It was two weeks and four days before the doctor finally declared Elly fit enough to travel. Brent carried her to the waiting carriage and handed her up to Fellingsdown. They’d placed a cushion on the floor between the seats and added a dozen pillows so her leg would ride in comfort.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked when she was situated.
“Yes, very. It’s not wise to pamper me this much.”
“It’s not?”
“No. I could get used to it.”
“And that would be bad?”
She smiled. Oh, he loved it when she smiled.
“Yes, I’d become a spoiled brat.”
“It can’t happen. Being a spoiled brat isn’t in your nature.” Brent took the cover Lady Lathamton handed him and placed it over Elly’s legs. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
Brent stepped outside and joined Fellingsdown and Lady Lathamton. “Thank you for allowing me to remain after everyone left,” he said.
“I enjoyed your company,” Lady Lathamton said. “And so did Elly. I think your presence is the reason she healed so fast. You were good for her.”
“Thank you.” Brent hoped that were true.
“If you’ll excuse me, I want to say good-bye to Elly and assure her we’ll be over soon.”
Lady Lathamton stepped to the carriage to speak with Elly.
“I think Cassie’s correct,” Fellingsdown said. “You deserve the credit for Elly’s fast recovery. Perhaps it’s best to find out what your intentions are toward my sister.”
Brent faced Elly’s brother. “I intend to ask her to marry me.”
Fellingsdown’s eyebrows shot upward. “Have you asked her yet?”
“No. I want to speak with your father first. I want to assure him that I will be a good husband to Elly.”
“What about the bargain we made?”
“I consider any bargain we struck null and void.”
“You don’t want the breeding rights to El Solidar?”
“No. The bargain was made before I met Elly. The bargain was made before—” He stopped, then proudly stated what he wanted the whole world to know. “Before I realized how much I loved her.”
Fellingsdown smiled. “I know exactly what I intend to give you for a wedding present.”
“Your Arabians have nothing to do with my wanting to marry your sister.”
Fellingsdown laughed. “I know. That’s what makes my gift so perfect.”
Brent felt an elation he’d never experienced in his life but it had nothing to do with the gift Elly’s brother promised. It was because Fellingsdown approved of his request to marry Elly.
Brent walked back to the carriage feeling as if he walked on air.
“Are you sure you don’t need us to accompany you,” Fellingsdown asked Elly after Brent was seated.
“No, I’ll be fine. Lord Charfield will make sure I get to The Down safely.”
“We won’t be long,” Fellingsdown added. “A week perhaps. Two at the outside. Just long enough to study the last of the estate books and make sure the new steward doesn’t have any more questions.”
“Settle things here first, Harrison. This is more important.”
“Take good care of her,” Fellingsdown said, then closed the door and gave the driver the command to leave.
Brent sat back against the cushion while the carriage took off.
Elly waved a final time, then settled back against the seat and looked at him. “Will you be leaving The Down right away?” she asked.
“Only if you want me to.”
Her cheeks flushed a delightful shade of pink and she shook her head. “No, I’m glad to have your company. The house will be quiet now that everyone’s gone back to London. Although I have to say it was none too soon to have the twins stop hovering over me.”
“They were very attentive.”
“Attentive? They nearly smothered me with their concern.”
Brent laughed. It had been more than amusing to watch Elly’s two sisters compete with each other over which one of them could take better care of her.
“Then I’ll stay for a while longer, if you don’t mind.”
“I’d enjoy that. Perhaps until Harrison and Cassie come. They said they’d stop by for a few weeks before they went to London to talk with the Lathamton solicitor. But I don’t think that’s the only reason Harrison wants to take Cassie to London.”
“You don’t?” He folded his arms over his chest as the carriage made its way down the road. “Just what ulterior motive do you think your brother has?”
“I think he wants Society to see him in Lady Lathamton’s company so when they announce their betrothal it won’t be such a shock.”
“You’re sure your brother and Lady Lathamton will marry?”
“Of course. Anyone can see how much they love each other.”
“They can?”
“Stop teasing.” She wrinkled her pert little nose and frowned at him. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”
Hell, but she was a beauty. His heart did a somersault every time she looked at him with her dark smiling eyes.
“All right. I’ve noticed. There does seem to be an attraction.”
“More than an attraction,” she contradicted. “The two are madly in—”
The carriage hit a rut in the road that nearly unseated her.
Brent bolted from his seat and reached for her. He sat on the cushion next her and wrapped her in his arms.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, fine. More surprised than anything.”
“So sorry, Sir,” the driver said from above. “I didn’t see the rut.”
“No one hurt,” Brent answered, holding Elly securely in his arms.
“Oh, good, Sir,” the driver answered, and Brent noticed that the speed of the carriage slowed a bit.
“It will be better soon, Elly. We’re nearly home.
She laid her head against his chest.
They sat in silence while the carriage rocked on its way. His first thought was that he should be a better companion and keep a conversation going, then realized there were times when silence was preferable. This was one of those times.
After a few minutes, he felt a change in her and looked down. “What?” he asked when he noticed the smile on her face.
“I was just thinking what a wonderful time I had this summer.”
“Wonderful? How can you say you had a wonderful summer?”
“Oh, Waverley is not what I’ll remember when I think back.”
“What will you remember?”
