He had gone white, and as she tried to sit up, the dizziness flowed over her. Her brain was still suffering the effects of whatever illness had struck. “You need to tell me what has happened, Lord Lisford.”
He glanced outside. “I shall, I promise. But we must go a little farther.”
Farther from where? Her eyes widened, and she realized that he had arranged all of this. “Were you trying to kidnap me?”
He wouldn’t meet her gaze, and she realized that yes, thathadbeen his intention. “No, not that,” he said. “I wanted a grandromantic gesture, something that we could tell our children about. We’re eloping together.”
If she had believed he was foolish before, now she was convinced that the man had nothing save cotton batting in his skull. He’d gone utterly mad.
“Let me see if I can understand you,” she said slowly. In her mind, she replayed the events. He’d come to speak with her, offering a glass of lemonade and apologizing profusely for his behavior when he’d stolen a kiss.
After the lemonade, she’d begun to feel odd. He’d taken her arm, escorting her to the ladies’ retiring room, and the next thing she remembered was waking up inside the carriage.
“You gave me something to drink and then brought me here with the intention that we should run away together?”
He looked relieved. “Yes, that’s it exactly. I thought we could go to Scotland and spend some time there after we marry.”
Scotland? Exactly how long had she been unconscious? Amelia tried to look outside the window, but the motion of the coach made her quickly avert her gaze. “You forgot an important detail, Lord Lisford,” she said. He waited for her to continue, and Amelia added, “Normally when a suitor tries a grand romantic gesture like sweeping a woman away to marry her, heasks her first.”
Bewilderment crossed his face. “Well, of course, you were going to say yes. I apologized to you, after all.”
She straightened and forced her stomach to behave itself. He truly believed that, didn’t he? This handsome rake honestly thought that no woman would ever refuse him. How had she ever considered him delicious and the man of her dreams? Right now, he was the man of her nightmares.
“Lord Lisford,” she said calmly. “I ask that you please tell yourdriver to turn around and take me home. I do not wish to go to Scotland.”
Confusion clouded his face. “Then how are we to marry?”
She wanted to screech at him that she would sooner marry the coachman than him, but she wasn’t entirely certain whether she was safe in his presence. Shouting or making demands might make things worse.
“I believe you, when you say that you wanted a romantic gesture,” she said gently. “But my family will be angry with you. They will not approve of this.”
“They don’t approve of me, I know,” he agreed. “But that is why we should go away together. Once we’re wed, they will have to accept me as your husband.”
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. “My father hasn’t forgotten what you did to Margaret. He won’t allow it to happen a second time.”
The viscount appeared uncomfortable. “In time, he will see that we were meant to be together.”
She gritted her teeth. Did he honestly believe that was true? Exactly how pompous was his opinion of himself?
“How long have we been traveling?” she asked, willing herself to stay calm. There had to be a way out of this.
“Most of the night. We have much farther to go, before we’re safe.”
A frigid chill came over her as she realized the gravity of her situation. If she’d been alone with this man for most of the night, he had well and truly cornered her. Even if she cried off and refused to wed him, her reputation would be in tatters.
For the first time, she let the fear gain a foothold. If she told him no, if she refused him now, he might leave her in the middle of nowhere. She couldn’t survive alone with no money or protection.
Her family would be searching for her; there was no doubt of it. But even if they found her, the damage would be done. All of London society would know that she’d been taken by the viscount. If they married, most would overlook it. His prediction that it would become a Grand Romantic Gesture could become a reality.
Only she didn’t want to be married to a man who sincerely believed he was irresistible. She had to tread carefully and do whatever she could to ensure that she didn’t end up stranded.
“You put something in my lemonade, didn’t you?” she said.
“Just a sleeping draught.” He had the grace to look guilty at that. “I was afraid you’d say no when I asked you to come away with me.”
Before she could ask anything else, he continued, “I know I offended you that night in the garden. But I was so overcome by your beauty and charms, I acted without thinking.”
The way you did just now, Amelia thought. The man hadn’t bothered to consider what she wanted—he’d acted only to serve his own needs.
