What a Reckless Rogue Needs (17 page)

“I expect he isn’t interested enough,” the marquess said. “We might as well depart.”

Colin pulled the drapes closed over the window. They walked out into the great hall just as the clatter of wheels and horse hooves sounded.

“Seems he saw fit to make an appearance.” The marquess folded his handkerchief and put it away.

The knocker rapped. “I’ll see him in,” Colin said.

He expected a vulgar bumped up chit, but the man before him was young and well dressed. Faraday was clearly a gentleman.

“Please come in,” he said. “I’m Ravenshire.”

The marquess met him. “Faraday.”

“I beg your pardon,” Faraday said. “I was delayed by the unexpected arrival of the doctor. My wife is in expectation of a happy event, and I grew concerned when she complained of pains, but the doctor said it wasn’t unusual. It is too early…Well, that’s probably more than you wanted to know, but I do apologize for the delay. First-time father jitters.”

“I understand,” the marquess said, walking through the hall again. “I’ll leave you to have a look over the house again. The study is just off that corridor,” he said, pointing. “Meet my son and me there when you’re done.”

Faraday bowed and went off to explore.

Colin sat in a chair before the desk. His father took the chair beside him. “Faraday is having trouble making up his mind. I suggested he bring his wife this time. Women always know what they want, but obviously she wasn’t well enough to attend him.”

“The second visit probably means he will choose this one over the other,” Colin said.

“We shall see,” the marquess said. “Of course, you still have time to choose a bride and make the property yours.”

Colin said nothing, but he was dispirited. In a short time, he’d become attached to Sommerall. He would probably always associate the time he’d spent here with Angeline. He wished that they could spend one more day here, but they couldn’t. It had ended all too soon.

Feeling restless, he rose and walked over to the tall bookshelves, but he wasn’t in the mood to read.

“You are welcome to any that interest you,” the marquess said.

“I’ll look them over before Faraday takes possession.”

“It’s not an inevitable conclusion,” the marquess said.

Colin figured the man had already decided to make the purchase and was only having one more look before making his decision. Then he would have to either persuade Angeline to marry him or his father would sell the property when the six weeks were up.

Fifteen minutes later, he rose again, walked to the window, and nudged the drapes open. It was a clear day, but he couldn’t see the mausoleum from this vantage point.

Footsteps alerted him. He turned as Faraday stepped inside and bowed.

The marquess rose. “Well, have you decided?”

Colin’s heart raced, knowing what was to come, but he held his breath anyway.

“I’ll have one more look at the other property,” Faraday said. “You will have my decision soon.” He paused and said, “I understand that it will not be available for six weeks.”

The marquess cleared his throat. “Very well, Faraday. I hope this is the last delay.”

“Yes, my lord. I just want to make sure.” He paused and said, “There’s a cradle in the nursery.”

“I would like to take it and the rocker,” Colin said.

His father arched his brows.

Colin had surprised even himself. He’d made the request without a thought, but the rocker and the cradle now made sense. It was a tangible link to his mother, and the only one he would ever have.

“I’ll see myself out,” Faraday said. “Thank you for your patience.”

After he left, the marquess frowned. “What the devil are you going to do with a rocker and cradle?”

“I want to keep them for the day I start a family,” he said.

“When might that illustrious day be?”

“I don’t know.” But it would not be long. Otherwise, he stood to lose all.

“It appears no one can make decisions today,” the marquess said. “However, I can. Come with me to your mother’s resting place. I haven’t been in some time.”

The fallen autumn leaves crunched beneath their boots. The wind was up, and his father’s thinning hair blew about after they both removed their hats. “Your mother was a beautiful lady inside and out,” he said. “I fell madly in love with Elizabeth, and I was terrified because I had a competitor for her hand.”

Colin regarded his father curiously. “What happened?”

“I tried flowers, sweetmeats, and poetry. She remained unimpressed until one day I found a kitten. When I called on her, I feared the cat had stolen her affections from me. She laughed when I admitted it. She loved that kitten.”

“How did you win her?” Colin said.

