Page 15 of Tempting a Lonely Lord (The Rakes of Mayhem #6)

Three days later

Bridgewater Manor

Bella hadn’t seen William since she’d stormed out of his home three days ago.

In that time, she’d attempted to approach his manor house on three separate occasions, only to turn back when she neared the manse.

She had reflected on her behavior and her words and knew she needed to apologize.

While she was uncertain about her feelings toward William, she knew it was the right thing to do.

But despite making repeated efforts, she couldn’t. Why am I unable to make this right?

Despite her love for Winterborne and her desire to ride the horse, she had refrained from doing so.

For days Michael’s comments had rolled around in her head…

over and over until her head and heart hurt.

Her lack of interaction with Winterborne had hurt the creature, and she wanted to fix things.

Until Michael had mentioned it that day in the stables, Bella hadn’t realized the extent of her distance.

She wanted to ride Winterborne—she really did.

And he needed to feel her companionship, something that he couldn’t feel through his stall door, no matter how many carrots she fed him.

Between her behavior toward William and her neglect of Winterborne, she had much to make amends for. If there was one lesson her father had instilled in her, it was that a simple, heartfelt apology—offered promptly—could go a long way in setting things right.

Bella was an expert horsewoman, but since her father’s death, nameless anxiety was keeping her back.

Now, as she finally confronted her fear, she understood that she couldn’t help Winterborne until she first found the strength to help herself.

Determined to face her challenges, she’d decided to seek William’s help.

But instead of asking him to go riding with her, as she’d intended, she’d turned into the worst kind of harpy and accused him of having an illicit interlude with a woman.

Her outburst was most presumptive, regrettable, and unforgettable.

Shame heated her face at the thought of it.

Craving solitude to gather her thoughts, she had confined herself to her room, even taking her meals there.

Both grandmothers had visited individually and together, offering gentle inquiries about what was troubling her.

Not wanting to burden them, she had brushed off their concern with a wobbly smile, claiming she was simply dealing with her monthlies and needed a bit of rest.

Perhaps she told herself this excuse was to spare them worry, but the truth was far less tidy. Whenever she dwelled on what she had done, shame washed over her like a tide she couldn’t hold back. Pulling a pillow over her head, she would burst into tears, overwhelmed by mortification.

Neither she nor William had made any promises to each other. He isn’t even aware of my attraction to him. And she was very attracted. Not only was he the most handsome man she had ever met, he was genuine and kind. And best of all, he made her laugh. Still, she couldn’t seem to stop crying.

Bella tried to justify her behavior, but no matter how she framed it, she came up short.

She thought back to that morning three days ago.

When William had come downstairs, it was clear he’d slept in—his slightly tousled hair, drowsy eyes, and raspy voice all betraying the late night he must have had.

Her heart had fluttered at how effortlessly attractive he looked, and she couldn’t stop the unbidden vision of him in his bed.

Lordy! But when he had stepped closer to assist her to the table, the scent clinging to him told a different story.

It was unmistakably feminine, hinting at a bordello or a lover’s embrace.

The realization had hit her like a blow—he must have returned so late that he hadn’t even had time to bathe.

Though she had no right to judge his actions, she’d done it anyway—and the memory filled her with shame.

Shocked at the heady smell of the tawdry perfume, Bella had tried, convicted, and sentenced William without giving him a moment’s chance to defend himself.

What if there was an innocent answer? Between them, her grandmothers had offered up a dozen reasons to invite William and his adorable little brother over for tea…

or visit Dover. But Bella had pleaded the megrims.

By the third morning, the situation with her grandmothers had reached a boiling point.

They had begun threatening to send for the doctor—or worse, to ask the cook, Mrs. Bisque, to prepare her infamous, vile concoction.

Bella shuddered. The last time she’d feigned illness, Grandmère had insisted the cook brew “the drink,” a mysterious remedy that smelled so foul even pigs would have turned their noses up at it.

Bella knew her time was up. Either she confessed or she’d have to brace herself for the nauseating brew.

Her grandmothers clearly saw through her fabricated malady, though they didn’t understand the reason behind it.

And now that she’d had time to reflect, Bella wasn’t sure she understood it either.

What have I done? she wondered, the question weighing heavily on her chest.

There was nothing to do but visit Cliffton Abbey and undo the damage she had inflicted on her friend. She would have to put off her grandmothers a while longer and promise to tell them all after she returned.

Now that she’d come to a decision, she was anxious to see William.

She missed him and still hoped to ask him to help her with Winterborne.

But it was more than that. There was no one else who made her feel as safe as he did.

He was the only person she felt comfortable having with her while riding her father’s horse.

As she and Lacey stepped outside, she saw two horses cantering toward her—the smaller brown mare was going slower than the stallion, and there was a lead rope attached to the horse’s reins.

“Lady Bella, look at me,” Michael shouted. “I’m widing Daisy, my vewy own horse!”

“Michael… that’s wonderful!” She applauded his achievement, genuinely happy for her young friend, setting aside her own problems as she approached them.

She glanced at William, who was riding alongside Michael, but quickly diverted her gaze to the boy.

“And what a wonderful name for a horse. I love it.”

“I’ve been taking riding lessons,” he said.

