Page 10 of The Marquess and the Earl (The Unlikely Betrothal #3)

Chapter 10

T he following morning, George let Tanner help him dress for what would be an important day. Not a happy one, if he was honest, but a necessary one. He resolved to ask Lady Lily to marry him. He knew he had the approval of her father, and it would be best that he did so and they could get on with their lives.

Nate’s words still stung. If he intended to hurt him, he had. George supposed he couldn’t blame him. He rejected him and refused to admit that he loved him. No good could come from doing so. It was better for Nate to move on and take a wife. The sooner they each accepted what their respective futures must be, the better. Perhaps George would miss him less one day. He hoped. Because living with his broken heart and knowing he had also broken Nate’s almost made him question his resolve.

He shook off the notion. It was done. He would arrange to speak to Lady Lily after they broke their fast and get it over with. They could announce their betrothal at dinner, and she could start planning the wedding while he tried to convince himself to ditch his sour attitude so he didn’t make her miserable every day of their marriage. The least he could give her was that.

George entered the breakfast room and found Lady Lily already seated. Viscount Callan was at the sideboard. He recalled what Nate had said, and a pang of guilt hit him. But he reminded himself that if he asked her and she said “yes” that he had nothing to feel guilty over. If she declined his offer, he’d have to decide if he was going to involve her father or not. George would just hope it wouldn’t come to that and she would accept him.

He added his selections to his plate and took the seat on her left, noting Viscount Callan seated himself on her right.

“You look well this morning, my lady,” George said, working to capture her attention.

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Might you do me the honor of a garden stroll after we finish our breakfast? ”

She grinned at him, but it was of a friendly nature. Not one of love or desire. He knew very well what those expressions looked like, and she didn’t love him. It was probably for the best as he would never love her either. He’d respect her and care for her, perhaps love her as a friend but not as anything more.

“Yes,” she replied. “I would enjoy that.”

He asked her about some of the plays she enjoyed, knowing that the conversation would keep her engaged. She mentioned to him last night that she had enjoyed attending the theatre and hoped to do so again soon. He had learnt a lot about her spending so much time in her presence yesterday in his attempt to avoid Nate.

He attempted to push Nate out of his thoughts again, but his entire body responded to the figure that entered the room. George didn’t even need to look over at him to know that it was Nate. The house party couldn’t end soon enough so that he’d hopefully never see him again. It was perhaps the only way his heart might finally forget about him. If such a thing were even possible.

George straightened his shoulders and fought to appear unmoved and unbothered by Nate’s arrival. He focused on what Lady Lily said and ignored the reaction he had to the person he loved more than anything. He should have at least kissed Nate one more time. No, he told himself. That would only make matters worse .

What had Lady Lily just said? He smiled and nodded, hoping that was the appropriate reaction to whatever she explained about some Shakespeare or Stormy Wells play.

“Lord Knox,” a male voice said from behind him, saving him from having to provide a verbal response to Lady Lily’s conversation. He turned his head and saw the Duke of St. Albans standing on the other side of him, behind his chair. “Might I borrow a few moments of your time? I have an estate near your county seat and had a few questions.”

“Of course, my lord. Give me just a moment,” George replied. He turned back to Lady Lily. “I apologize, my lady. Will you meet me in the salon in a quarter hour or so?”

“I understand. I’ll see you there. Take as long as you need.”

She was understanding, at least. He wasn’t certain he could handle being married to a wife who would nag him and maintain a state of displeasure.

George rose from his chair and followed the Duke of St. Albans to the library. The same library where Nate had kissed him for the first time. The memory would be etched on his heart forever, as much as he wished for it not to be the case.

He closed his eyes and pushed away the thoughts of everything else that had occurred since it would only cause problems for him to react to such memories in front of a duke.

“Are you all right, Knox?” the duke asked.

He drew a deep, fortifying breath and opened his eyes. “Indeed. What was it you wished to speak to me about?”

The conversation took way longer than George had expected. St. Albans wanted to know about crops and harvests in the area. He had inherited an estate in the area and wanted to see what would be the most profitable. He also wanted George’s recommendation for an estate manager who knew the area, perhaps one of George’s servants, who would be ready for an elevated position.

George found the duke to be an amiable gentleman. Not at all as stuffy and impatient as some dukes were reputed to be. He was someone George might even consider a friend if he were to spend more time in the man’s presence. He said he would call at George’s estate when he was in the area, so the odds of seeing him again were high.

He made his way to the salon, hoping that Lady Lily wouldn’t be too angry with him for keeping her waiting.

