“You must understand, Lord Turner, Eleanor has been helping me in the house and hasn’t been out in days. Why don’t you two go for a ride?” She asked. “That is, my lord, if you have the time.”
“I’d be honored, and certainly there is always time to escort such a lovely lady.” A pleased expression lightened his rather plain face.
“I’m not dressed...”
“Lord Turner will not mind keeping me company while you get ready. I’m sure.”
“Not all, Miss Upton. Take your time.”
Ellie flashed her mother a quick frown, but she smiled back and waved her on her way. Her mother instructed the downstairs maid to have Trudy attend to Ellie.
No escape. She had to decide quickly how to handle this difficult situation. Trudy met her at the bedroom door and helped her change into a new golden-brown riding habit. She’d loved the outfit and saucy matching hat with two feathers that curled around her face.
“If you don’t mind me saying so, my lady. You look like you’re going to be sick,” Trudy said.
“Sick of my choices and what awaits me downstairs.”
“Shall I tell your mother you are ill and not able to go on the ride?”
“No. She’d never believe that, and sooner or later I’d still have to deal with Lord Turner. Best to do it now.”
When she arrived back downstairs, she discovered Mama had already had Ellie’s mare brought around from the stable.
“Take your time. I had just finished telling Eleanor she needed to go for a ride. This is so much better that she’ll have you for company, Lord Turner.” Her mother beamed at them and waved them on their way.
Lord Turner put his hands together and gave Ellie a boost into the saddle. “Which way shall we ride?” he asked.
Without thinking or perhaps from too much thinking, Ellie pointed toward the direction of Rafe’s hunting lodge. “We can ride around the lake and across several open areas before coming to our property line,” she said.
“Good.” Lord Turner rode alongside her, studying the countryside. Neither spoke. Endless blue skies, without even a cloud in sight, and a slight breeze made the day pleasantly warm.
Lord Turner finally broke the silence. “You are very quiet, my lady.”
“Forgive me. We have few lovely clear days like this. I am enjoying being outside.”
“As long as you are not regretting your mother pushing you to ride with me.”
Ellie jerked her head around and stared at him. He smiled.
“I am not unaware of mothers and their pressure on daughters to marry. My deceased wife and I often talked on all subjects including mothers and daughters.”
Ellie slowed her horse. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. I’ve missed her very much these past three years, but she’d be the first to tell me to continue to live my life.” He stared off toward a hammock of trees growing beside a small creek. “Shall we ride in that direction and walk alongside the stream?”
He was going to ask her. He’d surprised her when he talked about his wife and revealed the close relationship they’d had. He had depth of character and caring. She’d totally misjudged him and found she had begun to like him. Like, not love. A world of difference and yet she thought they’d be pleasantly happy if not for those two obstacles.
She directed her mare toward the river, and he followed. Under a shady tree, he dismounted, tied their horses, and helped her down.
“Shall we walk?” he asked. He didn’t wait for her answer but took her arm, and they strolled along the grassy edge. “You must know I’m attracted to you and have been wanting to ask you a question for some time.”
“Yes, my lord, I have sensed your interest but,—”
He stopped her. “Let me speak first, and then you can answer me knowing my expectations and hopes for us.”
She raised her head and looked into his warm, brown eyes. “Fair enough.”
“I suspect I’m not the dashing young man of your dreams. My mirror does not lie.” He smiled and patted her hand. “There is no need to deny my statement. I am neither sad, nor have illusions. But I do know I was a good husband and love grew between my wife and me. I liked being married and longed for children, not just an heir. So, what I have to offer is a—I hope—a pleasant life filled with good times and support for the times that are not so good. I’d be honored if you’d consider marrying me.” He stopped their progress along the creek’s edge. In the silence, the rush of water over several large rocks sounded uncommonly loud. “I don’t expect an answer today. Take your time to consider my offer.”
“You are too kind, my lord.” Ellie glanced down at the ground. Now was the time to tell him. She started to open her mouth when she heard a rider. Both she and Lord Turner looked around and saw a man riding toward them. Ellie’s heart sped up.
Rafe pulled up his stallion and swung down. “Miss Upton and Lord Turner,” he said and bowed. “I do hope I’m not interrupting, but I was on my way to the
Upton
’s when I happened to see horses and decided to check. There have been rumors of mischief in the area of late.”
“How nice to see you, Your Grace. I had thought you were at your estate,” Lord Turner said.
“I have been, but I enjoy spending time at my hunting lodge and needed the quiet and privacy.”
“That’s understandable.” Lord Turner turned back to Ellie. “I must be on my way. Perhaps, we might ride back and I will take my leave.”
“Please don’t let me rush you off, Turner. I can visit another day.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. I have a good distance to make to reach home tonight.”
The ride home seemed to take less time. Lord Turner told her mother good-bye. “If you and the duke will excuse me, I’d like to speak privately with Miss Upton before I leave.”
Ellie took his arm. “I’ll walk you outside, my lord.”
“Thank you.” He patted her hand as they walked through the foyer. They started down the steps to where his horse waited. “It was pleasant to see the duke, but I am sorry we were interrupted.”
Lord Turner squeezed her hand then stepped away and swung up into his saddle. “You will think about my offer?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Then with your permission, I will visit again in a fortnight. If you do not wish me to visit, please send me word.”
“Whatever my decision, my lord, you have honored me with your proposal. You are a good man.”
“A good man.” He shook his head. “I fear you have dashed my hopes,” he said, but there was a twinkle in his eye as he rode away.
Ellie found her mother and Rafe talking quietly. The conversation abruptly stopped when she entered. Rafe stood. “I must return home. I’ve asked your mother’s permission to take you on a picnic tomorrow. May I come for you around one?”
