Page 42 of The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2)

He had been upset when she told him they had to hide their involvement. Not again , he’d said. She twisted her fingers in her lap. She hadn’t had time to explain that it was just for a little while. What a fool she’d been not to make sure he understood.

“I shall say no more,” Guy said. “But scandal or no, it’s quite the success for you, is it not Miss Darwish?”

“Yes,” she said faintly, not knowing what else to say.

Phoebe studied her. “I thought you would be more jubilant that Lord Heresford’s castle will now be saved.”

She blinked. “Heresford?”

“That’s right,” Guy said. “Who did you think I was referring to?”

“The Earl of Heresford has run off with Miss Catherine Anne Turner?” Naila repeated to make sure she comprehended the situation.

“Quite so,” Guy said.

Phoebe sat on the edge of her seat, happily chipping in to the latest gossip. “Her father caught them and quickly carted them off to Gretna Green to seal the union.”

“Oh.” Intense relief poured through Naila, leaving her weak in the limbs. “How wonderful.”

“Very, very wonderful,” Raya added. “What a huge success for my sister.”

“Yes,” Naila said. “I had hoped to find Heresford a suitable heiress.”

“And so you have,” Guy said. “But I thought he was interested in the department store heiress.”

As had Naila. She fervently hoped Alberta Work wasn’t disappointed. The young woman had seemed hopeful for a match. “I did think Miss Work and Heresford had bonded over their shared love of horses.”

“Heresford is apparently fonder of rowers than riders,” Guy quipped. They proceeded to talk of other matters as the tea was brought in. Naila barely followed the conversation. She was still trembling from the terrible scare she’d had. She needed to see Hawk and clear everything up.

She wanted no more misunderstandings between them.

She could not risk losing Hawk again. She couldn’t bear it.

To hell with her enterprise. Her business and reputation were far less important to her than Hawk.

She could not risk losing him again. She’d made that mistake as a young girl.

She would not repeat the same colossal error as a grown woman.

This time, she would not be afraid to take what she wanted, the consequences be damned.

The next time she saw Hawk, she would bare her heart to him.

“Miss Darwish?” The butler’s voice cut into her thoughts.

She blinked. “Yes?”

“Mr. Amar is here to see you.”

“Kareem is here?” She wasn’t expecting him. “Please show him in.”

Kareem arrived and greeted everyone in his usual pleasant and polite manner. But Naila knew the man well enough to detect that something was wrong. He seemed nervous and on edge.

“Is everything all right?” she asked.

“Yes.” His gaze met hers. “But I need to speak with you privately regarding a matter of great importance.”

“I do hope you are not too disappointed about Miss Turner’s defection,” Charles said to Hawk after they’d exercised their horses in Hyde Park. They’d met for an early morning ride and were preparing to depart, each to their own homes.

“Not at all.” Hawk suppressed an urge to grin. Catherine Anne’s elopement with Heresford was the best news he’d heard in a long while. “I hope they’ll be very happy.”

“I’m sure Miss Darwish will be thrilled that Heresford’s castle will be saved.”

“Undoubtedly.” Hawk’s body hummed with anticipation.

The last obstacle to him being with Naila was conveniently gone.

He’d kept his distance since the boathouse, as Naila had asked.

But now she had no reason to keep their relationship a secret.

Now was the time to court her openly and lavishly. He could not wait.

“You’re looking awfully cheery,” Charles remarked.

He patted his mount’s nose. “Am I?”

“What is going on?”

Hawk grinned. “I may soon have news of my own.”

Charles’s brows shot up. “You?”

“Why are you so surprised? I’m an earl. It is my duty to marry.”

“Well, yes, but after you returned from America, it seemed like you intended to remain a bachelor forever. Who is the lucky lady?”

“I think I shall wait until she officially accepts my offer before divulging her identity.”

“That’s very mysterious of you. Love certainly seems to be in the air these days.”

“Why? Who else is getting married?”

“Haven’t you heard? Miss Darwish is betrothed to that architect.”

Hawk almost dropped the reins. “I beg your pardon?”

“Miss Darwish is engaged to that Kareem Amar fellow.”

He frowned. “There’s obviously been a mistake.”

“No, no mistake. Phoebe was there when it was announced.”

The blood rushed to Hawk’s ears. “What?” It couldn’t be. “Impossible.”

“I assure you it is all done. Phoebe heard about it from Miss Darwish herself. She was visiting at Strickland House when the architect made a dramatic appearance.”

“When was this?”

“Just yesterday afternoon. The betrothal is quite fresh.”

No. No. “How did that come about?”

“The architect went around to Strickland House yesterday afternoon and asked to speak to her in private. Once she accepted his offer, they informed the family of their decision.”

“How did the family react?” he asked numbly, still in complete disbelief.

“The old aunt was thrilled apparently. She made this high-pitched noise that is supposed to be celebratory. And everyone laughed and applauded afterward.”

An ululation. Hawk remembered it well from Strick and Raya’s wedding celebrations. The trilling howl that expressed joy and happiness at Arab celebrations.

“When is this wedding supposed to take place?”

“I believe they hope to marry next month.”

Hawk’s gut cramped. Why would Naila accept the architect’s offer? It couldn’t be. There had to be some mistake.

And yet.

He’d been cold to her after they made love. Told her he would not keep their love a secret. And then he’d stayed away for two days because he thought that’s what she wanted. What if she’d misunderstood his absence? What if she’d taken his subsequent nonappearance as a rejection?

Or did she think she actually loved the architect? Maybe she realized her attraction to Hawk was purely physical. Sexual. Carnal. She’d collaborated with the architect on her pamphlet. They shared a love of architecture. They were like-minded in many ways.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Charles remarked.

“I’m just thinking of everything I have to do today.”

“Are you attending Miss Darwish’s salon tomorrow?” Charles asked. “You can congratulate the betrothed couple there.”

“I will try.” He had, of course, planned on seeing Naila there. An earl in search of a wife would draw no suspicions by appearing at one of Naila’s salons. But now he didn’t know what to think. There’d obviously been some mistake. Or misunderstanding.

Confused thoughts ricocheted inside his skull. What the devil was Naila up to? Was this a diversion? No, it couldn’t be. He immediately dismissed the notion. Naila would never toy with the architect’s emotions. Unless the man was in on whatever scheme she’d concocted.

“I must go.” Charles interrupted his thoughts. “I am meeting Phoebe later.”

Taking his leave of Charles, Hawk’s immediate instinct was to race right over to Strickland House to clear up this obvious misadventure. But then he thought better of it. He didn’t always manage to express himself as eloquently as he hoped in his conversations with Naila.

No, talking with her might not be the most effective way to achieve his aim. He would put it all down on paper. He would show her everything in his heart. And this time, if she turned him down, there could be no doubt, no wondering if he’d said something wrong.

He was going to propose to Naila again. This time he intended to write her a letter that laid bare all of his feelings, put everything on the line. He was going to deliver the note himself. He would leave nothing to chance this time.

And then he would wait to hear from Naila.