Page 5 of Her Sweetest Rogue (The Worthington Legacy #6)

T rey and Hawthorne retreated to the study for drinks. As Trey paced the Persian rug in front of the fireplace, Dominic sprawled in a brown leather chair before the hearth, leisurely sipping his brandy. Trey passed his friend a scowl. How could Dominic act nonchalant at a time like this?

“Hawthorne, you are not relieving my frazzled nerves any.”

A deep chuckle rattled from his friend’s chest as he crossed one leg over the other. “My good man, I do believe Miss Faraday has gotten under your skin.”

Trey stopped to face his friend. “That lady has certainly unnerved me, but it’s only due to her circumstance. Pray tell, how can I find a wealthy husband for her if she’s so adamant to marry this sailor I have yet to meet?”

Dominic shrugged as he took another sip. “Do not rely on me for answers. I have never been in this predicament before.”

“Mother must start right away on getting Miss Faraday properly educated.” Trey dragged his fingers through his hair.

“I thought your mother had entrusted that assignment to you.”

Trey growled, wishing he hadn’t taken the responsibility. The girl affected him entirely too much. He feared the only thing to relieve his problem would be to leave everything in his mother’s hands—or try to find Miss Faraday a husband. Unfortunately, the girl’s so-called fiancé was the problem.

Trey’s thoughts came to a sudden halt. The fiancé.

He turned to his friend, grinning. “Hawthorne, I believe I have the solution.”

His friend quirked a teasing brow. “You plan to marry the girl yourself?”

“Don’t be absurd, Nic. Why would I do something so insane and ruin my life? The solution I refer to is to locate the girl’s fiancé and marry her to him.”

Nic straightened, eyes more alert now.

Trey chuckled, the idea taking shape in his mind. “I do not know why that thought never crossed my mind before. I shall find him so he can marry our dear Miss Faraday. Then my problems will be solved.” He walked to the fireplace and rested his shoulder against the edge of the stone hearth.

“It sounds plausible, although I believe you have overlooked one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“What if your mother does not approve?” Nic leaned forward. “What if the man is as poor as a church mouse and seeks her inheritance? Your mother will not want some fortune-seeking oaf taking advantage of her ward.”

Trey exhaled a deep breath. Why could nothing be simple? “I never thought of that. Perhaps we should have this man investigated first.”

“And what if you discover something incriminating?”

“I will have no other choice but to hurry her lessons so we can find her a proper husband. After all, this is what her parents wanted when they awarded her to my mother.” He rubbed his hands together. “First, I must learn the man’s name.”

Nic’s snort of laughter stopped Trey. Hawthorne shook his head as he stood and moved toward Trey.

“I fear you have forgotten one thing, Worthington. That girl is not going to provide you with any information. She loathes the very ground you walk upon. In fact, it makes me wonder what kind of liberties you took with her in the woodsman’s cottage to make her act this way.”

Heat washed over Trey at the memory of holding and kissing her. He wasn’t about to tell his friend about any of that. “She does not loathe me.” The girl doth protest too much, and Trey knew firsthand how quickly she had succumbed to his kiss.

“I assume you are oblivious to her glares.” Nic shrugged. “Then again, she probably only does that behind your back. My friend, I regret to tell you, I highly doubt you have made an admirer out of that particular woman.”

“As that may be, I shall find the man’s name and have him investigated.” He grumbled as he started for the door to his study but stopped. Where were his manners to forget about his guest? “Hawthorne? Would you like the butler to show you to your room?”

Chuckling, Nic shook his head. “Why? It’s still early and I can return home. It’s only a few hours ride to my family’s estate.”

“I would greatly enjoy your company for dinner. I require help with Miss Faraday this evening. Besides, she needs the practice.”

Nic cleared his throat, his eyes widening. “I beg your pardon. Practice in doing what, may I ask?”

“I need your help in assessing her educational background. For Mother’s sake, we need to see what exactly the girl was taught about social graces.”

“Fear not, my good man.” Nic smiled wide. “I shall assist, but by tomorrow afternoon, I must leave.”

“Splendid. See you at dinner.”

“What are your plans now?”

“To pour a little sweetness on my mother’s ward.” Trey wagged his eyebrows. “I will prove to you, I have not lost my touch.”

“Would you care to make a wager, Worthington? I never pass on an opportunity to make easy money.”

Trey ignored Nic’s comments, but as he walked out, Hawthorne’s laughter rang through the room. Trey scowled. What did Nic know? His friend hadn’t been lying next to Miss Faraday on the bed with the blanket pulled over their heads earlier this morning. Nic didn’t know how fast her mouth had softened beneath Trey’s, either. Ladies always enjoyed men fawning over them. He’d prove to Miss Faraday he was as gentlemanly as they came, since she had made it a point several times to tell him he wasn’t.

In the corridor, his mother was discussing Miss Faraday’s arrival with the servants. Kitchen maids wearing white aprons rushed in and out of the large dining room, carrying his mother’s precious silverware. Her strong voice gave no indication of her weakened state. She had proclaimed to be ill in the letter she’d sent him a fortnight ago asking for his help. Was she indeed ill? If not, why did she pretend?

He bounded up the stairs two at a time before marching down the hallway to his chambers. As he turned the corner and neared one of the guest rooms, the door opened. Judith sashayed out, wearing a yellow and white day dress. Her chestnut hair had been re-styled—a tight bun at the back of her neck with only three ringlets by each ear. Now he saw more of her slender neck than he wanted to, even as a lace shawl draped over her shoulders.