“I have work to do here, Your Grace. Perhaps another day.”
He smiled that devilish smile that said he knew she had nothing to do, but he bowed and walked to the door. “I enjoyed our visit, Lady Upton. Miss Upton, another day will be fine.”
They listened to his brisk steps across the foyer and heard him speak to the butler then the front door opened and shut.
“Don’t be too foolish, my dear,” her mother said. “He is not a man to play games with, and if I’m right in my suppositions, you love him.” She rose and started out of the room. At the door, she turned. “I also fear you have gone beyond the bounds of propriety with him.” She raised her hand. “I don’t want to know. Think seriously about both these gentlemen.” Lady Upton left the room.
Ellie’s surprise must have shown on her face. What had made her mother suspect? She walked out the french windows and stood watching bees buzzing around the honeysuckle vine curled around a nearby trellis. Her father’s voice carried on the breeze as he neared the house. She heard his caretaker talking to him. This had been her comfortable safe place, her home. Changes were coming, and she had a very important decision to make. Why had Rafe come? Did he love her, or had he come to tell her of his betrothal to the lovely Lavinia?
Lord Turner had surprised her, and if not for Rafe, she’d have accepted his offer. She needed to see Rafe alone one more time. He’d angered her expecting she’d jump to go with him tomorrow. He’d hurt her when she visited him. She had felt unsupported at his home.
They had many obstacles to confront before they considered marriage
. Hah, he’ll never marry me, a mere baron’s daughter. He’d be a fool not to align his title with another powerful family.
She’d not be the social sophisticate he needed. For his own good, even if he asked her, she had to refuse.
Chapter Nine
Rafe paced his bedroom. He’d understood Ellie’s reaction. She wasn’t certain if he’d come to court her or disappoint her, like he did at his home. He’d tried too hard to please everyone else and had hurt the one who meant the most to him.
Thank goodness he’d arrived in time. He had no doubt that Turner had asked her to marry him. He’d interrupted them before she gave him an answer. Unless, she said yes when she went outside with him.
Nevertheless, he intended to marry Ellie, no one else. She was his. Now all he had to do was convince her. He waited for dark and then rode back to her home.
A sliver of moon lit his way to the side of the manor house. Rafe had left his horse far enough away that the stallion’s snorting wouldn’t attract any attention.
He had one very big problem—he had no idea which room was Ellie’s. Hiding behind a bush, he stared into the well-lit drawing room where Lord and Lady Upton sat. He didn’t see Ellie.
He moved cautiously farther along and stared up at the second floor. He’d already checked the other side, and all the upstairs rooms were dark.
Faint light shone through the curtains of one room toward the back. There were no nearby trees or any way to get to the upstairs, except going inside. He tried a side door, but it was locked. He walked back to the french windows he’d passed. The handle turned. Carefully, he opened the window and stepped inside against the curtains. The smell of tobacco and old books identified the room as her father’s study. He tiptoed across the room and peeked out into a corridor. If he was caught, there’d be no good explanation. Ellie was worth the risk.
Staying close to the wall, he walked down the corridor toward the back of the house. If he was lucky, he’d find the back stairs. Yes, there they were. Soft carpet muffled his steps. At the top, he hesitated when he heard a noise.
“Good night, my lady.” A maid opened a door at the farther end of the corridor and stepped out, closing the door behind her.
She turned to go to the back stairs and saw him.
Rafe put his finger to his lip. Intrigued, the woman came close.
“What are you doing here, Your Grace?”
“I need to speak with Miss Upton.”
“I’m her maid, Trudy. She has retired for the night.”
“I don’t suppose you could do the same and pretend you never saw me?”
“Why should I do that?” she asked him.
“I’ll do nothing to hurt her. I promise.”
Trudy bit her lip. “You’d better not.” Then, apparently coming to a decision, she went around him and disappeared down the steps.
Rafe slipped inside Ellie’s room. She sat at her dressing table, her hands holding on to her bent head. Candlelight shone across her long, golden-brown hair where the waves flowed over her shoulders to her waist. She wore a white night rail that caressed her soft curves.
“Ellie,” he whispered her name.
She jerked her head up and looked at his image in her mirror. “What are you doing in my room?” She spoke to his reflection.
He strode across and came up behind her. His hands reached out and touched her soft, silky hair. “I need to talk with you.”
“You had time to talk with me at your home. This is highly improper. You must leave.”
He closed his eyes and rubbed the strands of her hair through his fingers. Leaning down, he breathed in her familiar lemony scent. Her warmth radiated around him. He raised his eyes to hers. “I want you. Only you.”
She hadn’t moved except to raise her head since he’d said her name. His hands slid down the inside of her gown and covered her breasts. Her heart pounded against his hands. His thumb and finger tightened around each nipple. His cock went rock hard. Lowering his head, he kissed the side of her neck.
“Let me make love to you.”
“No. There is no hope for us. You must marry into a more powerful family than mine. I intend to marry Lord Turner.”
“I have no intention of marrying anyone but you.”
“Have you told your stepmother and Lavinia of your choice?” Her eyes taunted him.
“I have.” Before she had time for more questions, he moved one hand across her flat stomach to the wet curls covering her sex.
“Spread your legs for me,” he demanded. He held her attention as she moved, and he rubbed his finger over her clit. Shivers rippled over her smooth skin. “Lean back against me.”
All resistance gone, she did as he asked. Gently, he slid one finger into her tight sheath. His hot cock pulsed against her back as he rolled her nipple between his fingers of one hand while the other stroked the inside of her hot passage. “Bend your head back.”