“I told her the truth,” he said. “That I couldn’t sleep or eat, and I thought about her all the time. Then I told her that I didn’t have any pretty words, but I loved her so much it hurt to think of l-losing her.” His father’s voice broke. “I did anyway.”

Colin put his arm around his father’s shoulder. “I imagine you were very happy when you married.”

“Oh, yes. One day the kitten got out somehow, and I thought I’d never be able to console her. Not long after, she discovered that she was expecting—you. We were overjoyed. I thought I’d go mad while she labored to bring you into the world. Your grandfather, rest his soul, plied me with entirely too much brandy.”

He smiled a little. “I remember Grandfather well.”

“All I got for it was the devil of a head, but when I finally got to see her, I was so relieved. There you were, a wrinkled, red, squalling infant. I was afraid to hold you, but she insisted.

“It was a happy time. You were a healthy boy. She used to sit in that rocker in the nursery in a patch of sun and sing to you. I was so proud of you. I used to show you off to the tenants, the vicar, and all the parishioners. Elizabeth said I embarrassed her.”

Colin looked at his father wonderingly. This was a side of him that he’d never imagined.

“Elizabeth had two miscarriages afterward, and her health declined. She wanted another babe, but I was afraid and took care not to let it happen. She was determined, and we laughed afterward that she’d seduced me. Six months later, she passed away while giving birth to a little girl so tiny she could not have thrived. The babe was…buried with her.”

Colin briefly closed his eyes. “You must have been wild with grief.”

“Your grandmother had passed the year before, but your grandfather came to collect us both. I remember you cried and cried for your mother. It broke my heart.”

“I used to pray for a miracle that she would come home,” Colin said.

He sighed. “Life goes on, son. You were healthy and inquisitive. We spent a great deal of time together. You would sit on my lap while I read to you.”

“I remember,” Colin said. “
The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes
.”

“You made me read it over and over again. I was tempted to burn it, but I saved it for the day you have brats. I hope they make you read that book repeatedly.”

Colin laughed.

“When it was time to send you to school, I didn’t want to leave you at Eton, but I knew I had to do it. Two years later, I met Margaret’s father. He was in trade of all sorts and had pots of money. One day, the wily man let me see his daughter. I was smitten immediately.” He sighed. “I felt guilty for having feelings for Margaret. It felt as if I were betraying your mother, but you were at school, and I was lost until I met her.”

Colin could hear the melancholy in his father’s voice.

“It was an arranged marriage and hard for Margaret. Her father knew he was ill, and he wanted her to be safe and secure. Back then, she was shy and terrified of living in our world. I vowed then that I would earn her affections, but as it turned out, she earned mine.”

The marquess bowed his head. “I will love you until the end of time, Elizabeth.”

Colin’s eyes burned. He turned away and took out his handkerchief.

The marquess clapped his shoulder. “It’s time to return.”

Colin regarded his father. “Thank you for sharing memories of my mother. It helps.”

That afternoon, Colin managed to evade a group outing and took Angeline to the stables where he chose a mare for her. “We’ll only trot,” he said. “Those side saddles are dangerous. On second thought, I’ll take you up in front of me on Aries.”

“You know I have a good seat,” she said.

“Humor me. Your father will kill me if you fall.”

“Colin, no.”

“Yes, do as I say. Aries is waiting.”

Aries snorted as if he agreed.

The groom helped her up even as she continued to protest.

“Hush,” Colin said. “You’ll enjoy this.”

“I rather doubt it,” she said.

He walked the horse along the path.

“Colin, why even ride if we’re going along at a grandmother’s pace?”

He kissed her neck.

“Keep your eyes on the path,” she said, “or we’ll both fall off.”

“I’ll not let that happen. Hence the slow pace.” He didn’t mention the enticing feel of her bottom against his groin. “You can enjoy the scenery much better at a walk.”

“If I wanted to walk, I would use my legs,” she said.

He laughed. “Relax.”

“What else can I do?”

“That’s better,” he said. Lord, her soft bottom felt too damned good.

“Do you have a destination in mind?” she asked.

