His Perfect Bride (14 page)

“We shall see,” Elizabeth said cryptically, then turned to her brother. “Richard, I almost forgot. Mother said Miss Luthor was hoping to speak with you tonight. She wants to talk about some of the unusual flowers you showed her today.”

He narrowed his eyes at his sister before standing.

“Then would you ladies kindly excuse me?” he asked, giving them a tight smile.

“Certainly, my lord,” Brianna responded then she let out a relieved breath when he inclined his head and turned his back. She watched him approach Jillian and saw the light in her friend’s eyes. The sight of the two of them smiling and talking gave Brianna an uncomfortable feeling again, and she could not understand why.

Elizabeth continued to chat along happily about their upcoming trip to London, but Brianna only listened with half an ear, her attention still focused on Richard. She needed to determine what she should do about him. If he felt as though he owed her marriage for taking her innocence, it was only a matter of time before she relieved him of his guilt. However, if his reasons were entirely different, he would prove difficult to get rid of.

Richard pulled back the curtains, enjoying the sight of the bright sunny day. He would miss this. Today they would be returning to London, and he was not anxious for it. With the dreary weather, constant parties, and the distance it would put between him and Brianna, London held no appeal for him. He debated staying at Stonemede another day or two but was reluctant to give Brianna more opportunities to escape him.

On his way downstairs, he felt the excitement of the house as the servants packed belongings and readied carriages for the departure this morning. The guests were all scheduled to leave at the same time, and he imagined the choice was not by accident. He shook his head at the absurdity of the women. They had not wished for any one of them to obtain more time with him than the others, as if a couple of hours would make a difference.

When he entered the breakfast room, he found himself awarded with a pleasant surprise. Brianna was seated in the chair next to his. From the smug smile on his sister’s face, he knew who had maneuvered Brianna into that position.

“Good morning, ladies,” he said as every eye turned to him, acknowledging his entrance. That is, every lady except one.

Pleasantries were exchanged as Richard filled his plate and then took his seat. Once the conversation returned to topics that didn’t include him, he turned his attention to Brianna.

“I hope your accommodations last night were satisfactory.” He hoped to engage her in conversation, but she merely nodded. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes,” she replied, followed by an irritated sigh. “I trust you had a pleasant night as well?”

“Not nearly as pleasant as it could have been.” He pitched his voice low enough so only she could hear. Her eyes shot to his, ablaze with fury. Stunned by the force of her reaction, he silently watched as she worked to control her emotions.

“That would have been different if you were who you claimed to be,” she ground out through clenched teeth.

“Although I’m known by a different name, I’m still the same man.”

“I realize that, however—”

“Richard,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Are you not pleased to be returning to London today?”

After giving his sister a questioning look, he noticed the curious eyes darting between him and Brianna. Mentally he added another tally to what he owed his sister. “Not particularly. This visit to Stonemede was much too short for my preference,” he answered, settling back into his chair.

“Well, I, for one, am happy to be returning to London. Just think, in a few short days, I’ll be enjoying the festivities of the Season.”

“Actually, my dear,” his mother began, “Lady Ransley was telling me of a slight change in your plans.”

“Yes, before making the journey to London, we must travel to Ransley, but we shall only stay a week or two,” Lady Ransley explained.

“Oh,” Elizabeth said, her tone sounding dejected, but to her credit, her smile didn’t falter.

The conversation picked back up, allowing Richard a moment to plan his next course of action. Between the travel times and her stay at Ransley, he would lose more than two weeks with Brianna, which could be detrimental to his cause. At the moment, she was too upset. Allowing time for her anger to fester would make his job more difficult once he was with her again.

“Lady Ransley?” Elizabeth asked loudly.

“Yes?” Lady Ransley responded, raising her eyebrows.

“Would it be possible for Richard to join us at Ransley? It has been so long since I have seen him, and I was so looking forward to spending time with him in London. I hate to miss out on an opportunity.”

