“I wanted to be ruined!” she shouted, losing her patience. “I didn’t travel to Great-Aunt Bitsy as I said I did. I went to Wingfield Hall instead.”
She was practically panting, aware of her brother’s eyes on her, staring with shock as she waved the fire poker to punctuate her wild declarations. This wasn’t how she had envisioned telling Rhys the truth. Heavens, she had been convinced that she wouldnevertell him. But he needed to know. Aubrey wasn’t solely to blame for what had happened.
“What do you mean, you went to Wingfield Hall?” Rhys asked, his voice hoarse.
“I know about your club. I know about the wicked house parties.” Her cheeks went hot, and for a moment, she had to look away to gather her bravado before continuing. “I was curious. I decided to attend. I knew that Mater wouldn’t notice me gone until it was too late, if at all. I also knew that Aubrey was going to be there.”
“Richford,” Rhys snarled.
Rhiannon nodded. “I have had atendrefor him for a long time. Mater insisted I accept the earl’s suit, and well, I suppose I considered stealing away to the house party my last opportunity to see if I could make Richford fall in love with me.”
She could feel Aubrey’s questioning gaze on her. So she continued, keeping her eyes on her brother as she unburdened herself. “But when I arrived, Richford instantly recognized me, despite my mask. He tried repeatedly to persuade me to leave, and I was convinced I had wasted my time until…”
“Dear God.” Rhys shook his head. “You needn’t say more.”
“You see?” she asked her brother. “I seduced him, not the other way ’round. Everything that happened was only what I wanted. Until it wasn’t.”
“If you hurt her, I’ll bloody well end you,” Rhys threatened Aubrey.
“I knew he was a rake who didn’t believe in love,” she continued firmly. “But I naively hoped he might make an exception for me. I was wrong. He broke my heart. That is all. You mustn’t be angry with him.”
“I will be angry with him if I wish to be. He was my trusted friend, like a brother to me, and he dishonored you beneath my very nose,” Rhys spat.
“I am every bit the villain you paint me to be,” Aubrey told Rhys solemnly. “But I am also the man who loves your sister.”
She swayed on her feet, inhaling sharply, sure she had misheard.
“What?” At last, she allowed herself to look at Aubrey to find him staring at her, his emerald gaze unwavering even as his left eye began swelling shut.
“I love you, Rhiannon,” he said softly.
The fire poker fell from her suddenly numb fingers, hitting the Axminster with a dull thump.
“You…you love me?” she repeated. “But you don’t believe in love. You told me so.”
He shook his head, lowering his handkerchief so she could see his handsome, battered face without obstruction. “I was wrong. I do believe in love. You taught me that. And you taught me something else too, minx.”
She pressed a hand over her mouth, unable to speak past the tears welling up inside, clogging her throat.
“You taught me that I would gladly be your grasshopper for eternity, if it meant I could have a glimpse of you every dawn.”
“Grasshopper?” Rhys interjected with disgust. “What twaddle is this?”
“Youdolove me,” she said with wonder, ignoring her brother.
“I do.” He tried to smile, but it turned into more of a wince. “This isn’t how I envisioned asking you to be my wife, but, Lady Rhiannon Northwick, will you marry me?”
Aubrey loved her.
He believed in love.
He had come for her.
Joy mingled with disbelief, emerging as a choked sob. “I want nothing more than to be your wife. B-but I told Carnis I would marry him.”
“Throw him over,” Aubrey said without hesitation.
She swallowed hard. “I’m afraid it won’t be as easy as that. Lady Heathcote paid him a call. She recognized me at the house party. She told him about the time you and I spent together. When I told him I couldn’t marry him because I was in love with someone else, he demanded that I wed him anyway or he would let my secret be known. I was afraid of the scandal it would make for Rhys and his betrothed, so I agreed.”
