Again, his face was a mix of emotions. “Damn it all.” With that, he turned and yanked the door open, striding out into the hall.
Meliah watched him go until he disappeared from sight, and then she dared to head down the stairs. When she reached the foyer, she wasn’t certain what she might do next. Elwood had told her he would escort her to London, but considering their current difference of opinion, she could no longer expect to rely on his good will. However, she found she didn’t have to concern herself with the task, because to her surprise, the marquess was waiting for her. “I am returning to London, and I would be glad to escort you.”
Now that some of her bravery had disappeared with her encounter with Lord Belmont, she found herself at a loss for words. “I couldn’t ask that of you, my lord?—”
“Nonsense. I am heading back to my estate and it would be foolish to make you wait any longer to return home.” He glanced past her to where Elwood had disappeared. “Unless, of course, you have another reason to remain.”
She had to force herself not to turn around to see if he was there when something told her he wasn’t. “No. There is nothing left for me here. I shall gratefully accept your generous offer, my lord.”
CHAPTER 14
Elwood slumped in his chair in the study at his London townhouse, convinced that he had been wrong before. He thought he’d slipped into the realm of hell when he had been chased with the proverbial pitchforks and torches, but it was nothing compared to the misery he was going through now.
He hadn’t intended on coming back here so soon, knowing that Meliah was somewhere in the same vicinity, but he told himself that he intended to suffer whatever ridicule and misery that he might have to endure because he was deserving of every bit of it.
It had been a sennight of self-loathing that he’d been unable to shake since she’d left. He had exhausted all his efforts at ridding his guilt in more than one bottle of brandy, but it had been for naught. As soon as his mind was able to regain some semblance of normalcy, his thoughts were flooded with Meliah and how he’d managed to ruin the one thing that might have actually mattered in his life. At the same time, he despised the way he yearned to run to her house and beg her forgiveness and pour out his heart. After running from love for nearly twenty-eight years, it had struck him unaware, and with all the force of a lightning bolt to the chest.
Determined to focus his attention on something other than Miss Newton, he riffled through the mail on his desk that had been sorely neglected. He passed over the invitations and correspondence that held his mother’s handwriting, but paused when he saw a notice from his solicitor.
Feeling a shiver of apprehension traveling up his spine, Elwood broke the seal and read the brief, but overwhelming missive that claimed he’d found a buyer for the hunting box and they were ready to take possession as soon as he could find a time to meet. Although it was the marquess’ choice to sell the land, he’d left it up to Elwood to finalize the particulars on his behalf. For all his faults, he had succeeded.
Tossing the letter on top of the desk, he put his head in his hands. It was as if he was losing another part of himself by letting that box go to someone else. But what purpose did he have to keep it? His townhouse was more than enough for a bachelor and when his father passed, he would gain the estate. His younger brothers all had residences and families of their own. That cottage was being sadly neglected of late, except for his recent stay there, and it was right that it should be sold. And yet, something rebelled at the idea of selling it. He had a lot of good memories from his childhood there, and then, of course, he would always remember Meliah and their brief liaison whenever he returned. That alone should have been enough reason for him to sign his name on the paperwork and hand over the keys, but he continued to hesitate.
There was a knock at the door and a footman walked inside. The stiff, formal man bowed respectfully to him. Again, Elwood thought of the staff that kept watch over the hunting box and he lamented their easy banter when they waited on him. But London was entirely too formal. Servants weren’t about to crossthat invisible line. He’d never bothered to think about the class difference so much before, because he’d grown up with the way things were supposed to be—but they were also the way things Meliah thought they should be, and he didn’t like that comparison. “My lord, the marchioness is here to see you.”
Elwood groaned inwardly. He glanced down at his rumpled clothing and the discarded jacket that was thrown over the settee. “Tell her I’m busy?—”
“Really, Belmont, you don’t have time for your own mother?”
Elwood smirked as the elder woman sailed into the room. She looked as she always did, perfectly put together and fashionable. She was still a very handsome woman with her intelligent blue eyes and faded black hair threaded with bits of silver. She had always been the epitome of what a lady of breeding should be, and not only did his father love her for her smooth way of dealing with any situation, he adored her because his love was without restraint.
Elwood had never been immune to her charm and had nothing but respect for both of his parents, but right now, he wasn’t in the mood to humor anyone.
He didn’t rise at her entrance, but rather leaned back in his chair and waved a hand at her. “Of course, Lady Traverson,” he drawled. “I thought my footman was referring to someone else entirely. My mistake.”
She lifted a brow as she walked over and stood in front of the desk, staring down at him. “Don’t be cross, Elwood.” He knew when she adopted that tone and used his name rather than his title, she was expressing her annoyance. “You didn’t return my letter. Since I learned of the horrid state you were in when your father returned home, I thought you might be acting foolishly.” She stared pointedly at the nearly empty bottle close to him. “I see that you have, but not in the way I might have hoped.”
He snorted. “Like marry the chit?”
“Actually, I hoped you had.”
At that, Elwood perked up slightly. “What are you talking about? She’s a commoner. No doubt both you and father would have an apoplexy if I dared to elevate a weaver’s daughter to a countess.”
She lifted her chin slightly. “While it has always been expected for you to marry a debutante worthy of the family lineage, it is not a requirement. Both your father and I have always wanted your happiness. There are very few couples in society that manage to obtain love and I have found much joy in doing so. That does not mean I don’t expect certain qualifications for a potential daughter-in-law, but from what your father has said, Miss Newton acted with all the decorum and proper speech as any young lady who might choose to impress you by vying for nothing more than your title.”
Elwood wasn’t sure if he could quite believe what he was hearing. He sat forward slowly. “Are you actually saying that you arebothgiving your blessing on a match?”
“You find that difficult to comprehend?” she returned evenly. Sitting down in front of him, she set her hands together in her lap and said, “My dear boy, while you are a man grown and have done what you wished for a number of years, I was starting to despair that you would ever find someone to settle down with. It would be best for the entire family if you cease causing scandal and become the honorable Earl of Belmont, future Marquess Traverson, that we all know you can be. If this is the woman who can manage the impossible, then by all means, I am overjoyed that you have found someone who has captured your heart.”
A strange sort of buzzing began to ring in his ears. Normally, it meant he was about to collapse from the strain of trying to ward off the marriage minded mothers and their daughters they kept flinging in his direction. But this time, it was theanticipation of approaching Meliah and bending down on one knee in front of her.
Unfortunately, there was one more impediment that kept him from running out the door. “I suppose wonders never cease,” he murmured. “But what if her modest background is revealed? She will be ostracized from polite society.”
His mother lifted a coy brow and rose to her feet once more. “You have always been resourceful in your endeavors. I’m sure you will find a way to make it work, if Miss Newton is whom you truly want. Your father and I will do what we can to support the union, but it will not come lightly for either of you. You just have to decide it she’s worth it.”
On that note, she turned on her heel and sailed back out the door.
Elwood blew out a heavy breath, his mind suddenly racing. His mother had given him a lot to consider, not the least of which was the approval he didn’t think he would obtain.