“If he is agreeable, I would be delighted to accommodate him.” Lady Ransley turned her hope-filled eyes to him. “Lord Stonemede, we would be honored to have you accompany us for our visit to Ransley.”

The room fell silent, and all attention focused on him. He could see the myriad of emotions displayed on the various faces, and he imagined if he drew the suspense out, one or more of them would faint from lack of breathing.

“I’m quite honored you have included me, and I’m delighted to accept your offer,” Richard said, amused by the various reactions. Lady Ransley’s pleasure almost bursted, and Brianna’s horror was comical. The other guests were either stunned or jealous. Regardless, he could not believe his good fortune or how invaluable his sister was turning out to be.

The rest of the meal passed uneventfully with Brianna ignoring both him and his sister. Her lack of attention didn’t bother him, as he knew soon he would have his chance to talk to her. Then he would make the situation perfectly clear to her.

The two-and-a-half-day ride to Ransley proved pleasant, although he, alone in his carriage or on his stallion, received no chances to speak with Brianna. The time, however, gave him ample opportunity to think and plan his next move. As the entourage rounded the corner, making the way up the long drive, Richard sighed in relief. His wait was over.

Set on a fair piece of property, Ransley and the manor house appeared to be well maintained, which spoke well of Bradley Denton. The stable was sizeable, and Richard suspected the horses housed within were of the highest breed.

Allowing the stable hand to take the reins of his stallion, Richard dismounted, grateful for the ability to stretch his legs. Immediately his eyes drew to the carriage, and he waited patiently as Brianna stepped down and stared at the manor with a smile. The very sight of her awakened his body, and he wished they were alone. Although her hair hung askew and her dress had crumpled from the long ride, she had never been more beautiful.

“Did you have a pleasant journey, Lord Stonemede?” Lady Ransley inquired while brushing down her wrinkled gown.

“It was quite agreeable, thank you. How did you find the journey?”

“We had a lovely time chatting. I must say, Lady Elizabeth is quite a charming companion.”

“I have always believed so as well.”

“Come, let us go inside,” Lady Ransley instructed, leading the way.

As he followed the ladies inside, the feeling of being out of his element assailed him. In this unfamiliar terrain, Brianna held the advantage. She could easily evade him, and he would have no prayer of locating her. As if sensing his thoughts, Elizabeth turned back, giving him a wink. She held more access to Brianna than he, so he needed to rely on his little sister yet again.

Upon entering the opulent drawing room, Lady Ransley turned to them. “Please make yourselves comfortable. I’ll speak with the housekeeper and have your rooms readied at once.”

“Thank you, my lady,” Richard politely replied. “We appreciate your hospitality.”

“It’s my pleasure. While you wait, perhaps Brianna could give you a tour.”

“Mother, I hardly think it would be appropriate. Besides, I’m sure our guests are too fatigued after such a long journey.”

“I’m perfectly fit and see no reason to rest. After being closed in the carriage for so long, I would prefer to move around,” Elizabeth asserted.

Then three pairs of questioning eyes turned to him, and he smiled. “I’m not tired and would be grateful for the exercise as well. Lady Brianna, I would be honored if you would consent to taking my sister and me on a tour of the grounds.”

“In regards to propriety, seeing as Lady Elizabeth will be present, it will be perfectly acceptable,” Lady Ransley interjected before Brianna could voice another concern. “Regardless, I’m sure Lord Stonemede will be a perfect gentleman.”

“I shall be on my best behavior,” he promised, laying his hand across his chest.

“Very well. I would be happy to escort you,” Brianna replied, earning an approving smile from her mother.

“The rooms will be prepared for you before your return, and soon Lord Ransley and Lady Grace should be here to welcome you.” Lady Ransley headed off to attend to the rooms.

Glancing at Brianna’s profile, he saw a slight smile upon her lips, but it disappeared before she faced them.

“What would you care to see?”

“Lady Ransley spoke to me earlier of the gardens,” Elizabeth said, reverence in her voice. “They sound breathtaking. Would you mind if we began there?”

