dimly lit, private gardens. She had heard about debutantes finding themselves in compromising situations and ruined by scandal in these very gardens. Lilly was thankful, for the first time, she was a widow and protected from that sort of scandal.
When they found a secluded spot, Peter stopped, turned, and took both her hands in his. “I hope you have good news for me?”
Lilly forced herself to look him in the eye. She hadn’t wanted to do this yet, but it seemed there was no avoiding it. She swallowed and cleared her throat, trying to get the words out. “I’m sorry, Peter. I cannot marry you.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“I heard you.” His voice deepened, and his eyes hardened as he sneered at her. Right before her eyes his jovial nature changed. His once handsome face twisted up with hatred, and he looked at her with disgust, making him resemble the devil himself. She knew she’d made the right decision if this person was hidden beneath his gentle manners.
The sudden change was startling, and she struggled to understand why he should react so strongly, so angrily. “Why should you want to marry me so?”
“Because I need your money. I’m near bankrupt. Courting you cost me a fortune, one I didn’t have. I inherited a poor title and estates. Not to mention the fact that my cousin’s wife is spoiled along with her three daughters. And I’m expected to give them dowries and pay for their introduction into Society.”
“But why me?”
“You were easy pickings—a young widow, her head in the clouds, looking for love.” He spat on the ground. “Love doesn’t exist, you stupid, foolish child.”
He was beginning to truly scare her. As she stepped back to put distance between them, he stepped forward. His arms wrapped around her back tightly, refusing to let her go.
“How dare you waste my time? If you do not marry me, I will see you ruined. I will tell everyone that we had a tryst in these gardens, and you will certainly look the part.” While keeping one hand around her waist, he plucked the pins from her hair and used his hand to disarrange her tresses. “Now let us see to mussing that pretty gown of yours.”
“Don’t you dare!” she cried out. “Get your hands off me!” Fear penetrated deep inside her being, something she’d never experienced before. Widow or not, he was right—this would be more than enough to land her in the middle of a ruinous scandal. What chance would she have for love then? “Don’t you dare...”
One moment he was holding her and the next he was gone. Lilly tumbled to her knees and vomited up the glass of wine she’d drunk. When she looked up she saw Langford punch Peter—no, Redford—right in the face, and he dropped like a stone.
“Are you hurt?” Langford’s uneasy voice asked as he and Blackstone yanked Redford up off the ground and held him between them.
“How did you find me?” she asked as Emmeline helped her stand and kept an arm around her waist to steady her. Lilly didn’t think she could stand alone as her legs wobbled.
“Langford came looking for you with some disturbing news about Redford, and we knew we had to find you.” Emmeline hugged her gently. “And not a moment too soon. Do you think you have the strength to walk through the gardens to the street where Langford’s coach is waiting? We can’t go back through the party without causing a scene.”
“Yes.” Lilly looked down at her clothing only slightly disheveled. “Do I look that bad?”
“No,” Emmeline answered. “But Redford does with his busted nose and blood all over his face and shirt.”
“It serves him right.” Lilly couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing, then covered her mouth when her laughter turned to sobs.
They snuck away from the ball easily enough without being seen, Emmeline still with a protective arm around Lilly and Redford being dragged along between Langford and Blackstone. When they reached Langford’s carriage, Lilly was shocked to find two more men standing there.
“We will take it from here, Lord Langford,” one of them intoned.
