Page 25 of The Rogue’s Runaway Bride (Rogue of Her Own #3)
“That’s one way of putting it,” Belle said. “I once entertained a courtship with a rather handsome man whose family controlled a lumber empire. He actually used those very words when he proposed that we unite our families.”
“A true romantic,” Ellie commented in a wry tone.
“I suppose he thought he was being quite proper. But the man simply did not have a tender bone in his body. He didn’t possess the faintest inkling of what love is.
” Belle pictured the ruddy-faced suitor whose smile had so quickly turned to a scowl when he realized he’d wasted his efforts on the Frost Princess.
“Just imagine a man whose idea of romance was to woo me with a recitation of the ways we might complement one another, including the fact that a merger between our family enterprises would prove advantageous.”
“Oh, dear.”
“When I gently turned down his proposal, the boor actually had the gall to throw that name in my face. If he’d thought to wound me, he was greatly mistaken,” Belle said, not entirely truthful.
The words had stung. But not nearly so much as the prospect of a life with a man who viewed her as an asset to enhance his company’s balance sheet.
“What a miserable dolt.”
“He was used to getting his way in all things,” Belle reflected. “He wanted a woman who would be meek and docile.” She nearly laughed aloud at the idea. “A woman who was most definitely not me.”
“Well, he was a fool. Now, wasn’t he?”
Belle gave a little shrug. “In the end, he got what he wanted. I’ve heard he recently wed a pretty textile heiress.
I do hope he and his bride have found happiness.
” She gazed down at the intricate pattern woven into the wool rug, allowing her thoughts to settle.
“At least he wasn’t as bad as the dowry hunters. ”
“Macie called them heiress hunters. She detested the chase.”
“Oh, I do understand,” Belle said. “Sadly, they’re not so easily put off by a mere nickname. Greed—or perhaps a bit of desperation—makes them bold. And persistent. The prospectors are the very worst of the lot. But they soon learn that I am not the key to mining my father’s fortune.”
“Macie employed a bit of strategy to run off the heiress hunters.”
“I’ve heard tales of her tactics. So very clever. I do admire her approach to setting the marriage-minded buffoons back on their heels.”
“Jon claims her antics were the root of every silver hair on his head,” Ellie said with a smile. “As I recall, he audibly sighed with relief after she spoke her vows with Finn.”
“I can well imagine that. Sadly, I do not possess her flair for creating a perfectly timed scene.”
“Neither do I,” Ellie said. “Fortunately, my father is not a wealthy man, so I’ve seldom needed to make an attempt at Macie’s methods.
I’ve drawn my share of scoundrels, but of the ordinary variety.
They’re not nearly so persistent as fortune hunting bounders.
” Her attention drifted to the corner beside the bed, more specifically to the white dress Belle had carelessly tossed in a little heap with the dirt-spattered hooded cloak upon the floor. “That is a wedding dress, is it not?”
Emotion rose in Belle’s throat, a sensation of dull pain she didn’t want to face. Not quite yet. But she met the question directly. “It is.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.” The simple word seemed to echo in her ears. She’d come so close to making a disastrous choice. “For a brief moment. But thank heavens I came to my senses.” She met Ellie’s curious gaze. “Jon didn’t tell you?”
“He told me only that you were in a bit of a fix... that you were in danger. And he made it clear that you would be safe here.” Ellie slanted the discarded gown another glance. “As Mrs. Gilroy said, there is always a story. Do you care to tell me this one?”
Belle took a moment to collect her thoughts. She couldn’t quite explain why she trusted Ellie with the truth. But she did.
“It’s rather simple, actually. I met a man with whom I believed I could make a good life.
But it was all an illusion.” Belle pulled in a low breath, carefully working out her response.
“I called off our engagement.” She hesitated.
“He made it clear that he had no intention of accepting my decision.”
Even as it seemed a relief to confide in someone, actually uttering the words brought a fleeting stab of pain. Belle stared down at her hands. Her fingers were trembling. How odd. They weren’t even quivering when she’d made her escape. Had her fear finally caught up with her?
“I see.” Ellie’s mouth thinned with concern. “You ran from him?”
“I saw no other choice.” As she pictured Gideon’s angry eyes staring into hers, a little shiver rippled over her nape. “He thought he could bend me to his will. But I wouldn’t... I will not give in.”
“I can only imagine how difficult this is for you.” Ellie reached out to clasp her hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Well, you can count on Jon. You’ll be safe here.”
Gulping a breath, she confided another truth. “But I am concerned... I am bringing trouble to his doorstep.”
“Don’t worry about such things,” Ellie said with a soft shake of her head. “He’ll face down any challenge that comes his way.”
