Closing her eyes, she rubbed her throbbing forehead. She had been deceived, not only by Adrian, but Lord Hanover as well.
Her stomach churned, threatening to bring up her breakfast at any moment. Thankfully, most of her chores had been finished earlier this morning, because now she felt like lying down for the rest of the day, or for the next month. It didn’t matter how long she slept, just that she could be secluded and not have to look at anyone, especially the two Worthington men she’d met last night.
“What is amiss, dear sister?” Priscilla’s hand touched Bridget’s arm. “Your face is so pale.”
“I have a headache.” She looked at Prissy. “It came on quickly, and now I feel the need to lie down.”
“Yes, you should. I’ll finish up here.”
Walking sluggishly, Bridget made her way back toward the house. Shame ate away at her memories, making her feel lower than the sinners her father preached about during his Sunday sermons. Why had she been so free with her kisses with Adrian last night? She could have pushed him away several times. But like a lamb being led to slaughter, she’d allowed Adrian to take her in a private room and let him teach her about passionately kissing a man.
His words echoed in her mind.I’m quite happy to volunteer as your instructor.
Why couldn’t she forget what happened? Why hadn’t she ignored him and remembered that he had been rude when they first met? And if Adrian was really the earl’s younger brother, William, it was no wonder he’d set out to seduce her. He wanted to keep her away from his brother.
Tears stung her eyes. Guilt was a heavy burden to carry, and she wanted to scream.
As she passed the chicken coop, the birds squawked louder than usual, and the noise made the pounding in her head worse. She glanced inside the coop, and a pair of men’s riding boots caught her attention. She followed them up past the man’s muscular legs, up over his riding jacket, and came to rest on a handsome face.
“Adrian,” she gasped, moving inside the coop. “What in heaven’s name are you doing?”
“Trying to hide.”
Was this another ploy of his to get her away from his brother? But now he was at her home. Anger built up inside her, and she wanted to slap him. She wanted to yell at him for everything he had put her through. But first, she needed to know if he was truly Lord William. Somehow, she had to trick him to get his confession.
“Not again.” She rolled her eyes. “Why are you always trying to hide? This isn’t the pantry, you know.”
“Shh…” He moved from the corner of the coop and came toward her. “Is there some place we can talk in private?”
“I don’t think so,Mr.Worthington,” she said, recalling that she was not going to call him by his given name again. “Our pantry isn’t enclosed as the one in the manor’s kitchen is.”
His gaze narrowed on her as a frown touched his features. “Bridget, is something amiss?”
Her heart tugged with the betrayed emotion. Why did he act so caring when she knew otherwise? If he didn’t leave now, she might just empty her stomach all over him—or cry. She didn’t want to do either.
“Please leave, Mr. Worthington. I have a headache, and I’m going to lie down.”
She turned, but he grasped her arm. “We really need to talk. I think my aunt knows about us.”
Panic filled her, but then she suddenly recalled what her sister had said about Aunt Beatrice calling Lord William’s name. She glared at Adrian. “I don’t understand. How could your aunt possibly—”
“Shh…” He placed his hand on her mouth. “Please. It won’t take very long. Where can we talk in private?”
She pushed his hand away. Their first kiss had happened after he touched her mouth. She couldn’t let that happen again. “Well, we certainly cannot meet anywhere around my family’s farm.” She tried to make her mind work as she rubbed her throbbing temples. “There is a pond two miles east of here. We can meet there.”
“I don’t know this area very well.”
She pointed toward the east. “Head in that direction and you’ll run across it. I shall meet you there shortly.”
He smiled. “Don’t be long.”
They carefully stepped out of the chicken coop. He hurried to his horse and mounted. She checked for her family’s whereabouts to make sure they couldn’t be observed. She couldn’t possibly tell her pa what happened last night, which meant he should not catch sight of Adrian right now.
As soon as he was hidden by the trees, she hurried into the house to change her clothes. The dress she had on was one she wore when she did her chores. She didn’t want to meet him smelling like sweat, hay, and laundry soap.
After changing into one of her day dresses, she brushed her hair. Just as she thought about winding it in a coil, she decided against it. What was she doing? Why was she trying to impress him when she would never forgive him for lying to her and making her feel this terrible? However, she would meet him at the pond—but she would tell him her feelings and make him promise to never speak to her again.
And no matter how hard he tried—because she suspected he would—she wouldnotlet him kiss her.
