A Little Deception (17 page)

‘My virtue remains intact, my lord, and my brother is the
only witness to my want of propriety.’ She raised her chin proudly. ‘You remain
a free man.’

His first impulse was to seize her, hold her tight her in
his arms and – well – once again kiss some sense into her.

Then he realized that this was exactly what she intended he
should do, so he restrained himself in order to call her bluff. Miss
Chesterfield might be devilishly disarming, but she had used the vilest
trickery to lure him to the altar and he’d be damned if he’d be saddled with
such a cunning female for the rest of his days.

No, he would go to his club, take up where he left off
before he ever met her, and banish her from his mind.

He had fully intended to do the honourable thing, but if she
were going to play games in order to boost the terms of a proposed settlement
then she would find that she had sorely miscalculated.

Yes, he would leave her dangling for a few days. She’d soon
come to her senses. She wanted to marry him. That was what this was all about.
Had been, from her perspective, since the day she had met him. And to tell the
truth, he’d got used to the idea during the past seven days. Had even come to
like the notion.

Though not at such cost to his pride. She would not fleece
him into the bargain. He would marry Miss Chesterfield on his terms.

Before he’d formulated the right response she’d bowed,
saying, ‘Good day to you, my lord. My apologies for giving the impression that
I tricked you, however I stand by everything I said. We no longer have anything
further to discuss.’

He’d hoped the rallying company of a few chosen male friends
and a visit to the opera would restore his spirits. It wouldn’t be long before
Sir Charles and his sister would resume their assault upon his conscience in
order to persuade him to settle a ridiculous sum upon his dowerless and
shameless bride-to-be. Of course he’d be generous, but he wouldn’t be taken for
a fool.

So he went to his club.

And waited.

Every evening for the next seven days he was on tenterhooks
for some word from her.

When she did not come he returned to pacing his study like a
caged lion, his anger increasing, while he mulled over what to do.

Clearly he had no choice but to marry the wench he had
defiled – not just in his tower room, but publicly, for the town was
buzzing with the titillating story of Miss Chesterfield’s daring. No doubt her
lily-livered brother had spread the scandal, prepared to destroy his sister’s
reputation in the sly knowledge that honour would prompt the duped viscount to
make Miss Chesterfield a viscountess.

As the silence stretched his anger grew.

So he waited another five days, growing ever more
insufferable to those around him, until one day Felix shook his head and said
in a tone of exasperation, ‘I don’t know what has got into you, Rampton, but if
she has a fine head of chestnut curls and flashing blue eyes you’d better
hasten to the docks because she sails on tonight’s tide.’ Savouring his
after-dinner brandy, his brother added, thoughtfully, ‘Thought, meself, that
you’d already made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.’

If Rampton imagined he’d harboured nothing more than
grudging admiration for a pretty head and more than her share of guile he realized
in that moment he’d been deluding himself.

Irritation, anger, severe provocation; all the emotions
against which he had been battling for more than two weeks were swept away by
dismay.

Clearly, his feelings were written all over his face for,
with raised eyebrows, Felix gave a surprised laugh. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t
know?’

Rampton shook his head.

‘Well, don’t that beat all? I was surprised you’d let her
go, knowing how your feelings had got in the way this time. I say, Rampton,
where are you going?’

Rampton had risen with such force that he’d knocked over his
chair. Now he turned on Felix as if his brother himself were responsible for
the current dire state of affairs.

‘Where did you hear this? Why did you not tell me before?’
he asked grimly.

‘Good Lord, Rampton, the girl’s free to do as she chooses.
If she’s already turned you down don’t you think it a little on the brutish
side to chase after her and drag her off the boat?’

‘Brutish?’ He snorted. ‘I’m sure it’s no more than she
expects, playing her clever little games and waiting for me to come running.’

‘Which - might I point out? - is exactly what you are
proposing.’

Rampton glared. ‘Don’t you grin at me like that, little
brother, unless you’re after a hiding. You always were dashed provoking.’

‘Not, it would appear, as provoking as the lady in
question.’

Catching sight of her, alone on the docks, overseeing the
stowing of her luggage, was like receiving a veritable knee in the solar
plexus. After riding like the wind, now that Rampton had her in his sights he
could afford to relax and feast his eyes on her a little while he tried to make
sense of why he really was doing this.

It was dusk; a brisk wind tossed some escaped chestnut
strands from beneath her bonnet and whipped her cloak and dress around her
ankles. There was no sign of her brother, but she appeared entirely in charge
of the situation, directing several porters who were carrying her trunks up the
gangway.

‘Mind your step,’ she said, as one of them stumbled. ‘Those
are my worldly goods. Take care of them.’

Rampton focused on her rosebud lips and her pert little nose
as she dispensed orders with all the confidence of one who was used to running
a large estate. Another justification for making her his wife, he thought,
pleased, for it went beyond his simple lust for her.

He stepped forward and raised his voice above the stiff
breeze. ‘I’d have thought you’d take better care of your reputation, Miss
Chesterfield. What, in God’s name, are you doing?’ Rampton had to steel himself
against the overpowering desire to approach her from behind and either whisk
her, struggling, into his arms, or to press her against his chest and crush all
resistance from her.

Battling not to display the full force of his feelings he
said to the porters who had momentarily put down Rose’s trunk, ‘Carry it to my
carriage. The lady will not be sailing, after all.’

‘How dare you—’

‘How dare you make off like a thief in the night with no
word to me, Miss Chesterfield?’

She drew herself up indignantly. ‘What concern is it of
yours whether I stay or leave, my lord? No! Do not take that trunk over to that
carriage,’ she said, crisply. ‘Despite what this gentleman says I
will
be sailing.’

