How could henot?
Lewis smiled thinly. “I will admit that my future bride fleeing from me does not bode well for our future happiness.”
“She is not your bride yet,” Elias said.
“I have no doubt she will be.”
“You must understand,” Elias said, “my sister has always wanted a love-match. As Dorothy said, she is a very romantic girl. This day would be trying to any young lady, but it is especially so for someone like Bridget.”
Romanticseemed like the kindest way of sayingoverly sensitive. Once Lady Bridget married him, Lewis would have to ensure that she learned her place quickly. Such unpredictability would be highly disturbing to his household.
“We will review the matter further tomorrow,” Lewis said. “As you suggested. Since the young lady does not want to discuss it further, I believe it is time for me to take my leave.”
“As you wish,” Elias said.
Dorothy gestured for the waiting butler. “Halls will see you out. Thank you for your visit and your gracious offer.”
Lewis said nothing. He turned on his heel and followed the butler. Unlike Lady Bridget, he strode calmly from the room. He hoped that Reeds noticed and that it made the man realize just what a disgraceful display his sister had been. Honestly, it was difficult to believe that the young miss was nineteen when she behaved like that!
Lewis reached the foyer, and the butler bowed deeply. “Your Grace?—”
“Your Grace!” A distinctively feminine voice cut off whatever the butler had been going to say.
Lewis glanced back to the stairs and found the speaker quite quickly. Lady Bridget stood there, her fingers curled against the banister. She was admittedly quite lovely, standing tall and straight like she was. Her white gown fell smoothly down her slender body, sweeping over her subtle curves.
A wide pink ribbon cinched the gown just beneath her bosom, flaunting her generous breasts and tiny waist. Lady Bridget’shair was still a little wet, too. Golden strands curled loosely about her temples and fell into her fierce green eyes.
He had noticed her beauty when he pulled her from the lake, of course, but the foyer was swept in the colors of sunset, which cast all her features into a striking contrast. His loins stirred. Lewis so seldom indulged himself, but this woman was the very embodiment of desire.
“Lady Bridget,” he said. “Are you lost?”
Lewis’s voice did not waver for even an instant. Lady Bridget would not charm him, as she had so many others.
“Lost?” she asked. “In the home of my own sister?”
Lady Bridget stepped from the stairs, her eyes darting to the butler. Lewis followed her gaze and waited, wanting to see what the twice-ruined girl would do.
“That will be all, Halls,” she said.
A proper butler might have protested or politely reminded the young lady that she ought not be alone with men, but it seemed that Halls was not a proper man, for he only bowed in compliance. “Yes, my lady.”
He departed swiftly, leaving Lewis alone with Lady Bridget. What a masterful, little thing she was!
“I am not lost,” Lady Bridget said, tipping her chin up. “I wished to speak to you before you left.”
“And so, you are. Have you come to apologize for storming from the room like a child?”
Lady Bridget clenched her teeth together and smiled tightly. She shook her head, as if not trusting her own voice.
“Then, I am uninterested in anything you might have to say,” Lewis said. “Unless it is your acquiescence to my proposal. I might think kindlier about you if you can muster an ounce of enthusiasm when you tell me.”
“No,” Lady Bridget said. “On the contrary, I am here to ask you to retract your proposal.”
“And why would I do that?”
Lady Bridget left the banister and stepped boldly toward him. Lewis could not help but notice how nicely she smelled, of English lavender and rose oil. Not overwhelming or too subtle, just perfect.
“Because you do not truly wish to marry me,” Lady Bridget said. “But I know my brother. He might act as though he is reluctant, and I suspect that he is. However, he is also a sensible man. He will agree, so if we are to avoid this marriage, you must withdraw your proposal.”
