Page 4

Victoria

A s the minutes passed, I grew increasingly unsettled. It was difficult to believe that I could be more worried than when Father had delivered his devastating news about my betrothal. I knew Rexford would take care of me, protect me. But now he was suggesting protection of another sort.

Rexford had escorted me to his small sitting room, where I waited to see how my future would unfold. I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn that my brother lived above King’s. But I was coming to discover that he was practical as well as resourceful.

The room was smaller than his study and clearly a man’s domain, with dark wood furniture and leather armchairs.

I imagined he didn’t receive callers there.

Rexford would conduct his business in his larger study.

I sank into one of the two armchairs and tried to calm my pounding heart, but no amount of deep breathing could still my racing thoughts.

What if he didn’t want to accept my brother’s proposal?

I supposed it didn’t really matter who ruined me.

The beautiful blond man could do it just as easily.

A third man had been with them, but I couldn’t say what he looked like, because I hadn’t been able to tear my gaze from the man who’d caught my attention.

I didn’t even know his name.

A brisk knock at the closed sitting room door was all the notification I received before it swung open and Rexford walked into the room. He stood there for a moment, examining me. No doubt he was looking for any indication that I’d changed my mind. He wouldn’t find it.

I rose to my feet. “What did he say?”

Rexford stepped aside, and another man entered the room. My dark stranger.

It didn’t seem possible, but my heart leaped. Surely such a reaction wasn’t normal. I’d been introduced to many men over the past month, and no one had affected me the way this man did.

Rexford turned to him. “Allow me to introduce you to my sister, Lady Victoria Wright. Victoria, this is my good friend Moreland.”

Moreland. I searched my memory for the name and hit upon his title after a few seconds. “Baron Moreland. Father will be livid.”

I held out my hand, relieved that it wasn’t shaking.

He took it and dropped a very proper kiss an inch above it.

A shiver raced through me. I was wearing gloves, but he wasn’t.

Something about seeing my small hand in his caused heat to spread through me.

I couldn’t understand my reaction, but I was saved from the embarrassment of snatching my hand back when he released it.

He clasped his hands behind his back. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Victoria.”

Good heavens, his voice was like nothing I had ever heard before—low, deep. Intimate. I dipped into a shallow curtsy, incapable of replying.

My brother, of course, noticed my state. He took my hands in his and looked down at me. “If you’ve changed your mind, you have only to say the word. I can have someone spirit you away from London within the?—”

“No.” The exclamation was out before he’d finished speaking.

Rexford’s brows rose in question.

I took a deep breath and called upon all my training to keep my voice even. “You were correct, of course. Father will never stop looking for me if you try to hide me. I must make myself wholly undesirable if I’m to gain my freedom.”

Rexford examined my face for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, he nodded and dropped my hands.

“You will be safe here for now, but Father will send his men as soon as he discovers you’re missing.

I have a house he doesn’t know about yet.

I’ll leave the two of you alone to talk while I make further arrangements. ”

He turned to Moreland, and something unspoken passed between them. Then, with a nod, he left the room. And closed the door.

It was the first time I’d ever been alone with a man to whom I wasn’t related. Father didn’t even trust the footmen. A maid shadowed me throughout the house when I wasn’t in my room.

Moreland watched me carefully, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he expected me to change my mind and run after my brother.

Or perhaps he expected me to faint. If so, he would soon learn I wasn’t quite so fragile.

I’d survived all manner of criticism from my father without so much as flinching.

I could certainly have a conversation with a man.

A man who’s going to ruin you.

That thought should have caused me at least a hint of alarm, but I finally had my emotions in check. I lowered myself into one of the armchairs and watched as he took the other one.

He grasped the arms of the chair and met my gaze. “Lowly baron reporting for duty, my lady.”

And just like that, my equanimity vanished. “Oh no, I didn’t mean—it’s just that you’re a baron, and my father… I didn’t mean any offense.”

I stopped abruptly as a smile spread across his face. He was teasing me. Good heavens, this man was dangerous when he smiled.

I looked away for a moment as I tried to regather my composure. “What did my brother tell you?”

He outlined the facts I’d shared with Rexford, then his next words made my insides turn upside down. “I’ve been granted the privilege of ruining you.”

I froze in place, uncertain as to how I should reply to such a statement.

No doubt the act would be similar to what happened between a husband and wife on their wedding night.

At least I wouldn’t have to suffer the attentions of Lord Heddington in that area.

A lifetime of etiquette coaching in how to conduct myself appropriately in all situations had left me ill prepared to deal with this one.

“I’m glad you were amenable to the idea.”

Moreland shrugged. “I owe your brother more than I could ever repay.”

His reply felt like the cruelest of set-downs.

I didn’t know why, precisely, but it bothered me that he was doing this as a favor to my brother.

As though that could be the only reason he would speak to me.

Had I mistaken that moment we’d shared downstairs when our eyes met. Could it have been one-sided?

Perhaps I should have chosen the blond man instead. He’d clearly been interested, and who knows, he might have made the situation more pleasant than it was turning out to be. “I hope it won’t be too much of a sacrifice to spend time in my company.”

The words were sharper than I’d intended, and the way Moreland’s eyes widened told me that I’d surprised him.

Good. If he thought he was dealing with a scared little mouse, then he was mistaken.

Yes, I’d been forced to do my father’s bidding, but I’d developed a great deal of fortitude because of it.

Otherwise, my own sense of self would have disappeared under his inflexible rule.

Would someone meek and mild have even considered escaping the way I did?

I straightened my shoulders and held his gaze. “You are clearly the elder here.” I put exaggerated emphasis on the word “elder” since I doubted this man was yet thirty years of age.

I’d clearly amused him. One corner of his mouth turned up, but he allowed me to continue. My opinion of him rose. Usually, men loved to jump in and explain things, assuming I had no knowledge beyond how to dress and smile. But in this case, I needed his guidance.

“I’m sure you’ve had mistresses before and have probably ruined all manner of women, so I shall defer to your expertise.”

His smile evaporated. “As I said before, I owe your brother more than you can imagine. So, yes, our arrangement will be known, and everyone will come to think of you as my mistress. But I have no intention of actually ruining you. I’ll visit the house your brother has arranged to keep you in, and I’ll spend an appropriate amount of time there. But no actual ruining will take place.”