CHAPTER TWELVE
Mara had just closed the shop for the day when there was a knock at the side entrance. Since she wasn’t expecting any deliveries, her heart leaped at the prospect that it might be Roarke showing up to surprise her.
She’d been in a sensual haze all morning as she recalled each soul-shattering kiss, every gentle touch, and all the whispered promises he’d spoken the night before. It had been so different from the passionate coupling that had transpired at Eversleigh House, which had been almost resentful in its intensity. This time, while his embraces were just as fervent, they had bordered on reverent. It all seemed like a dream and that at any moment, she would wake to find that he was still in India and she was all alone back in that awful workhouse.
At first, when she’d opened her eyes to find his side of the bed was empty, she had the horrifying sensation that he truly had been a figment of her imagination. But then she’d felt the lingering warmth from his body on the sheets, and it was all the proof she needed to know he had truly been there. For that brief moment, she’d been foolish enough to dare to hope again.
But as she opened the side door now to reveal who was on the other side, that harsh reality intruded with a vengeance. Immediately, a well-known verse popped into her head. It was one she’d memorized at the workhouse when she’d been given a faded copy of a King James Bible.Psalms 40:12:
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
While she’d been expecting to see Roarke’s mother again, the shock of facing her again after so many years still caused her stomach to plummet. Her sins truly had come back to haunt her. “Lavinia,” she whispered, feeling the color bleach out of her cheeks, leaving her cold and numb.
The only reply she was granted was a disgruntled huff.
“I must say you don’t look pleased to see me, Miss Miller.”
Mara reluctantly stepped aside to admit Lady Eversleigh, for the confrontation to come needed to be held in absolute privacy. With a stiff smile, she said, “Is it so obvious?”
“Surely you knew I would be here sooner, rather than later.” Lavinia tilted her head to the side. “I just hope I’m not too late to undo the damage you’ve wrought.”
Mara tried to hide her nervousness by clasping her trembling hands before her and keeping her voice level. “I suppose you’re here to kill me off again.”
The older woman’s lips tightened. “Sarcasm doesn’t become you,” she scolded. As she walked further into the shop, Lavinia took a good look around before she turned back to her. “I must admit that you’ve done well for yourself. I suppose you have toiled mercilessly to get where you are.”
“No doubt you know I have,” Mara returned dryly.
Lavinia narrowed her eyes. “You’ve also grown rather bold. But if you must know, you are correct. I have taken it upon myself to check in on you from time to time, if only to make sure you’ve kept to your side of our bargain.”
“Then I’m sure I don’t need to tell you I have.”
“Until now.” The older woman’s gaze flashed ruthlessly. “What have you told him?”
“Nothing,” she replied truthfully.
Lady Eversleigh must have taken her at her word, for she said, “Roarke has a very shrewd nature. He will likely pursue the matter, but we must discourage him at all costs. He finally has a chance to make a fresh start on his home soil, but I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing I say or do will keep him from pursuing you, so you’re going to have to be the one to change his mind.”
“And how do you suppose I might manage that when I’ve already made more than one attempt to dissuade him?”
“Have you?” His mother asked directly, to which Mara found herself reluctantly glancing away from that perceptive stare. “I’ve decided that what must be done shall be rather harsh, but effective.” She paused meaningfully. “You will have to thoroughly break his heart. Once his trust in you is diminished, I can steer him back on the right path to doing his duty as a peer of the realm.”
“And marry an empty-headed heiress, I presume?” Mara asked bitterly, although she already knew the brutal answer.
Lavinia’s gaze was straightforward, but she offered some empathy, however slight. “I know you love my son, and I’m not a blatantly cruel woman, whatever you may think. But if you will recall, I loved Roarke’s father once upon a time, and you see where that left me. Besides,youagreed that Roarke deserved better than what you could offer him, a life riddled with scandal.”
“Perhaps I’ve rescinded my opinion,” Mara retorted, as a rush of frustrating tears filled her line of vision.
“It’s too late for that,” Lavinia said softly, then with a heavy sigh, she added, “My intention has never been to make you unhappy or ruin your life—I simply want to save his.”
To shore up her nerve, Mara clenched her fists at her sides, and while it might finish breaking what was left of the brittle shell that was her heart, she looked Lady Eversleigh right in the eye and said flatly, “Just tell me what you want me to do.”
“I have it all arranged,” Lavinia replied matter of fact, “All you have to do is be convincing.”
Roarke was waiting for Mara when she finally showed up at Lyra’s townhouse. He’d been pacing for the better part of an hour, having expected her long before now, so with every step, he found his humor was vastly disintegrating. Granted, most of his anger was directed at his mother and her closed-mouthed refusal to give him the answers he required, but he was tired of everyone trying to protect him from something he should damned well know, especially if it wasthatdire.
In the end, he decided that since Mara was at the heart of this entire matter, he wasn’t going to leave until everything was finally settled between them. He’d allowed the fire, the search for Bentley, his own desire—and any number of other excuses to temporarily divert his quest, but the time of reckoning was now at hand.
Unfortunately, his mood didn’t improve after her arrival.
