“On the contrary.” He stepped in suddenly, far too close, and dropped his voice. “There is much I would love to speak of. Alas, such a setting as this…” He glanced about. “Far too many prying eyes.”
Ophelia swallowed. “Lucky me. And lucky you.”
“I know I have no right to ask this, considering what happened, but…” He smirked as his eyes roamed her again. “Might we step into the hallway for a moment and talk? The regrets that I have… the things that I did. I would never forgive myself if I were not given the chance to repent.”
Ophelia eyed him with great skepticism. While he spoke the right words, sounding as if he was sorry, that look in his eyes told a different story. “Whatever you have to say, you can say here.”
“I do not think so,” he said. “And I must insist. A few minutes only, I promise.”
“To which, I must deny you.”
He exhaled, even managing to look regretful. “Alas, I do not want to do this, but you have left me no choice. You will join me, Your Grace, otherwise I might feel personally aggrieved. And when such things happen, I tend to speak of things that are better left unsaid.” He fixed her in a knowing stare. “You have done well to escape the rumors that forced you to flee theton, enough that many have likely forgotten them. I do wonder, however, what might be said if I were to remind those here tonight of what you did to me.”
“What I…” Ophelia’s stomach dropped. “I did nothing. You were the one who –”
“Was pursued and scandalized by you,” he cut her off. “Why, I was lucky to escape with my reputation intact. I have been willing to let the past lie, for I do so hate to revisit such horrid memories. But if you will not follow me outside, I will remind everyone here of what you did.” A shadow passed behind his eyes as he looked at her. “I do wonder what your husband might say when he learns the truth.”
“That is…” Ophelia shook, the fear rising inside of her. “Lies!”
“Perhaps,” he shrugged. “But who will they believe?”
Adelaide was wrong! Lord Hallbridge has not changed. If anything, he is worse!
Ophelia should not have cared about his threats. Soon, she would be leaving for the country, forced to live in ignominy, likely to never return to thetonagain. What difference did a few old rumors make?
But her husband… despite her best efforts, Ophelia’s thoughts return to Adrian. She should not have cared about him. She did not want to let him control her. But she knew too that if Lord Hallbridge did as he threatened, it would ruin her husband, and Ophelia just could not bear to do that to him.
“Two minutes,” she sneered. “That is all I will give you.”
“More than enough time.” He stepped back and smiled in a way that showed all his teeth. “Please, after you…” He turned and gestured across the room.
With no choice, Ophelia walked ahead, making for the doorway. This was not a good idea. She knew that no good would come of it. But to protect her husband’s name, even if she wanted to hate the man, there was nothing she would not do.
Such was the price of being in love, even if that love was not returned.
CHAPTER 34
“All right, what do you want?” Ophelia asked the moment that she and Lord Hallbridge were in the hallway. They stood roughly twenty feet down from the doorway to the drawing room, such that the sounds of laughter coming from within could still be heard. “You have two minutes, so I suggest you speak quickly.”
Lord Hallbridge was behind her, and he stood so as to block her view of the drawing room. And the second that she turned, she found him on her, so close that she could smell his breath as he leaned down to speak.
“Is that not obvious?” He flashed his green eyes, the hunger in the undeniably. “I want you, Ophelia. As I always have.”
Ophelia reared back in surprise. “You… that is absurd.”
“It is not.” He took her hand, and she wrenched it free. “I did not pursue you out of malice, nor because I wanted to hurt you.When I attempted to court you, all those years ago, it was done with the right intent. You must know that.”
“I…” Ophelia searched the man for a lie, unable to believe what he was saying. “I do not care about your intent. What I care for… what I have not forgiven you for, is what you did to me.”
“Which pains me like you cannot imagine.” Again, he took her hand. Again, she snatched it free. “You are too beautiful, Ophelia. Too pure. When you rejected me, it hurt my pride, and I lashed out. For that, I am sorry.”
“I do not want your apology.”
“But you have it,” he insisted as he leaned over her, giving her nowhere else to look. “And know that all I have thought about since is how wrong I was. Hurting you… it was the worst thing I have ever done.”
“That is not… I do not…” Ophelia had no idea what to say. “I am married, Lord Hallbridge.”
“Hardly,” he scoffed. “Oh, do not pretend differently. You might have fooled most of theton,but I know that your marriage is a farce, as I know that you feel nothing for your husband.”
