“No, not yet. Give your heart time to adjust, and then see which man truly makes you happy. Only you can decide which man will be your friend for the rest of your life, just as your mother was my friend before she died.”
Ease settled over her. He was right. She didn’t need to decide anything now, which was a good thing, because she feared she would make the wrong decision. She would continue to see Vincent, and she’d also allow Adam—Lord Calvin—to visit her. She prayed her heart would tell her which one to choose. She didn’t trust her own mind yet.
“I thank you, Father.” She threw her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m happy that you have returned. Please don’t ever go away again.”
Chuckling, he kissed her forehead. “Now that I realize what I’m doing to my children, I vow I shall not let it happen again.”
She pulled back and met his gaze. “Father? Do you really love Augusta?”
Sadness altered his expression. “No. I met Augusta when I was still mourning your mother. I was lonely, and I thought she could replace my dear Martha.” He shook his head. “Augusta cannot. I believe she tricked me into marrying her, because she changed into a controlling shrew once we were wed.”
“Oh, Father.” Ellie clutched his hands. “She is running this household as if she is the queen herself. Neither Dominic nor I want her here. Would it be so terrible for you to divorce her?”
“Trust me, I have thought about that many times. Unfortunately, unless she has committed adultery, I cannot divorce her.”
“Dominic and I don’t trust her. She’s…sneaky.” Ellie frowned. “I cannot put my finger on it, but she’s calculating in an odd sort of way.”
“Yes, I see it now. For weeks, she has been trying to push me into allowing Lord Stone to marry you. I was weak and went along with her plans.” He stroked her cheek. “Will you forgive me, my dear?”
“I will, but please instruct Lord Stone to leave the house posthaste. Augusta has him living here. Did you know that?”
“Yes. I’m sorry for that, but I promise, that will be the first thing on my agenda tomorrow.”
Relief swept over her, and she sighed. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
He stood and pulled Ellie to her feet. “Go back upstairs to your room and sleep. You need to look your best tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll have two men vying for your heart.”
She tilted her head. “Do you really think Vincent would vie for my heart? After all, you practically pushed us together.”
Her father laughed heartily. “I think Vincent will come around and show his true colors. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and he’s smitten.”
“We shall see, won’t we?”
As she left the study and headed back toward her room, she pondered the strange emotions fluttering in her chest. Did she want Vincent toshow his true colors? Or was she really and truly in love with Adam?
Hopefully, her heart would hurry up and decide. She was weary of this constant headache.
Then again, now that Vincent had money, would he want to marry her at all? At first, the bargain was to wed so that he would have her money.
She rubbed her pounding forehead. Negative thinking like this was not good for her health.
*
Vincent spent thenext two days building his stable from sun up to sun down. When he paused to take a break, he drank brandy, hoping that the strong drink and the hot sun would warp his mind, and perhaps erase some of his memories.
Dalton had gathered more men to assist in building the stable. Vincent didn’t talk much, but the other men conversed amongst themselves. As much as he tried to release the hold Ellie had over him, he couldn’t break it. There was no way he could compete with the man whoheld her heart, as she had once told him. So why was he even trying?
Inwardly laughing, he wondered how he’d allowed a woman to take control of his feelings in the first place. What was it about her that kept him coming back for more? Perhaps it was the way she laughed, or the way she smiled. He had certainly enjoyed seeing the twinkle in her eyes lately. And he especially liked seeing the yearning on her face whenever she wanted to be alone with him.
In just a little time, she had him imagining things a rogue like himself shouldn’t even be thinking. Vincent had visualized himself settling down and raising children with her. Why had he done that? Now he’d always be a lost man.
Swiping his gloved hand across his sweaty brow, he looked upon the newly built stable. All it needed was to be painted. He’d do that tomorrow. At least it gave him something to do. Unfortunately, he had nothing to do this evening. He wasn’t tired from all the physical work he’d done these past two days as he tried to stop thinking about Ellie. He had even fixed things up around the manor.
Before Lord Calvin Drake had entered Ellie’s life, this evening’s event might have been his wedding night. It was difficult not to think about being with Ellie, holding her all night, and kissing her whenever his heart desired.
Vincent shook his head, pushing aside the improper thoughts. Thinking in this manner was torture, and certainly not healthy. What he needed to do was return to the man he’d been before Ellie entered his life. Unfortunately, Society still considered him engaged. He would have to wait until the duke announced that they were withdrawing the wedding plans so that she could marry the love of her life, Drake.
Vincent didn’t want to be around when that happened. He’d get roaring drunk for an entire week after that. Mayhap longer.
