“I beg your pardon.” She stared at him as if he were quite mad.
“I know you still love me, Leah,” he said. “How could you forget your first love? No woman does.”
If she could have, Leah would have forced herself through the boxwoods. “What on Earth are you talking about?”
He closed the gap between them quickly, seizing hold of her frozen hand. “I have not forgotten you either. Our last conversation made me certain that I could not be without you.” He dragged her hand to his lips, and though she tried to wrestle free, he kissed her glove. “You do not have to pretend anymore, and neither do I.”
“You have taken leave of your senses!” Leah managed to wrench her hand free, backing away until she felt the boxwood fronds digging into her back.
“No, I am seeing clearly for the first time in years,” Jonathan insisted. “The night before our wedding, a friend informed me of a young lady named Dorothy who had an infatuation with me, and that she hailed from a sickeningly wealthy family. I was stupid and I was greedy, choosing money over love. Although, part of my decisionwasmy mother’s sickness; I stand by that.” He huffed out a sigh. “Nevertheless, I was a coward who could not face you, in case I changed my mind, so I jilted you. I used your drunken declaration of love as my excuse. It was the greatest mistake of my life, and I have regretted it every day since. You see, Dorothy has nothing else to offer, and now that her dowry has trickled away to nothing too, I understand just how idiotic I was. Love should always triumph over money, and I pray it is not too late.”
Leah eyed the wall, wondering if she could land on the other side without breaking something. “You are entirely mad, Jonathan. You cannot possibly think I believe a word you are saying, can you? Are you so utterly delusional?”
“I knew you would fight me at first, but that is to be expected after the torment I have made you endure,” he replied, still smiling. “But I love you, Leah. I love you, and I want us to be together. And now, there is nothing standing in our way.”
Leah’s jaw dropped as she realized just what he was proposing. After all, he was married, and that was not something he could cast aside as he had cast her aside on their wedding day. He was obviously suggesting that she should be his mistress, and though she desperately wanted to laugh in his face, she did not dare. It was too dangerous, considering she was alone out there with no one running to her rescue.
“Even if I did love you,” she said, choosing a more diplomatic response, “I will be no man’s mistress.”
Jonathan paused, his brow furrowing. “You would not be a mistress, my darling. You would be my wife where it matters.” He touched his hand to his heart, making her feel sick. “We could venture to the Continent, live together where no one knows us, make our fortunes side-by-side. After all, when the news finally reaches society that you have been cast aside again, there will be no hope of you ever finding a match. This is the best you can expect.”
“And that is supposed to entice me?” she spat, cursing herself for not being able to hold her tongue. “You ought to leave us both alone—me and your poor wife. You said it yourself; what do you have left to offer anyone? Besides, society will never find out about me and Nathaniel, for there is nothing to find out. We are as happy as we have ever been.”
Jonathan’s eyes glinted with annoyance. “Cease this. Did I not tell you once that if there is one thing I cannot abide, it is a liar?” He sneered. “The Duke is not the only one capable of making investigations, and though he might believe he knows everything about me, I know everything about him, too. I have the power to ruin him, so if youdocare for him, as you say, then this is the only way to spare him and his family from society’s wrath.”
“Because he is a famous boxer?” Leah took a risk, forcing a sly smile onto her lips. “Oh, everyone already knows that. It is something of an open secret. Indeed, I am surprised you were not already aware. And I also know that you are sore because you lost to him, and in doing so, lost everything you had wagered on winning.” That last part was a guess, but judging by the horrified look upon Jonathan’s face, her intuition was right. “Is trying to steal me your way of attempting to beat him, long after the match is over?”
Jonathan stared at Leah, his face draining of color. “Youknow that?”
“He told me within a few days of our first meeting,” she lied, feeling the words fall easily from her tongue. “Did you think that would bother me? Why, I can think of nothing more attractive than a man who makes you feel safe and protected.”
“No. How do you know of our boxing match?”
Leah shrugged. “He told me. We have no secrets, he and I.” She paused, thinking back to the night of the carnival. “Indeed, I have often cleaned that awful black paste off his face when he has forgotten a smudge or two.”
Now, she understood what it was she had wiped away so carefully—not smoke soot but his disguise.
Jonathan looked sick, stumbling as he continued, “Then, I shall tell the entire nation about his father. I will make him suffer as he has made me suffer. His brother will never find a wife, and his mother—goodness, I think the pain of having everyone know might be enough to kill her.” He grinned darkly. “There will be an investigation, there will be punishments, and he might become as destitute as I am. Would he still be appealing to you then?”
“Love is more important than money,” she reminded him. “Nor will you do that because no one would believe you. It will sound like the sour grapes of an incapable businessman who once received a loan he could not pay back.”
Jonathan grabbed her then, his hot breath steaming against her face, making her skin crawl. He glowered down into her eyes, his fingernails digging into her icy flesh. She wriggled and writhed, trying to free herself enough to slap him or punch him—whichever came first—but he was stronger, pinning her arms to her sides.
“And who will believeyourprotests,” he whispered venomously, “when the scandal sheets discover that we kissed?”
His face inched closer to hers, his lips puckering… and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Scouring the gardens by lantern light was proving to be as frustrating as it was fruitless, for Lord Shilbottle’s gardens were extensive—obnoxiously so, in Nathaniel’s opinion. The four members of the search party had been forced to split up to try and cover more ground, and now and again, he could hear one of them muttering in exasperation. If Leah was out there, she had hidden herself well. Either that, or she was in no condition to call for help.
She will freeze to death,Nathaniel’s mind raced, his heart fluttering in panic, for even he was beginning to shiver… and she had been outside for much longer.
He was just about to retreat back to the terrace to get a lay of the land, figuring out where to search next, when panting breaths whipped his head toward a high wall of hedge. A dark figure burst out from an archway in the foliage, running fast on skinny legs.
Without thinking, Nathaniel’s fists came up, ready to fight. “Who goes there?”
“It is… me,” came a strangled voice, the figure slowing as he neared.