Suddenly, he heard shouting and screams as gentlemen and servants hurried towards the back of the house. Without question, he ran towards the commotion to see what had happened. When he reached the exit at the back of the house, he was met by a cloud of smoke. He covered his mouth and nose and saw a side of the barn had caught fire. There were horses being led out by servants. A few cries for help came from inside. He took in the scene and continued closer to the barn.

The one side didn’t look like it would hold out much longer and it was only a matter of time before the entire structure went up in flames. George heard screams from within the burning building and assessed how he might be able to help before he noticed another gentleman take off running inside the barn. Nate.

“NOOOOOO!” George shouted, running to the entrance. It took every bit of a minute or more to reach the entrance. Several horses ran out and a couple of grooms came out after them.

“We were trapped, and he freed us,” a groom said, coughing and collapsing against George. George slowed his fall to the ground.

“Where is he? Was there anyone else?” George shouted .

The man coughed. Beside them, one side of the barn caved in at the corner. George drew a deep breath and ran into the burning building. Nate was the kind of man who ran into burning stables to save people, and George damn well wasn’t going to stand idle and not try to save him.

He moved quickly, doing his best to see through the smoke. He didn’t hear anyone moving, and he didn’t see any more horses or people. Nate hadn’t come back out, so he had to be inside there somewhere. Adrenaline and desperation to find Nate kept him moving deeper into the building.

He saw an arm on the ground through the smoke and rushed to it. His heart knew it was Nate. When he reached him, he was face down, coughing. He was attempting to crawl out and quickly losing oxygen from being surrounded by the smoke. Nate collapsed completely onto his stomach, and George wasn’t certain if he was still breathing.

George didn’t waste a moment and clasped his arms. He pulled and dragged him towards the entrance. He just focused on each step, knowing that Nate’s life depended on George’s ability to pull him to safety. Damn him for running into the barn and risking his life. It was courageous and brave, but if he died, George knew he couldn’t go on .

The other back corner of the barn caved in on itself and a burning pile of wood fell where Nate had collapsed. The need to save the person he loved most in the world coursed through his entire body and George found another burst of strength, pulling Nate at a faster pace. Once he was close to the opening, he called for help. A couple of gentlemen ran to him, and each looped one of Nate’s arms over their shoulders and carried him out.

George took the last few steps out of the building and collapsed to his knees on the ground, coughing and tears rolling down his cheeks. He fought to get more air into his lungs, coughing up the smoke. St. Albans ran to him and helped him stand, moving him away from the burning building just before the rest of it collapsed on itself. George coughed and continued to work the air back into his lungs.

“Where is he?” George finally got out between coughs.

“Breathe, Knox. You need to get your breathing back to normal. You took in a lot of smoke.”

George gripped St. Alban’s shoulders. “Where is he?” he asked again.

“Demming? I’m not certain.”

There was a crowd of people just outside of the house, and George took off running. He heard someone shouting for everyone to back up and give them room. He pushed through the crowd and saw Nate lying on the ground.

Lord Callan tried to pull him back while Lord Ockham’s butler was blowing air into Nate’s lungs. Ockham turned Nate to his side and patted Nate’s back as Nate’s breathing was shallow and barely visible.

Ockham wiped his brow after he shifted Nate to his back.

“Don’t you dare stop,” George barked out at them.

“Knox,” Ockham said, sadness thick in his throat.

“No, goddammit. He ran into that barn and saved the others. You save him right fucking now.”

A few of the onlookers gasped at George’s outburst, but he ignored them all. George dropped to his knees beside Nate and moved him back onto his side.

“Knox, you hardly have your breath back. Move. Let us do this,” Ockham said, shoving him to the side to hold Nate in place.

The butler blew air into Nate’s mouth, and Ockham pounded Nate’s back. George didn’t move from his knees beside Nate, willing him to breathe. Believing that if he breathed enough air into his own lungs, he might be able to breathe enough for the both of them, and Nate would survive this .

George dipped closer to the madness with every second that Nate’s eyes remained closed and his breathing shallow.

The man blew another burst of air into Nate’s mouth and George drew his own breath when Nate coughed. Ockham patted Nate’s back, helping him to cough up all the smoke that had been in his lungs.

George fought the tears that threatened to fall. The whole house party had already witnessed his outburst and the last thing he and Nate needed was for them to read anything further into the reaction.

George moved so he was in front of Nate and could see his face. He hated how Nate looked pained every time he coughed but was relieved knowing that each cough meant that he could breathe and he was filling his lungs with much-needed air.

Ockham helped Nate to sit up, and he finally opened his eyes. Nate looked around until his eyes landed on George. George looked back at him, wishing they were alone so he might wrap his arms around his neck and then yell at him, telling him to never put himself in danger like that again. Then kiss Nate senseless as soon as he was confident the man could breathe.

