Her Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues) (36 page)

“Jo refused me.” Every inch of Colin’s body tensed and Tryst hurried to make his words clearer. “My marriage proposal.”

That was better, Colin relaxed a bit, and no longer looking as though he wished to snap him in two like one would do a twig. Well except for his facial expression, it was full of amusement.

“You asked Jo to marry you?”

He pursed his lips before nodding. “Yes. She said no.”

“Just no? Was there a reason?” Colin crossed his arms and ankles as he stared at him, all amusement gone from his face leaving behind confusion and concern.

“Her exact words were, ‘I would rather remain single than marry to someone who will be
a good match
to me. I can get that in a pet.’ Then she walked away from me and has called me Lord Wilkes since.”

Silence met his admission until Colin covered his mouth with one hand and had clear his throat a few times before he could formulate a complete sentence. “Why would she say it like that? What did you say to her? I thought you said you asked her to marry you.”

He frowned. “I did. I told her we would be married and I would inform her father when he returned. She would not want for anything and that we would be a good match.”

Bastard could not hide his laughter this time. Colin tipped his head back and roared with laughter. Each moment Tryst grew more irritated.

“You…you…oh my God, Tryst.”

“Waiting, Colin. What the hell is so funny?”

His friend wiped tears of mirth from his eyes and did his best to sober. Those green eyes he had still overflowed with laughter but at least he managed to keep it contained.

“You did not ask her, Tryst. You told. Not only that but you did not mention love. You said ‘a good match’ was your reason.”

He thought about that. “Did you mention love to Najja?”

A slight grin lifted the corners of his lips as Colin sighed with his memory. “I told her she was what I desired but yes, she knew I loved her. I tell her many times a day now.”

“I know how Jo feels about me. I cannot understand why she would not jump at the opportunity to marry me. She has stared at me like a lovesick puppy for years. Now I give the chance and she turns me down.”

“Arrogant much? Damn, Tryst. Jo is not one of your whores. She is a proud woman whose father is a viscount. Do you remember what she said one of the first times you met her, about wishing to be labeled a widow so she could travel the world without a man?”

Trystan moved to a chair and sat down, resting his forearms on his thighs. “I cannot let another marry her, Colin.”

“Why not?” The chair opposite him soon held Colin.

Because she was his. Because he had taken her virginity. Because he was—despite his determination to ignore the fact—in love with her.

“She is mine.”

“That will not work with her. Why?”

He blew out a breath. “I am employed by the Crown, I should not marry her.”

“Then let her go.”

“No!”
Never
.

Colin leaned forward. “Why? Answer the question, Tryst. What are you hiding from?”

Love. “I want her for myself, Colin. I want to lock her up away from everyone else. I am sick of people wanting to kill her. I want her safe, I want her protected. I want…”

Colin held up a hand. “You want her. This will be so much easier for you both if you admit your love to her, Trystan. I am saying this as your friend who fell in love and did not want to say anything either. You need to decide what is more important to you. If Jo is the answer, you will do the right thing. However, trust me on this, if you cannot or are not willing to put her first, then leave her alone and let her move on. Either be with her fully or not at all.”

“You mean stop working for the Crown?”

“No. I mean love her as she deserves to be loved. No mistresses that you take her to their house,” a furious glare, “nothing like that. She deserves the best and I want her to have it.”

“I did not sleep with Arabella while we were there.”

Colin snorted. “You really think that matters? You took her to your mistress’ house. That had to be one of the stupidest moves.”

“I have things stored there.”

“And what? You could not stash her while you went there and retrieved what you needed. You had to rub it in her face this woman was one you took to bed?”

Well hell, when he put it that way, it did not seem like a smart thing he had done. “I was not thinking.”

“We agree on that. Look, Tryst, I am not the best one when it comes to relationships. I barely saw women before Najja came into my life. I had a hard time trying to figure out what to talk to her about, do with her, anything to try and coax a smile from her lips. But Jo helped me. Maybe Najja could help you.”

“Maybe when we get back from taking Vittoria to her parents. If it is all the same to you, I really have no wish for her to take my family jewels because she thinks I am going to hurt Jo.”

Colin grinned. “She told me what she did. You hurt Jo and that will be the least of your fears.”

He had that feeling himself.

“We should get going.” On his feet, he walked to the door with Colin at his side.

Goodbyes were brief. Colin shook his hand and said, “Think about what I said, Tryst.”

Not much later, all three of them were safe and dry in the coach as it rumbled off down the road. He expected Jo to ask him what Colin had meant but she seemed to be content enough not to say anything to him, confining her conversation to Vittoria.

However, when the child had fallen asleep, her head in Jo’s lap, he leaned toward Jo. Her gaze met his in the fading light of day, which streamed through the windows of the carriage. Still not the hellcat he knew who was full of fire and vigor.

She blinked once. “What?”

“Marry me.”