Rampton gripped her wrist and jerked her round to face him.
Blinking she stumbled and he was finally able to hold her.

‘I forbid it!’

‘My lord, what becomes of me is none of your concern. My reputation
is ruined but that was not your fault.’

‘Have you no concern for your sister, then?’ Surprising
himself with such creative logic, he went on, ‘You once had me believe that
Arabella’s happiness was of more account than your own.’

‘You know it is!’ She seemed close to tears. ‘I am entirely
at fault and I deserve everything that will no doubt be meted out to me for
conceiving this outrageous deception.’

To his astonishment, he found himself stroking her cheek as
she went on, ‘Truly, my lord, I had no more thought when I took on Helena’s
identity than to salvage a situation which might see us lose our home.’ She
shuddered and his insides cleaved in sympathetic response – a very rare
sentiment - as she said brokenly, ‘I simply wanted to play for more time in
which to repay our debt to you when Helena was unable to meet you. I never
thought it would come to this.’

‘Nor did I.’ A great lump seemed to have lodged in his
throat. Tilting up her chin so that she had to look at him, he was struck by
the most extraordinary desire to protect her. Even more extraordinary was that
he entirely believed her simple reason for continuing her charade. The
sincerity in her limpid gaze found their mark, lacerating every doubt and
charitable feeling he’d harboured towards her. Suddenly his greatest challenge was
to persuade her to stay and marry him.

He held her tighter, his beleaguered brain running through
artful arguments while his heart thundered its encouragement. ‘Think of poor
Arabella. What chance does she have of a good marriage if you turn tail and
run, given the rumours regarding your scandalous behaviour?’

Sliding her eyes away from him, Miss Chesterfield looked
more mutinous than ashamed. Rampton couldn’t believe it. He’d thought that by
now she’d have cleaved to him, adding that she’d carried on her charade because
the force of her feelings were too strong for her to relinquish him.

Considering the way she was behaving now, he was beginning
to wonder whether she’d ever wanted him at all. For a moment doubt returned as
to her motives. Quickly he cast it aside. Whatever the truth, the urge to make
her want him was more powerful than anything he’d encountered in his life.

‘If you have no concern for your reputation, at least
consider your sister’s,’ he persisted grimly. ‘You’re condemning her to social
pariah status if you simply leave her in the lurch like this – unless
you’re forcing the poor innocent to return home with you.’

She shook her head. ‘Aunt Alice has kindly said she’ll look
after her. Arabella’s kind nature and her loveliness will compensate for my
deficiencies. I have released you from your obligation.’

She’d pulled away. Now Rampton gripped both her wrists and brought
his face down to hers. ‘I intend getting a special licence—’ he tried for
greater authority ‘—unless you have a particularly strong aversion to
becoming my wife.’

Good God! Still she resisted. He’d thought she’d be shedding
tears of gratitude by now. It was not often that Rampton’s confidence was
shaken.

Holding her away from him so that he could look into her
beautiful, fine-boned face he said what was in his heart before he had time to
question his good sense in baring his soul so completely. He’d never felt like
this: so completely stripped bare and vulnerable, totally dependant on another
being for his happiness. A woman, at that. One who had deceived him.

Emotion made the words come out a low, rasp. ‘If I asked you
to marry me because I truly believe I can’t live without you, would that alter
your mind?’ The ardour that injected his question surprised him. But then, he’d
been consumed by it since he’d first met her. Now he felt himself dangling by a
thread as he waited for her answer. Like a lovelorn schoolboy.

Rose’s first instinct was to question whether she had heard
him correctly. Lord Rampton had asked her, yet again, to marry him? Not just
asked, but begged, the force of his feelings revealed not just in his emphatic
tone but by the raw longing in his expression.

It was beyond her wildest imaginings.

She opened her mouth to respond. To bare her own heart and
tell him she had never believed such happiness possible; that she had never
sought to trick him. But as she did so a nearby shout demanded their attention.

‘Lord Rampton! Good morning to you.’ Her brother’s head
emerged from below decks where he’d been inspecting Rose’s cabin, an uncertain
smile of welcome on his face.

Rose saw there was no similar warmth on Helena’s face though
there was a certain sly satisfaction as she murmured with a smile, ‘Lord
Rampton, what a surprise.’

Helena might well have been referring to the fact that Lord
Rampton had not relinquished his hold on Rose. In fact, he was holding her
tenderly as if both were smelling of April and May.

He saluted them both, squeezed Rose closer and announced in
expansive tones, ‘It may come as a greater surprise to you that Rose has just agreed
to become my wife.’

The smile he directed at Helena was so imbued with pleasure
and goodwill that Rose could not doubt that his decision to wed her stemmed
from desire for her, pure and simple. She forced back the kernel of doubt that
honour and coercion had had their roles to play.

‘Isn’t that right, my love?’

It must have been the dazed expression on her face that
caused him to laugh out loud and kiss her quickly upon the lips before
releasing her to the expected gestures of congratulation from her family.

‘How very clever of you, my dear Rose,’ her sister-in-law
murmured as she touched her lips to Rose’s cheek. ‘And it is what I directed
you to do. Just make sure you are not greedy with the benefits.’ She gripped
her wrist, whispering, ‘And that you remember those who facilitated your good
fortune.’

‘I’m afraid you’ll be sailing without her,’ said Rampton,
stepping forward to reclaim his intended and who seemed unable to wipe the grin
from his face.

‘Rose was to travel alone,’ Charles said, casting a troubled
look at Helena. ‘Our plans have changed, for we intend to remain some while
longer in England. I had hoped to,’ he looked nervous, ‘find a means of
securing the funds we need to repay you. We have expectations that an aunt
of—’