“Can you say anything?” Ockham asked, capturing Nate’s attention .

“What happened?” Nate asked, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

“You were the first to arrive and saved the rest of the servants and horses inside. Then he”—Ockham nodded to George—“ran in after you and dragged you out. He saved your life. Thank God.”

Panic marred Nate’s expression. “Are you certain everyone made it out?” The man had nearly died and then asked about the well-being of others. George’s heart swelled with pride at just how good of a man Nate truly was.

“Yes,” Ockham assured him. “Everyone is accounted for. The horses, too.”

Relief washed over Nate’s face, and he coughed a couple more times.

“You both need to rest after such heroics. I am in your debt for certain.” Ockham turned to speak to a couple of his footmen. “Please help Lord Demming and Lord Knox up to their chambers, then send for their valets.”

Two men approached and helped Nate to stand. George rose beside him. Nate waved off their help to walk and took a few steps on his own. “I don’t need help upstairs. Just send for Thompson,” Nate said, his voice still hoarse.

“I’ll walk with him,” George said .

The pair entered the house and walked in silence for a few moments. Glad to be away from the scene outside with the entire house party staring at them.

“I’m sorry,” George said, breaking the silence once they reached the stairs and knew no one had followed. “It’s not good enough. You deserve better, but I’m so sorry. I was wrong about everything.”

Nate didn’t say anything but gave him a small smile.

“I don’t expect your forgiveness,” George said softly.

“We can discuss things when we are alone.”

George wasn’t certain if that was a good or a bad sign, but he would have to wait to find out. After what he had put Nate through, he deserved as much. George swallowed hard.

“I don’t mean to make you suffer. I just can’t kiss you right now,” Nate whispered as they reached George’s door. “Knock when all is clear.”

George shook his head. “No, your valet will want you settled in bed as you should be. Unlock the door now, and I will listen there. Clap several times when it’s clear and I will come to you.”

Nate nodded and continued on to his chamber without looking back. George opened his own door, and Tanner appeared only a few moments later.

A half hour passed, and George had undressed and had the tea and light repast that Tanner insisted upon. He knew the man wouldn’t leave him alone until he did, and he didn’t want him returning to collect the tray.

Once Tanner finally left, George locked the door behind him. He crept to the adjoining door and listened. George would stand there as long as it took until Nate signaled for him.

He wasn’t sure how long he had waited, but he finally heard Nate’s claps. His heart pounded, and he slowly opened the door, peeked his head in and saw Nate sitting on his bed, leaned back against a pillow with his blankets up to his waist. He had nothing covering his torso, and he took George’s breath away. How he thought for a second he could live without the man, he wasn’t certain. He was the fool.

He immediately went to Nate’s door to lock it, hoping Nate hadn’t troubled himself to get out of bed to do so. Once the door was locked, he turned to face Nate.

“I’m really sorry,” George said. He wasn’t certain he could ever say it enough times.

“So you said.”

“I was a bacon-brained idiot.”

“I quite agree.” Nate didn’t appear angry, just a bit of amusement in his expression.

George wasn’t mad at his statement. He had every right to agree and to call him much worse.

“I also love you. ”

“You love me and want to figure out how we build a life together or you love me, but you are going to pretend you don’t?”

George flinched. The question stung, but he knew he deserved it, and Nate was right to ask. At least he was certain Nate didn’t doubt that George loved him.

“I want a life with you. I can’t live without you. If you had died…” George’s voice trailed off, and his heart was in his throat.

“No one understands that better than me,” Nate said, his eyes glassy.

George swallowed hard and went to him, knelt on the floor beside the bed and took Nate’s hand in his. “I am so sorry I caused you even a minute of pain after what you had already been through. I feared what might happen to you if anyone found us out. The other gentlemen were talking about men like us, and the things they said were hateful and vile. I just thought it might have been easier.” George drew another breath and wiped away the tears that fell to his cheeks. “But if I have to live with only seeing you certain days and months out of the year and loving you in secret, that is better than not being with you at all. I love you. Please forgive me.”

Nate pulled him to sit beside him on the bed. “Stop apologizing. I was hurt, but I knew you were scared and believed you were doing the right thing.” Nate’s lips curled into a smirk that made George’s heart do somersaults. “I would have given you some space, and then I would have made you see reason. You, my dear earl, are mine.”

George leaned forward and pressed his lips against Nate’s. His heart soared and his body hummed when Nate wrapped his arms around him and deepened the kiss. Their tongues danced, and the kiss was one of love and need, marking each other’s soul with their unspoken commitment to love each other.

Nate broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to gaze into George’s eyes. “Lord George Knox, will you marry me?”