Not even a glimmer of hope. “No.”

With a quick glance at the girl ensuring she still slept, he shifted on the seat and tried again. “I know I said it wrong, Jo. I have never proposed marriage before.”

“Of course not, you are more than fine with your mistresses.”

Was he merely being hopeful or did he hear jealousy in her tone? “Do you need me to apologize for taking you to Arabella’s?”

“I never asked for your apology, Lord Wilkes.”

“Damn it!” he growled. “Call me Trystan.”

She gave a negligent shrug. “Trystan. This is a foolish discussion. I will not marry you.”

Anger pooled in his gut. He hated being told no, especially when it came to what he wanted. And he wanted Jo. Was he going to stomp his feet like a spoiled child and pout? No. Would he give her up without a fight? Hell no.

“So you say,” he murmured, leaning back and stretching out his legs so they touched hers.

When she moved so did he, ensuring the connection remained between them both at all times. He gave her a small smile at the exasperated look on her face.

“You are obnoxious,” she ground out.

He shrugged without remorse. “According to some I am an asshole. I am that and more. Especially when it comes to what I want.”

“So to hell with what others desire, all that matters is Trystan Wilkes and his wants?”

He refused to expose his grin at her response. She was showing her passion and he wanted to keep it on her; the subdued Jo was not the one who got him going. It was not the real her and he had seen enough of the one who acted as if she said anything but what was expected, her dog would be beaten to death.

“Pretty much.”

“I feel for your mistresses in that case.”

Damn it all, back to them. “What mistresses?” He waved off his own question. “They know what they are getting into when we start seeing one another.”

“You use them and throw them away at your leisure. Do you ever consider some of them may actually develop feelings for you?”

He blinked. No, he had not. It was a business arrangement. He bought them lovely little trinkets, some not so little or trinkets. Hell, he had gotten a house for one. But when he tired of them, yes he broke it off.

“Apparently you do not. You are playing with feelings and some day one will not take it so well.”

“I pay them well when we separate.” Why did he feel the need to defend himself and the mistresses he had had over the years.

She shook her head in disgust. “It is shameful. Just because you have an itch in your pants does not mean you should treat women like that.”

“I thought you did not like Arabella.”

“I do not know her well enough.” She shifted on the seat. “However, that does not negate the fact you treat people like you can dispose of them when and how you wish. For someone who claims to have worked with those who do not have it easy in life, you sure do use women as if they were less than equal.”

“These women love having a man buy them things.”

“So you are saying every woman should be a whore for the man who can afford to buy her nice things?”

He scrubbed his hand over his face. This was not going how he wanted it. “That is not what I said, but yes, why should a man not buy her nice things in payment.”

Disappointment flashed in her gaze before the fire was extinguished. “I see. Thank you for clearing up your position on that.”

Wait. What? “My position?”

“On what marriage to you would be. You essentially wish for me to be your whore…excuse me,
mistress
so you can buy me things and have sex whenever you wish it.”

He opened his mouth only to snap it shut when she waved a hand at him.

“Do not bother. I have heard enough.” She leaned her head back and shut her eyes, effectively closing him out.

Trystan prayed for control and to not reach over to her, shake her, and have her attention back on him. How the hell did she come up with things like this? Why the hell could he not have fallen for a quiet little mouse of a woman who would never challenge him or make him want to rip all his hair out in exasperation? Oh, right. Because only Jo created such a powerful reaction within him.

The rest of the trip, Jo only spoke to him when absolutely necessary. He tried to bring it up again but she just leveled a bored look at him and walked off or engaged Vittoria in conversation.

At her townhome, he paced in her father’s study. It was night and the house was silent. Vittoria’s parents would be here in two more days. He had spent the afternoon with Duchess Haversham while Jo and Vittoria played in her music room. Now everyone in the place slept, except himself.

Slamming back the rest of the whisky in his glass, he left and went upstairs. He paused outside Jo’s door. Before he could talk himself out of it, he walked on to his room and fell frustrated into bed.

Chapter Fourteen

Spent the day tending garden. It has been so long since I have had my fingers digging through the rich soil. It was a lovely day. Mama takes great pride in the flowers and with the gardener sick, I wanted to help out as best I could. I love being outside; it makes me happy.

~From the private journal of Josephine Adrys

Jo stood back while Vittoria was embraced by her parents. She ignored the tears in her eyes at the reunion. Silvano De Rege stepped away from his women and made his way over to her. Tears lingered in his eyes and she loved that he was not too much of a man to keep his emotions hidden from his daughter or complete strangers.

Pausing before her, he reached out a hand and drew her close, engulfing her in his arms. “Thank you,” he muttered in accented English. “Thank you for finding my most precious item and returning her to me.”

Returning his hug, she pulled back and met his tortured expression. This was a man who loved his child so much, not knowing where she was or if she was alive had to have been hell for him.