requested your presence immediately.â Powell paused, his serious features perplexed. âShe claims the matter to be most urgent, and if I may say so, she appears rather...winded.â
âThank you. Tell her I will be there shortly.â Miles pushed his chair out, gut twisting. He could not forget yesterday morningâs ride. What had he been thinking? Offering marriage? He must have temporarily gone insane. Thankfully, sheâd refused. Heâd done his part, as heâd scribbled in a quick note to John when he returned home.
Should Elizabeth need to marry, there would be plenty of willing suitors. His gut twisted at the thought of Elizabeth in a loveless relationship, but he pushed the feeling aside.
He well knew how love brought pain. He frowned. He did not wish to see Elizabeth today, but he could think of no reason for her to be at his house, alone, except for some unexpected predicament.
Had she changed her mind? Panic shot through him. He prayed not.
He found her pacing his library, hands wringing and dress fluttering with the force of her walk. Her hair escaped in disorganized ringlets around her cheeks, and when he entered her gaze flew to his.
âMiles,â she breathed.
He hardened himself against the relief so clearly etched on her face. Perhaps his pride still rankled from her cold dismissal. âLady Elizabeth, wonât you have a seat?â
Surprise fluttered across her face. Perhaps sheâd expected a less formal greeting.
âI cannot sit. Something dreadful has happened. My hand is being forced, you see, and I said what I had to but now... Iâm truly at my witâs end. I know not what to do. I pray you forgive me.â
He did not move from his position in the doorway. What was happening here? Fingering his cravat, he gave her a questioning look. âSurely things are not so terrible.â
âOh, but they are.â She stooped and plucked a paper from the chair. Marching to him, she held it in front of his face. The words blurred without his spectacles, which heâd left at his desk.
âWhat is it?â he said irritably.
âThat article. They are referencing me.â She lowered the morning rag. âItâs still the gossip this morning, though there is no more mention of a factory owner. There is simply the implication that I...â Her face blanched. âBehaved inappropriately. They do not go so far as to write something to my complete ruination, but a betrothal is the only option to fix this, for if it continues as a topic of conversation, or widespread rumor, then I could very well be ruined and throw my family into the worst sort of scandal.â
âDid you not say you cared ânot a whitâ about your familyâs standing?â
Elizabeth wrinkled her face. âEmpty words. I wish I had not uttered them.â She drew a deep breath, looking down at his feet. âLord Wrottesley has offered marriage, and my parents would have me accept.â
Milesâs spine went rigid. He held up a hand, stopping her midspeech. âThe same man who so cruelly mauled you and caused this fiasco?â
Bitt flushed. âDo not repeat this, please, but I believe he may be the one behind the rumors. They are too expedient. I cannot marry him, Miles. I dare not.â
âAfter what he did to you? Do your parents know?â
Her blush deepened. âI told Mother, but she feels I brought his behavior upon myself. I will say that he was a gentleman in the library, in the presence of my parents. I told him I could not marry him. That I was not at liberty to do so.â
âAt the risk of ruining your family?â
âNot quite.â Her eyes, a startling crystal blue, shone in the morning light streaming through his library windows. âI know you believe me spoiled and selfish and that I care nothing for my familyâs standing, but you are mistaken.â
âBitt.â A lump rose to his
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