could not find it within himself to be disappointed. She was quite correct in her assessment that she was not what he had been looking for, but he could feel anticipation building within himself at the thought of having the lovely young woman as his wife.
“It was the only possible way to defuse the situation, surely you see that. I am sorry it has turned out this way, but we can make the most of it.”
“You are much too calm about this, my lord. I am beginning to think you had a hand in orchestrating this. I do not trust you and I cannot imagine there is any way we shall be able to salvage a comfortable life out of this mess. Why could you not have kept your mouth shut?”
“Elizabeth, my dear lady, you really must make an effort not to fall apart now.” Justice tried to help her regain her composure. “Can you not see that we can now work together against Broderick much more comfortably?”
He watched in amusement as her jaw became unhinged once more. “Do you mean this was a ploy to get my cooperation with your investigation? I was already going to help you! There was no reason to go to such lengths.”
“That is most certainly not what I meant,” Justice insisted. “I am merely trying to make the best out of a difficult situation.”
“So you intend to just have a temporary betrothal until the gossip dies down?”
Justice grimaced at the hopeful note in her voice. “No, we shall have to be wed. You are well and truly compromised, my dear lady. I do apologize to you. I know you came to meet me with the best of intentions and this is a cruel recompense for your efforts.”
“You are perfectly accurate in that, my lord. I feel as though I have been blindsided by this turn of events.” She paused for a moment and Justice held his breath, unsure of what she would say next. “I do not mean to be rude or hurtful, my lord, but I really have no wish to be married to you.”
“Would you rather be banished from polite Society?” he was surprised but not shocked by her words and was trying to help her see reason.
“As a matter of fact, I would, my lord. If it were not for thoughts of how it would affect my mother, I very much would rather be banished. Do you not recall what I told you just this very afternoon that I wished to marry for love? And then there is the little fact of the gossip about you, my lord. No, I cannot be comfortable contemplating a future as the Countess of Heath.”
“I am sorry that you feel this way, my dear, but you will have to conform your thoughts to just such a development.”
Elizabeth wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. This was such a mess. Rosamund would have managed the entire situation far better, she was sure. She felt a momentary wish to curl up and have a good cry, but before she could even feel the tears forming in her eyes her mother was back in the room bustling about and fussing over her.
“Come along, my dear. Let us go. We must remain for at least a half an hour before we can take our leave. My lord, you may call upon my husband first thing in the morning to make the arrangements. And then you must escort my daughter for another ride in the park. It seems you have a lot to discuss.”
As they descended to the ballroom, Elizabeth could feel a myriad of eyes boring into her. She made every effort to keep her smile serene despite the fact that inside she was howling with fury. She could see that Lady Emmaline was waiting to pounce upon her as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“I thought you said you weren’t setting your cap at him,” she began, her sly look enjoying Elizabeth’s discomfort. “It would seem you don’t give a fig for his sullied reputation.”
Elizabeth felt a shockingly misplaced sense of loyalty rear up within her breast. “I would beg of you to not speak ill of my future husband, my dear Lady Emmaline. I wouldn’t want to have to give you the cut direct when I am the Countess of Heath.”
She felt a deep sense of
“It was the only possible way to defuse the situation, surely you see that. I am sorry it has turned out this way, but we can make the most of it.”
“You are much too calm about this, my lord. I am beginning to think you had a hand in orchestrating this. I do not trust you and I cannot imagine there is any way we shall be able to salvage a comfortable life out of this mess. Why could you not have kept your mouth shut?”
“Elizabeth, my dear lady, you really must make an effort not to fall apart now.” Justice tried to help her regain her composure. “Can you not see that we can now work together against Broderick much more comfortably?”
He watched in amusement as her jaw became unhinged once more. “Do you mean this was a ploy to get my cooperation with your investigation? I was already going to help you! There was no reason to go to such lengths.”
“That is most certainly not what I meant,” Justice insisted. “I am merely trying to make the best out of a difficult situation.”
“So you intend to just have a temporary betrothal until the gossip dies down?”
Justice grimaced at the hopeful note in her voice. “No, we shall have to be wed. You are well and truly compromised, my dear lady. I do apologize to you. I know you came to meet me with the best of intentions and this is a cruel recompense for your efforts.”
“You are perfectly accurate in that, my lord. I feel as though I have been blindsided by this turn of events.” She paused for a moment and Justice held his breath, unsure of what she would say next. “I do not mean to be rude or hurtful, my lord, but I really have no wish to be married to you.”
“Would you rather be banished from polite Society?” he was surprised but not shocked by her words and was trying to help her see reason.
“As a matter of fact, I would, my lord. If it were not for thoughts of how it would affect my mother, I very much would rather be banished. Do you not recall what I told you just this very afternoon that I wished to marry for love? And then there is the little fact of the gossip about you, my lord. No, I cannot be comfortable contemplating a future as the Countess of Heath.”
“I am sorry that you feel this way, my dear, but you will have to conform your thoughts to just such a development.”
Elizabeth wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. This was such a mess. Rosamund would have managed the entire situation far better, she was sure. She felt a momentary wish to curl up and have a good cry, but before she could even feel the tears forming in her eyes her mother was back in the room bustling about and fussing over her.
“Come along, my dear. Let us go. We must remain for at least a half an hour before we can take our leave. My lord, you may call upon my husband first thing in the morning to make the arrangements. And then you must escort my daughter for another ride in the park. It seems you have a lot to discuss.”
As they descended to the ballroom, Elizabeth could feel a myriad of eyes boring into her. She made every effort to keep her smile serene despite the fact that inside she was howling with fury. She could see that Lady Emmaline was waiting to pounce upon her as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“I thought you said you weren’t setting your cap at him,” she began, her sly look enjoying Elizabeth’s discomfort. “It would seem you don’t give a fig for his sullied reputation.”
Elizabeth felt a shockingly misplaced sense of loyalty rear up within her breast. “I would beg of you to not speak ill of my future husband, my dear Lady Emmaline. I wouldn’t want to have to give you the cut direct when I am the Countess of Heath.”
She felt a deep sense of
Similar Books