Her smile broadened. “I’ll remember our races every morning. And my first croquet match. How special you made every day for me when you didn’t have to.” She paused. “And my first waltz.”
His heart swelled in his chest. He’d never forget the first time he saw her race across the meadow. Or the gleam in her eyes when she challenged him. He’d never forget the first time she trusted him enough to hand over her cane and let him be her support. Or the first time he held her in his arms and danced with her. Each one would be a memory he’d always cherish.
But something about her statement disturbed him. “You talk as if you assume there won’t be any more memories to remember. Is that what you think?”
She lifted her gaze and met his. “I’m simply stating a fact. Our summer party is coming to an end and I’m so glad you were invited. You were the most gracious companion any girl ever dreamed of having. As well as the most attentive. And the most handsome. Both Patience and Lilly warned me you would be before they realized I’d met you.”
“
Warned
you?” he asked. “What exactly did they warn you about?”
“They warned me to beware because you were the most sought-after man in London. They said your name was at the top of every debutante’s list of eligible husbands. That you were not only wealthy beyond description, but one of the most charming and intelligent men in London. And you have the distinction of being known as a rake of the worst kind.”
His eyes opened wide. “I see I’ve acquired quite a reputation. I’m not sure I’m capable of living up to such high standards.”
She laughed. “I doubt I’m telling you anything new. For years you’ve no doubt realized what people said about you. And enjoyed every scandalous word.”
Brent couldn’t help but laugh. He had been aware of his reputation and even been proud of it at times. But he didn’t want Elly to think of him in those terms.
“I’m not sure what this has to do with the time we spent together.”
Elly’s cheeks darkened and she lowered her gaze to a spot on the other side of the carriage. “Everyone knows you can have any woman you want.”
“Which you assume eliminates you?”
“Please, Brent. Don’t insult me.”
She clenched her hands together in her lap but when he moved to place his hand over hers she pulled them out of his reach.
“When Harrison first told me his plans for a summer party I tried to think where I could go for two weeks. But when I mentioned that I wanted to leave, he was adamant that I stay. He said that each of my brothers had invited a young lady who was special to them and he wanted my opinion of their choices.
“At first I thought Harrison had invented the story.” She smiled. “I didn’t even know any of my brothers were acquainted with someone. But now I’m not so sure. George seems quite taken with Lady Brianna and Jules with Miss Hastings. And Spence...well, I have no doubt he and Lady Hannah are an excellent match.”
“Why would you think Harrison invented a reason to invite guests to The Down?”
“I thought perhaps he’d found out—” She stopped.
“What did you think he’d discovered?”
“That I— I—“
“What?”
“For more than a year I’ve corresponded with a certain gentleman. He writes the most charming letters and keeps me informed of all the latest happenings in London. I dearly look forward to receiving his letters.”
“Do you know his name?”
“Who he calls himself? Or who he really is?”
“You think your secret admirer is a fraud?”
Elly giggled. “My secret
admirers
are my sisters.”
He couldn’t hide his surprise. Fortunately, she didn’t realize he knew about her admirer, but thought his reaction was out of shock that her sisters would do something so underhanded.
“I know, Lord Charfield. You find it hard to believe that my two innocent-acting sisters would pretend to be my admirer. But it’s true.”
“How did you discover this?”
“I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t realize it immediately. It wasn’t until the second or third letter. That’s when my charming suitor used the same quaint saying for which my sister Lilly has a fondness. After that, it was a matter of taking note of all the details to which my admirer knew the answers. For instance: my favorite color, my favorite food, my favorite flower. There wasn’t one single thing on which my admirer and I didn’t agree. Can you imagine anyone more boring?”
Brent laughed. Oh, she had her whole family fooled. “And you think I have been patronizing you, that I was tricked into partnering you?”
“Not tricked, exactly. Perhaps coerced would be a better term. Let me explain. I want you to know that I enjoyed your company more than any person’s I’ve ever spent time with and I wouldn’t give up one moment of our time together. But I’m afraid you were deceived.”
“How is that?”
“Surely you noticed that every guest invited to the party had a companion. Every guest except you. And me. You were an intended victim, Lord Charfield.”
“I hardly feel like a victim.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. “But that doesn’t change matters. Even though you were brought here under false pretenses, I will forever be grateful to whichever of my siblings thought of having this party. You made me feel very special and I’ll always cherish that.”
“You don’t believe I was sincere?”
She smiled again, but this time her smile held a hint of sadness. “Of course not. You are very gallant. You’ve had years to practice such chivalry. But I haven’t taken anything that’s happened this summer seriously.”
“What if I asked you to?”
Her smile faded. “I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Have you forgotten why I avoid London and prefer to stay here? Have you forgotten that you’ve had to carry me wherever I need to go?”
“Actually, I had. And I’ve only had to carry you because you were injured, and that hasn’t been an imposition at all. I enjoyed having you in my arms too much to think about the reason you were there.”
She blushed again. “Please, don’t. I’m trying very hard to keep these last weeks in perspective.”
“So am I.”
“No, you’re being charming and heroic and wonderfully endearing. But your efforts are only making matters more difficult.”
He turned so he could face her more directly. “I’m trying to show you what I see when I look at you. I’ve grown very fond of you during the past several weeks.”
She shook her head and Brent knew no amount of words would convince her. She needed proof.