“The man I’d thought to marry in that infernal dress.
.. I fear he will continue to chase after me.
” The all-too-recent memory of Gideon’s voice—smooth, yet tinged with razor-sharp anger—sent a wave of apprehension through her.
“When he wants something, he is utterly driven. In this case, what he wants is me.” Simply speaking the words churned a fresh dread within her.
Never in her life had she felt the need to hide. Not from anything. Or anyone.
Until now.
“I hope you don’t think me too bold, but a question does occur to me.” Ellie’s gaze softened. “Could it be that he is in love with you?”
You will not leave this place. How could you think I would allow you to walk away?
When Gideon had uttered the words, his eyes had been as cold and hard as his voice. There had been no trace of love. Nor passion. To the contrary, every word he’d clipped between his teeth betrayed icy rage at her defiance.
Belle braced herself against the chilling memory. Oh, she’d been a fool. So very na?ve. How had she allowed herself to be swept into his elaborate charade?
“I know that is not the case.” She swallowed hard against a fresh rush of regret. “He sees me as the key to my father’s money vault. Nothing more.”
Ellie nodded her understanding. “Belle, might I ask...?” She hesitated for a long moment, seeming to think better of voicing her thought.
Belle read the unspoken question in her eyes. “If you wish to know if I love the man, the answer is that I do not.” She drew in a calming breath. “The truth of the matter is, I never did. Not truly.” My, it eased the pain within her to speak the truth.
Ellie’s eyes lit with comprehension. “This was not a love match?”
“We’d enjoyed what I’d thought was a true friendship. We had seemed quite compatible. Gideon and I shared many interests, and we got along famously. I’d hoped it might develop into more.”
“But it did not,” Ellie offered a nod of understanding.
“There was no spark. Not even a flicker.” Belle felt as if a weight was being lifted off her shoulders.
It seemed such a relief to speak to confide in Ellie.
“To be quite honest, I was utterly surprised when he proposed—and in such dramatic fashion in the midst of one of the most elegant restaurants in the city. My first instinct was to turn him down gently.”
“But you accepted his proposal?”
“I did.” Belle knew her words sounded like a confession.
But she had done nothing wrong. In her heart, she knew that.
“When I looked at him that night, he seemed so very earnest. I simply could not bring myself to cause a scene that might have devastated him. And I did not wish to sever the ties between us. So, I tried to convince myself that I would be content with him. After all, many successful marriages have started without a thought to love, true or otherwise.”
“You deserve better than that, Belle.”
She drew in a slow, calming breath. “At the moment he proposed, I wanted to believe we might make a go of it. But in my heart, I knew I’d made a colossal mistake.
I couldn’t go through with it. But I wanted to find the right time.
.. to gently call off the engagement. I did not wish to hurt him.
” She dropped her gaze to her hands, but forced herself to meet Ellie’s questioning eyes. “But then, everything changed.”
“Do you feel comfortable telling me what happened?” Ellie’s gaze softened with compassion. “What changed your mind?”
“Gideon showed his true colors.” Belle could hear the ugly strains of his voice in her thoughts. You will give me what you’ve promised. You will not make a fool of me.
Ellie’s brow furrowed as she appeared to ponder Belle’s words. When she spoke, her tone was hushed. “I believe I understand.”
“He is a powerful man—Lord Gideon Kentsworth.”
Ellie’s mouth thinned. “The name rings a bell, but I cannot quite place it.”
“I suspect you may have seen the chatter in the gossip rags. The papers had a fine time plastering our names on their society pages. Ever so much innuendo.”
“I’m afraid I must’ve missed the excitement,” Ellie said. “You see, I’ve only recently returned from visiting the continent.”
“It was much ado about nothing.”
The furrows in Ellie’s brow deepened. “I don’t recall ever making the man’s acquaintance. How very odd. I’d think we would have at least a passing familiarity, given the sheer number of balls and soirees Macie and I attended.”
“He possesses no fondness for London society. His primary residence is away from the city, in Cornwall.”
Ellie pursed her lips, deep in thought. “I shall ask my aunt what, if anything, she knows about the man. Aunt Cora is well connected with London’s elite and possesses a keen ear for gossip.
She gained a snobby title when she married and now fancies herself an expert on the who’s who of the noble class.
Especially the skeletons in their closets.
She also keeps tabs on everything of note that goes on in the city.
The juiciest scandals are of particular interest.” Her lips curved into a sly smile.
“It goes without saying that I shall be discreet. But it will be to your benefit to know if Lord Kentsworth is hiding any ugly and potentially dangerous secrets.”