“Nothing in particular.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said.

“Just a few more minutes,” he said. Ahead, he saw a spot beneath one of the barren oaks. He halted the horse and slid off the saddle. Then he reached for her and let her slide down his torso.

“You did that on purpose,” she said.

“Did what?” he said, pulling off the rolled blanket.

“If you’re thinking of rubbing down Aries, you are wasting your time. He’s probably put out that you forced him to a sedate walk.”

Aries snorted again and cropped the grass.

Colin took her hand. “Come along.”

“Where?” she said in a snippy tone.

He liked it when she got feisty. “Trust me.”

“Hah!”

He spread the blanket and pulled her down onto it with him.

“Why do I suspect you are scheming?”

“Because you’re smart.”

“If I were smart, I would walk back to the house.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport.” He lay on his side and propped himself up with his hand. “Relax.”

She sat on the blanket and wrapped her arms around her shins. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said, “but it will not happen.”

“What do you think will happen?”

“You want to kiss me.”

“Will you let me?”

When she didn’t answer immediately, his hopes leaped in his chest. “Do you want to kiss me?”

“What I want and what I should do are two different things.” She looked at him. “What happened with Faraday?”

“He’s trying to decide between Sommerall and another property.”

“What is he like, this Faraday?” she asked.

“He’s a gentleman. Arrived rather late.” He told her about Faraday’s wife.

“Has she seen the house?”

“Apparently not. My father thinks she would make up her mind quickly one way or the other, but she obviously wasn’t feeling well enough to join him.”

“So it ended up to be a waste of time,” she said.

“No. My father asked me to accompany him to my mother’s mausoleum. He told me quite a bit about her.” When he told her the rest, she sighed.

“What?” he said.

“It must be wonderful to be so in love.”

She sounded wistful. Angeline wanted hearts and flowers, after all. He supposed most women did hope for love and happily-ever-after. It would be so much easier if she only wanted to repair her reputation and see her sister make her debut in the spring.

“I’m glad your father told you about his relationship with your mother. You were so young, but now you know more about her. I’m glad you found out they were happy.”

“It helps.” He told her about how his father had met Margaret.

“She has been good for him. He would be lonely without her and the girls.” Angeline took off her jaunty little hat and lay on her side to face him. “What will you do if Mr. Faraday makes the offer in six weeks?”

Her words felt like a kick in the gut. “There is nothing I can do unless you decide to make an honest man out of me before then.” He’d spoken in a joking manner, but his nerves were on edge.

“We have three weeks to make that decision—well, two and one-half weeks, I suppose.”

He didn’t have much time. After meeting Faraday, the threat of losing Sommerall had become all too real. What could he do to persuade her? Desperation caught hold of him like talons. He took a deep breath and forced himself to ask the question. “Are you having doubts?”

She shrugged one shoulder, the way she’d done the first night he’d seen her at Deerfield. “I suppose it is only natural for us to have doubts under the circumstances.”

Given her skittishness, he feared she would decide that she couldn’t marry him, even to ensure her sister’s debut. If that happened, he would lose Sommerall.

“Do you like living in London?” she asked.

“I suppose. Harry is always up for a lark.” He remembered his friend’s reaction to the actress upon seeing her in his rooms and grinned.

Angeline huffed. “He’s like a little boy, always wanting to pour spirits in the punch bowl.”

“Do not let Harry fool you. He may like a lark now and then, but no man crosses him and walks away unscathed.”

“I’ve never seen that side of him,” she said.

“Few do.” Colin grinned. “Did I tell you he almost drowned last year?”

“That’s horrible. Why are you smiling about it?”

“We were foxed from one too many bottles at Vauxhall, and Harry was supposed to pay the waterman to take us across. My purse was empty from paying for all the bottles, but Harry discovered he had pockets to let. Somehow or another, he fell into the Thames. I jumped in to save him, and then another fellow dived in to help. That’s how I met Bellingham.”

She laughed. “That’s awful.”

“Good memories,” he said, smiling.

“Men,” she said, rolling her eyes.