“And yet you insist on continuing with your plan, don’t you?”
“I do not see why her niceness should have any effect on my plan at all. Do you?”
Clarissa sighed. “Michael, while I understand the reason you’re doing this, I do not think you should involve an innocent person.”
“Clarissa, if you only wished to lecture me on a decision I have already taken, then you are only wasting your breath.” He stood. “And as you can see, I have work to do, so if that is all you wish to say, you should simply leave right now.”
“Michael…”
He paused, turning back to her. “Yes?”
The abject sadness in her eyes nearly broke him. That was the last thing he wanted to see. He wanted to make her happy, to liberate their family name so that they didn’t constantly have an unjust reputation hanging over their heads. But clearly, she could not see it his way.
Whatever she saw on his face had her shaking her head. “Never mind. I see that it will make no sense. And that is not the only reason I came to see you. I wanted to tell you that I have been invited to promenade through Hyde Park by Lord Fornsworth.”
“Lord Fornsworth?” Michael frowned. “Do I know him?”
“I do not think so, but he certainly knows you. He’s made sure to ask me not to bring you along.”
“Why not?”
“He would not say,” Clarissa admitted with a shrug. “But I believe he is a little terrified of you. You do have a rather intense demeanour at times.”
Michael was about to defend himself before he realised he quite liked the sound of that. So he nodded, smiling. “I have no complaints. Will you ask Aunt Beatrice to act as achaperone then?”
“I shall bring my lady’s maid,” Clarissa informed him. “There is no need to bother Aunt Beatrice about him. I am not interested in the lord at all.”
“Then why have you agreed to go on a walk with him?”
“I have no other pressing engagements for the day. Perhaps I shall meet someone more worthwhile during my walk.”
Michael could not help laughing at that. “You are going to break Lord Fornsworth’s heart.”
“He will break his own heart if he believes that there stands a chance between us. Though we could always be friends.”
“I wish you all the best then.”
Clarissa stood, smiling. “I wishyouthe very best as well. Pray, Michael, whatever your intentions may be,dotake care.”
Michael took her hand, squeezing it. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Easier said than done. I worry about you all the time.”
“That’s my job.”
“That’s too bad. I was always quite good at following your lead.”
Michael chuckled, pulling her close enough to press a kiss on her temple. Clarissa smiled but it only lasted a few seconds, quickly replaced with another frown. Michael didn’t want to hear any more of her lectures and he knew very well that he was likely to be subjected to another if she tarried for too long. So he gave her a gentle push towards the door and Clarissa caught her cue. She sighed, exiting the room without only a single backward glance.
Lady Elaine came racing back to his thoughts.
Michael sighed, glancing back at his desk, feeling far less motivated now. Would it hurt to see her today? Perhaps he could speed his plan along. After all, the quicker he got this over with, the quicker he could be rid of her.
He shook away the thought as soon as it came. No, he had other things to take care of, other pieces that needed to fall into place before he appeared before her again. Lady Abney washosting a musicale in a few days. Surely he could hold out until then?
Michael gritted his teeth, making his way to the door. She was just one lady, one piece—albeit a vital one—of his plan. Outside of his quest for revenge, she held no value.
He should take care to remember that.