Before she noticed him, Trey stopped and leaned against the wall to study her. Judith seemed preoccupied studying the lock and key. Was she trying to figure out how it worked? Perhaps she wanted to keep someone out. What were the odds he was the demon in her mind at this moment?

With her beauty, he suspected her parents must have fought off plenty of suitors before they died. Now, he and his mother would be the ones with the club in hand, turning away money-hungry men seeking to fatten their purses with her inheritance. And what about the poor besotted young pups who would fall madly in love at first sight?

He rolled his eyes. What a waste of life, in his opinion. Why would any man want to chain themselves to one woman? Raised by parents who couldn’t stand each other, it was easy for Trey to discern what he wanted out of life. Love and marriage were not it.

His father warned him years ago that marriage was only for producing heirs. Falling in love was for fools and should be avoided. Obviously, the disastrous match between Trey’s own parents proved that theory.

Without a doubt, he would wear the title of rogue for the remainder of his days without any regrets.

A deep sigh escaped Judith before she stopped fussing with the lock. She squared her shoulders and closed the door with a final resounding click. Trey remained against the wall, so when she turned, she nearly collided with him.

She shrieked, her hand flying to her mouth. Eyes wide, her gaze skimmed his face, then slowly down his cravat and shirt. It only took a moment before the fright in her expression disappeared. Her face relaxed as her eyes turned a deep emerald. He hitched a quiet breath, not prepared for how lovely she looked this way.

“Forgive me for startling you, Miss Faraday.”

“I would hope so.” Her voice shook.

He glanced behind her to the door before meeting her gaze. “Are you safely unpacked and secure in your room?”

“Indeed I am, my lord. I thank you for inquiring about my welfare.”

“I suppose the lock works.” He grinned and crossed his arms over his chest.

“It does.” Her finely shaped eyebrow rose. “And I wish it to stay in working order throughout the duration of my stay.”

“As it should.” He pulled away from the wall, dropping his arms to his side. “I expected you to be resting. Are you not exhausted from your journey?”

“Unfortunately, there is too much on my mind for me to rest. I had hoped to take a stroll in your mother’s flower gardens. I remember they were a sight to behold when I was a child.”

He nodded. “Indeed, they are.”

“Splendid. Now, if you will excuse me.”

She stepped past him, but he moved with her, matching her quick stride perfectly. She looked lovely in the simple, high-waist gown. White ribbons threading through her ringlet hair made her look so innocent. His gaze trailed down to the folded paper in her hand. Perhaps a missive to her so-called fiancé? Could this be the reason she tried to leave his side in such haste?

She reached the stairs and took her time descending, not looking at all in his direction. He stayed beside her every inch of the way.

“My lord, do you not have a pressing engagement? I assure you, I can handle myself without your company.”

“Nothing pressing at this moment, my dear. In fact, I had hoped you would allow me to accompany you outside to my mother’s gardens.”

She skidded to a halt, her gaze swinging to meet his. “Are you addled?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Of course not. Do I look it?”

Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip as if to keep her from speaking, but a twinkle lit in her eyes.

He chuckled. “Ridiculous question, I realize.” With much tenderness, he placed his hand on her arm and she stiffened. He acted as if the contact didn’t bother him when in reality, the heat emanating from her nearly knocked him off his feet.

“Actually, Miss Faraday, I would enjoy your company. It has been quite some time since we talked.”

She blinked and her mouth gaped. “You are addled.”

He scowled. “Why do you say such a thing? Just because I want to get to know you better?”

Shrugging off his touch, she continued down the stairs, faster this time as she tried to distance herself from his side. She crumbled the piece of paper and stuffed it in her reticule.

“The boy I remembered from childhood,” she said over her shoulder, “did not want to get to know me. He was a vicious, evil person, whom I could not stand to be around.” She took a quick glance at him before putting her attention ahead of her, slowing her pace. “In fact, I’m quite certain you made the devil himself nervous.”

Trey threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, what humor you possess. Tell me, Miss Faraday, why do you hold such ill feelings toward me?”

When he opened the door for her and they both walked outside, she stopped to face him. Humor left her beautiful face. Her eyes expressed the seriousness in the moment.

“Have you forgotten our childhood? Do you not recall burning my hair and blaming it on your brother?”

“Trevor? Why would I blame him?”

“No. You blamed your brother Tristan.”

Laughter quickly left Trey as sadness filled his chest. Tristan was the one who did no wrong. Was it any wonder Trey had enjoyed blaming his sibling who was only a few years older? The reminder of his brother’s tragic death two years ago sat heavy in his chest. His jaw tightened.

“Yes, I must have forgotten,” he said in a quiet voice before turning away. He couldn’t let Judith see his emotions. It took a lot of effort to bury them, and only seconds for them to resurface. Guilt suffocated him.

“My lord?” She touched his arm. “Did I say something wrong?”

He glanced at her slender fingers curled across his elbow. “You didn’t say anything wrong, only because you probably don’t know.”

“Know what?”

Taking a deep breath, Trey barricaded his feelings behind the icy walls of his heart and faced her. “Tristan died two years ago.”

She sucked in a quick breath as her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, dear heavens, no!”

“I’m afraid it’s true.”

“What happened?”

Trey’s heart fought his mind in a losing battle. He would not conjure feelings from the past that brought havoc to his life again. Tristan had allowed a woman to run his emotions, making him think of nothing else besides her, and there wasn’t anything Trey could do to stop it from happening.

“Let’s just say my brother was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he was shot.”

All because of me.