Page 17 of Wallflower Gone Wild
Not seeing his temptress anywhere in sight, Mac forced a tight smile on his face as he greeted her mother. “Lady Pinerose, are you alone?” he asked, obviously looking around her.
“No, however, I did want to speak with you about my daughter.” She was a small woman, but her essence and deadly stare was that of a woman much taller.
Like her two daughters, Lady Pinerose was a beauty—it wasn’t difficult to see how she’d captured the elder Pinerose’s affection.
Mac released a weary sigh, positive that he knew what the older woman was going to say. “Your daughter?” he asked, feigning ignorance.
Surely, she wasn’t aware of his and Letty’s relationship, but soon everyone would know how he felt about the woman who suddenly meant everything to him. Once, he made Letty his wife, no one would doubt his intentions.
“Don’t play innocent with me. I’m aware that she was with you a sennight ago,” she sneered, her gaze making Mac feel like a small child.
Dear God, was this the behavior that Letty endured daily?
“Was she?” Mac wasn’t positive how much Lady Pinerose knew and did not want to reveal his and Letty’s acquaintance to her.
The proper thing for him to do was to approach Pinerose and gain permission to court her. But first, he needed to confess his role in Cedemoor’s plan to ruin her, then grovel for her forgiveness.
She let out a loud huff of annoyance, folding her arms. “Her maid reported that she returned covered in ink.”
Mac covered his chuckle with a cough, it wasn’t time for humor, indeed. But he could still see the results of their activities on his own clothing. It had taken him days to get the ink off his trousers, shirt, and forehead where Letty had gripped him and pulled him closer as she reached her climax.
Damn it to hell, he couldn’t think such things while facing her mother’s wrath.
“If she were, would there be a problem with me instructing Lady Leticia on printing?” Mac stood firm; he wouldn’t be cowed by a woman half his size, no matter whose mother she was.
Besides, if she were to be his mother-in-law—assuming Letty forgave his momentary lack of honor—he would have to deal with the woman for the rest of his life.
Lady Pinerose stepped closer to Mac, peering up at him like he wasn’t a man twice her size. “Whatever game you’re playing with my daughter, I insist you stop it this instant. I will not allow a fortune hunter to ruin her chances at an advantageous marriage.”
Before Mac could defend or deny her accusations, Letty’s sister, Miss Hayward, interrupted them. “Mr. Meriweather, how wonderful to see you again,” Miss Hayward said, giving Mac a welcoming smile and holding out her hand.
Unlike her mother, her countenance was friendly, her dark brown eyes seeming to try to convey a message. She peered at her hand, which was clutched, then back up to Mac. It took him a moment to realize that she was holding something in her gloved hand.
“The pleasure is all mine.” Taking her hand in his, he bowed, deftly removing the paper she was holding.
He could feel the eyes of Lady Pinerose on them but chose to ignore the older woman. He needed to see Letty, to experience her sweet kisses, if only for a moment. Then he would tell her the truth and beg for forgiveness … whatever the cost.
“Ahh Meriweather, moved on to another sister already, have you?” Cedemoor asked, his gaze going from Mac to Miss Hayward with a disapproving look on his face.
“Please do not use my daughter’s reputation as a sign of your amusement,” Lady Pinerose said.
The look she gave Cedemoor made it clear that she was not a fond of her stepson in the least.
“I’m sure he meant nothing by it, darling,” Pinerose said, placing his hand on his wife’s shoulder and tapping it three times.
Ignoring the small family, Mac excused himself, desperate to know what was written in the note Miss Hayward had passed. Striding through the crowd, he avoided several individuals who wanted to engage him in conversation of the movement, including Wilberforce himself. He had already had several conversations with all of them and really did not need to speak to them further. He had recorded every quote and would write up an article the following day. What Mac needed to focus on was reaching Letty.
Mac still wasn’t positive how he would confess the depth of his betrayal to her, but he would. They wouldn’t be able to move forward together until the truth was revealed.
Reaching the secluded portion of the gardens, he opened the missive, smiling at the neat scribble on the small bit of parchment.
‘Meet me at the first cast iron bridge near the canal.’
Mac didn’t hesitate to move his body through the maze of the lavish gardens. Turning down one dark corner to another, he discovered lovers in intimate positions.
“Meriweather,” Richmore greeted as he escorted a giggling duchess past Mac.
“Richmore, Your Grace.” He nodded to the red-cheeked duchess, not stopping his own stride.