Page 21 of Tempting a Lonely Lord (The Rakes of Mayhem #6)

She led him inside the house, handing her dog’s leash to Mason, and asked Stephen to follow her.

They walked down the hall to the kitchen at the back of the house.

She opened a small cupboard and withdrew a box that contained a bottle along with other supplies, including strips of white cloth.

“Mary, can you send a tray of biscuits and tea to my parlor?”

The cook nodded. “I’ll be glad to do that, my lady.”

In her parlor, Elizabeth motioned for him to sit in an armchair and lay his hand on the small table.

“It’ll be easier for me to take care of your hand if you are seated.

” Leaning over him, she cleaned the cut with the solution in the bottle, which made his eyes water.

It smelled like vinegar and a few other things.

Next, she spread a salve that smelled like honey and herbs over the cut, and finally, she wrapped his hand in several of the cloth bandages.

He could smell her lavender scent and closed his eyes, wishing he could lose himself in it…

in her. She was quick in her ministrations and, when she finished, sat in the chair across from him just as a maid entered with a tray of biscuits and tea, setting it on the table between them.

“Will that be all, milady?” the young maid asked.

“Yes. Thank you, Annabelle.”

The maid dipped her head and left.

When they were alone, Elizabeth poured them each a cup of tea and finally spoke. “I’m concerned, Stephen. You came to my home, which means you must have followed me. There is more to this than meets the eye, here, and I’m asking you to tell me the truth. Why are you here?”

“You get right to the point, don’t you? I had forgotten that about you, Lizzy,” he said, using the nickname he’d had for her years ago. When she said nothing, he continued. “I’m here because I wanted to see you again, but you refused me.”

“I did,” she said.

“Why?” He began tapping his foot, a nervous habit he had when he overdrank.

“Why don’t you take a sip of tea—it will help,” she said softly as she lifted her cup to her lips. Those luscious lips, he thought distractedly.

He did as she said, and he did feel better, so he continued. “We spent hours interacting last evening. And then… it all ended.”

“But I explained that to you,” she returned.

He set his cup down and ran his hands through his hair. “You’re right. I am a wastrel. And I’ve made a horrible mistake, and now my niece… my brother’s child, a child I love, may pay the price.”

“What do you mean? Maybe you should tell me more.”

“I don’t know why I’m telling you about this at all.”

“Stephen, whatever you tell me will stay between us.”

He believed her and began to talk. Thirty minutes later, he found himself talking of slipping up and telling Darkmoor about Bella inheriting the manor house from his brother.

Something he should never have told anyone.

“I’m in debt to him for twenty-five thousand pounds, and he’s demanding that I betroth him to Bella,” he said, placing his head in his hands.

She refilled his cup with more tea. “Drink your tea. And eat a biscuit. It will settle your stomach and help to clear your head.”

Again, he followed her direction, and he did feel better.

“What you have told me saddens me, Stephen.” Lizzy sighed and shook her head.

“Rather than deal with your mistakes, you have placed the burden on your niece’s shoulders.

She will have to pay the price instead of you.

That is not fair to your lovely niece. I had the pleasure of meeting her and your mother and Lady Harrington at the ball.

From what I could see, Bella has feelings for Viscount Dudley. ”

Stephen swallowed the lump in his throat. Lizzy was right about what he was doing. He was behaving like a complete cad. A good-for-nothing bounder!

She reached out a slender hand and laid it over his. “Stephen, this isn’t who you were—at least, not the young man I knew years ago. You must make this right.”

“Lizzy, that’s the thing. I don’t know how. I’m trapped by my mistakes—the drinking, the gaming, the losses, and now, I’m failing my family.” He closed his eyes, unable to look at the woman whom he’d once loved and lost, knowing he would most likely lose whatever respect she had for him.

“I will loan you the money, Stephen,” she said. “I was left with more than I could spend in my lifetime.”

“I appreciate your offer, but I cannot take your money,” he said, shaking his head. “No… these are my mistakes. I need to make this right.”

“You do, but it has to come from within you. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, Stephen. You are strong enough to do this. Lord Darkmoor can only have power over you if you concede it to him.”

“I know that you are right in all of this,” he said, sighing.

“I think, deep down, you know what you must do,” she said softly, squeezing his hand.

He laid his other hand over hers and gently touched the smooth skin, as velvety soft as pressed powder. “What happened to us, Lizzy? I thought you had feelings for me once, long ago. My brother could have spoken to your father.”

“So could you have,” she said in a sad voice.

Ah, so that was it… She was right again. He’d been too volatile, too reactive to do what was right back then. It had been his downfall. Certainly, it had led him down a dark road of drinking, gaming, and wenching.

“You must accept it. The past is behind us,” she said. “I try to find happiness in my present.”

“That is so like the Lizzy I knew,” he said, attempting to smile.

“I do care about you, Stephen. I had real feelings for you before I married Edward. He was a good man, my husband. We had a good life together. It was short, though. Ten years. The war took away so many good men. Even though Edward was an officer, he chose to fight with his men—and he died on the battlefield. And that is why, as I explained, I cannot sully his memory. He was very good to me,” she said quietly.

“I understand.” He finished his second cup of tea and set the empty cup on the saucer. “As for the issue with Bella, I will make this right. But I cannot take your money. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make it right.”

She smiled, and he found himself mesmerized by her warm brown eyes, and the charming sprinkle of freckles scattered across her nose that had remained unchanged in all these years.

Her red hair was just as vibrant and thick, and he longed to see it down and flowing across her shoulders.

She looked almost the same as she had when she was a sweet young debutante at her first ball.

“Thank you, Lizzy. Just speaking to you has helped me immensely.” He rose and offered his hand to assist her from her chair.

As she stood, he caught her gaze and found himself utterly captivated. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated her features, but it was not merely her beauty that held him spellbound—it was something deeper, something that stirred his very soul.

“May I kiss you?” His voice was low, almost rough with emotion.

She hesitated for the briefest moment before offering a slight nod.

He leaned down, his lips brushing hers in the lightest of touches before he pulled back, his breath unsteady.

“You are exquisite, Lizzy. Not only in form but in spirit,” he murmured. “I have never known another woman like you.”

His fingers lingered against hers. “I will make you a promise,” he said, his voice resolute. “The next time I kiss you, it will be under very different circumstances.”

~*~