“That was very nice of your brother,” she said, chancing another peek at William, who smiled down at Michael.

Lacey barked her approval and spun around as if to celebrate.

“Bella, we apologize for our sudden arrival, but there is something I would like to discuss with you,” William said. “And I decided I wasn’t going to put another day between us.”

Eyes wide, Bella nibbled her bottom lip, unsure of what to say. “I’m sure we can speak in Grandmama’s parlor,” she said. She glanced from William to Michael.

“Do you think your footman would mind taking Michael’s horse for a walk around your grounds?” William asked.

Bella nodded and turned to Albert, who was waiting behind them. “Albert, would you mind escorting Master Michael around the perimeter of the house?” she asked.

“Certainly, my lady,” Albert said. Turning to Michael, he took the lead from William. “Young man, would you like to see the whole house?”

“That would be fun!” Michael said excitedly. “Can Lacey come with us?”

“Certainly.” Albert looked at William. “My lord, I think I have this in hand.”

“Thank you,” William said.

Bella led the way into the house and down the hall to the parlor. She stepped in ahead of him, and William turned to close the door behind them.

“I… I want to apologize for my outburst the other day,” Bella said. “I had no right to say what I did.”

“You said nothing that my valet didn’t tell me five minutes later,” William said with a sheepish grin. “I smelled terrible. “What did you call it… An illicit rendezvous?” He chuckled. “I rectified the situation of my questionable scent. But I need to explain what I was doing.”

“N-no, you don’t have to explain yourself to me—”

“Yes, I do,” he interrupted. “I want to explain. The truth is… I met a colleague, someone I knew when I was working for the Crown, and he wanted to meet at a tavern in town, for anonymity purposes. In my line of work, in the past, meetings in such places offered greater protection. I know it sounds strange, but one can blend in easily in a dark tavern. But there was no tawdry perfume… at least not on purpose. Our discussion took longer than anticipated. But there was nothing illicit. I promise.”

She believed him—at least the part about the perfume—which she was sure meant there was no woman. She had to wonder about this friend of his, though. Was William still working for the Crown? If so, was he engaged in something dangerous? She hoped not. She could not bear to think of him in peril.

“So, you forgive me?” he said with a charmingly crooked grin.

Bella felt her cheeks heat with a blush, and she glanced down at the carpet. “There is nothing to forgive, William,” she said softly. “It is I who must apologize for what I said. It was rude and unlike me. I’m not sure why I spoke that way to you.” She glanced up. “Please forgive me?”

“Of course,” he said in a low voice.

“We’re friends, still?” she blurted. Lordy, I sound like a silly girl.

“Yes. Of course we are.”

She nodded, swallowing the sudden lump in her throat. She was feeling like a silly girl, too.

“Good! Because Baron Darkmoor’s ball is in a week, and if I attend, I want to be certain I can count on a dance.”

Her face heated. “O-of course. Yes. I would enjoy that very much. We are friends… are we not?”

“Yes. Yes, we are.” He paused and then said, “Would I be out of line to ask what you had wanted to speak with me about?”

She was silent for a moment. Finally, she looked up and said, “I’ve thought a lot about what Michael said. He’s very wise.”

“Yes, he is rather insightful, especially with animals.”

“Well, perhaps you… I mean, I wanted to ask you if you would ride with me. I haven’t ridden Winterborne in such a long time, I’ve developed a…”

“Fear? I would think that is normal. I saw men go through the same type of thing during the war. Considering how your father died… I’ve been wondering, was there an investigation?”

Bella thought about it. “They ruled it accidental, but I don’t recall any type of official investigation, other than the magistrate taking a look around where my father fell.”

“I believe Michael is right. It would do Winterborne a world of good for you to ride him.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you still have your father’s saddle and tack from that day?”

She wrinkled her brow and thought for a moment.

“I heard a groom ask Uncle Stephen where to put it, but I never heard what he said. He was so distraught over my father’s death—we all were—that it was more than any of us could handle.

I suppose it was eventually forgotten. We were fortunate that Winterborne had no more than a simple sprain. Why do you ask?”

“I suppose I am merely being overly thorough. Just the hazards of many years working for the Crown. But would you mind if I examined it? Perhaps there is something that the magistrate may have overlooked. Or perhaps there was some logical reason for the horse to rear up as he did,” he said, gazing into her eyes.

“That horse loves you—as I’m sure he loved your father.

And if I can do anything to reassure you, before you take Winterborne out for a ride, that is what I would like to do for you. ”

“That is most kind of you, William. And yes, of course, you may look over the saddle and tack.” She smiled. “So… is that a yes? You’ll ride with me?”

“Yes. I would love to ride with you. But right now, I would like to do this,” he said, pulling her close.

He covered her lips with his. It was a slow and unhurried kiss, as if they had all the time in the world.

Bella felt a sudden release of the tension that had coiled through her over the past few days, to be replaced by a rush of warmth.

Her senses were filled with the scent of him, sandalwood, citrus, and leather mingled together, and she relaxed into him, her arms curled around the back of his head, fingering his golden curls.

William’s hands slid to her waist, steadying her, while the other lifted a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. The world fell away as he kissed her again.

How many times had she dreamed of this moment? And now she was living it. William was kissing her. Her very first kiss. And it was glorious.

~*~