“More than abit,” he countered. “I shall be the subject of everlasting ridicule if you dare to add that to your article.”
“I’m not going to write it.”
She spoke so low, and while he was still trying to control his merriment, he nearly missed her confession. “Pardon?”
She straightened her shoulders and looked him squarely in the eye. “I said, I’m not going to write it.”
He blinked, any further amusement vanishing. “But it was your entire purpose?—”
“I know,” she admitted with another heavy sigh. “But I’ve found a certain… change of heart when it comes to writing about you any longer. I would feel like the worst sort of hypocrite when my recent actions have not been of any credit to me.”
Completely sober, Elwood halted the pair pulling the carriage and set the brake as he allowed the reins to go slack in his grip. He reached out his other hand and laid it gently on her upper arm. “I would gladly bear whatever sort of punishment is coming my way if only to make sure that all of your dreams come true. Writing is your passion, and I would not let you strip yourself of the possibility of becoming published.”
“Oh, make no mistake. I shall still do my best to approach the printers with my novel, but I will no longer do it by using someone else to succeed, however much I might try to makeyour good qualities shine through.” She shook her head. “It was wrong of me to pursue you the way I did in the first place. If there is anything I regret about our time together it is that.”
Meliah could tellthat she’d shocked him, but she would rather not dwell on the fact that her actions had been for naught. Being with Lord Belmont might not have fulfilled her dreams the way she had initially intended, but she would hold their memories close to her heart for the rest of her days.
She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Let’s enjoy the day, shall we? I should still like to spend it with you.”
He inclined his head, but as he picked up the reins once more, he said, “This conversation is not yet over.”
She wasn’t quite sure how to take that, but rather than spoil another moment that she could carry with her when they parted, she remained silent on the subject. Hoping to turn the tide on the earl’s morose mood, she asked, “What is the name of the local village?”
“Doncaster.”
His stilted reply didn’t hold much encouragement. “We are in Yorkshire?” she prodded.
“Indeed.” He finally glanced at her. “Have you not been this far north?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t been out of London.”
He blinked, and then she saw the slight softening of his expression. “In that regard, I’m pleased to be your honorary guide, and you must allow me to procure something for you to celebrate your first holiday.”
Meliah had never considered looking upon her time with Lord Belmont as an actual holiday, but now that he’d mentionedit, she found the idea quite appealing. “Only if it is something small,” she noted. “I shouldn’t accept that, but I daresay I can’t find it within me to say no.”
He smiled. “As you shouldn’t.” He dared to wink at her and she could feel the heart immediately start swirling in the pit of her stomach. “Consider it payment for putting up with my beastly nature these past couple of days.”
She laughed a bit breathlessly.Had it truly been such a short span of time that she’d known the earl?What a wicked whirlwind. “You have been rather unruly, but you are not without redemption.”
His brows drew together slightly, as if he were seriously contemplating that statement. Not wanting him to be upset for long, she quickly turned the conversation to inquiring about his younger days. She asked him about his childhood, and he regaled her with stories that nearly had her in tears with merriment. She wasn’t surprised to learn that he was just as incorrigible then as he was now.
As they entered the outskirts of Doncaster, it didn’t take long before his presence was noted. Broad smiles appeared on most everyone they passed as they offered a curtsy or friendly wave. Meliah noticed that she was looked upon curiously. No doubt they would be under the assumption that they were courting.
When the earl guided them to the local livery and handed his reins off to a man who came out to greet them, he tipped his hat to the earl. “My lord.” When his focus lit on her, there was an obvious question in his gaze.
“This is Miss Newton. She is a guest at Belmont Hall.” He looked at her and his blue eyes twinkled. “She fancies herself something of a writer and wanted somewhere quiet to work on her next novel.” The groom murmured something noncommittal, obviously not as impressed with the earl’s fabricated tale as he’d made it seem.
He offered his arm to her and they walked away. “Why did you say that?” she whispered.
“Isn’t it true?”
“Well, I suppose, but the way you phrased it?—”
“Are you a writer or not, Miss Newton? If so, then perhaps you have gained some resources for your next story.”
Her lips twitched and she finally relented. “Perhaps you are correct, my lord.”
For a time they strolled down the main thoroughfare of the town. It was quite freeing to walk alongside a man like Lord Belmont without a care in the world. Whenever someone stopped to inquire about their day and gain an introduction to Meliah, the earl continued to regale her attributes. They must have wondered where her chaperone was, but no one said anything against the earl, and many of the others were impressed that she was a prospective author.