“Excellent choice. Please come this way.” Brianna exited the room before Richard could offer his arm. He looked toward his sister, and she smiled, beaming with excitement. Before following Brianna, she nodded to him, obviously thrilled to help him, so he suspected he would not have a problem losing his sister among the gardens.

The weather proved ideal, and he was pleased to see Lady Ransley had not exaggerated about the quality of the gardens. Brianna did not serve as the best guide, as it was apparent she didn’t know much about the flora and fauna surrounding them. He didn’t mind her lack of knowledge; it was another thing he would enjoy teaching her in the future.

They had not traveled far down the main path when Elizabeth stumbled, crying out in pain. Concerned, Richard rushed to her side as Brianna did the same. He saw tears welling up in his sister’s eyes as she gazed up at them.

“Are you all right?” Brianna asked.

“What happened?” Richard inquired at the same time.

“I’m so clumsy. I tripped over a stone, but I should be fine now.” Elizabeth’s tone was confident, although her lips wobbled. Once they tried to assist her to her feet, she fell back down with a cry. “I’m sorry, but I fear I will not be able to go any further. My ankle is giving me too much pain.”

“Don’t worry. We will get you back to the manor at once,” Brianna assured, her mouth a grave line.

“I shall carry you back, and then we will have the doctor fetched,” Richard offered.

“No, that isn’t necessary. This isn’t my first injury due to clumsiness. I have suffered similarly before and, after a little time, I could walk again. Please allow me to sit for a few moments.”

“You may rest as long as you need,” Brianna promised. “Lord Stonemede, if you could bring her this way, it’s a more direct route to the manor.”

Richard nodded and then reached to lift Elizabeth from the ground, but she pushed him away. With Brianna’s head turned, Elizabeth glared at him and shook her head.

“I would much rather you assist me to the garden bench.” Elizabeth indicated the nearest decorative bench set along the path. “This way I shall recover while the two of you continue the tour.”

Brianna shook her head vigorously. “I’ll not hear of leaving you alone in this condition, especially when we can easily take you back and—”

“No,” Elizabeth interrupted. “I refuse to be carried into the manor like a wounded animal, only to endure your mother’s worry.” Then, to him, she added, “Richard, help me to the bench.”

Not needing to question his sister’s motivation, he did as he was told and assisted her to the indicated seat. His concern dissolved when she winked at him. It was clear now. Her injury was false, allowing him to share private time with Brianna.

After his sister was settled, he straightened and glanced over at Brianna. She wrung her hands in obvious distress. He turned back to Elizabeth and raised an eyebrow, knowing she needed to further convince Brianna in order to gain her acceptance of the decision.

“Are you certain you wish to stay here?” Richard pressed. “It would not be a problem to take you to the manor where you would be more comfortable.”

“I’m sure. I have no wish for Lady Ransley to see me like this. Considering I have just arrived, I hate to be a burden.”

“She would not see you as a burden. Your injury is understandable, and my mother will arrange for you to have the best care possible.”

“Regardless, I would prefer to sit quietly to enjoy the pleasant weather and beautiful surroundings on my own. Please continue without me, and then I may benefit from the solitude.”

“If that is what you truly want, I’ll respect your wishes,” Brianna conceded, although she looked as though she wanted to argue.

Elizabeth was good at manipulating, and she was always able to convince anyone to see her views eventually.

“Shall we?” Richard quickly offered Brianna his arm to avoid giving her an opportunity to run off without him again.

“Thank you, my lord,” she answered, accepting his escort.

“Please enjoy yourselves and don’t rush back,” Elizabeth said. “I have found recovery does not come as swiftly as I would prefer.”

“If we return too hastily, we will be happy to sit with you until you are able to return to the manor,” Richard promised, then he pulled Brianna along before she decided to stay behind with his perfectly healthy sister.

As they continued deeper into the gardens, Brianna didn’t resume her inadequate commentary. Richard saw the concern in her wide eyes as she bit her lip.

“Don’t worry over Elizabeth. I have seen her suffer from an affliction of the ankle before, and I assure you, she will be fine.”