“Of course, my Lord, how can I help?”
“I am in need of a replacement. My man is lately married and is moving away from the estate fifty miles to the North. I would be grateful if you have any recommendations. I know youhave many estates across the country, and I am sure they are excellently managed.”
“Indeed, my Lord, I will speak to Perkins, my aunt’s steward directly. He is a good man and has many contacts across England. I am sure he can recommend someone for you.”
“Capital, capital. Thank you.”
“You are most welcome.” Please would you allow me to marry your daughter. “Are you joining us for the sleigh ride today, my Lord?
“I am, against my will. I have never been comfortable moving at speed behind anything that does not have wheels and a team of four.”
Nicholas chuckled and, out of the corner of his eye, noticed that Miss Crompton was observing them. He did not catch her eye, however, endeavouring to steel himself for the events to come. His nerves felt like knives in his stomach now, piercing at him angrily.
He would have loved to believe that Clarissa was so taken with him that he could guarantee her answer. But he was in no way assured of it. He wanted her to accept him, but he also understood if she did not. It was a conundrum. He caught his aunt’s eye, and she gave him a reassuring smile.
He longed to speak with Clarissa immediately and to get it over with. The breakfast room was a bustle of lively chatter, servants, plates being moved and handed about. He could not imagine a less opportune time to grab her attention. He would have to wait. He could wait.
As the remaining party members went to gather their warm clothing for the sleigh ride, Nicholas took a private moment to himself. He walked out of the drawing room and onto the terrace. Steps on the right-hand side led down to the gardens, and stone pillars surrounded the edge. The space was not overly large, but it backed onto the high windows of the drawing room.
He looked out at the beautiful scenes before him. The hills of the English countryside lay out like a patchwork quilt. Dotted lines of white separated the fields where the hedges stood, the dark shapes of the trees slicing up the white ground into neat little squares.
As he stood, longing for a glass of something to settle his nerves, he thought about what he might say to Miss Crompton. Perhaps he would begin by expressing his regard for her, but that always sounded incredibly trite when his friends told him of their proposals.
Should he focus on her eyes, perhaps? They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, but he did not think she would be the sort of woman who would lack for compliments.
How could he make himself stand out from the others? Had she ever had another suitor, he wondered. The idea was not a pleasant one. He did not like the thought that her head had ever been turned by someone else. Maybe she had had another man who she smiled at just as much as she smiled at him.
Nicholas swallowed, doubts pouring into his mind. Their acquaintance had been so brief; had he misinterpreted her feelings? Perhaps he had entirely imagined them.
As his nerves built and his resolve faltered, he heard footsteps approaching him along the terrace. He turned, expecting his aunt, but felt irritated beyond bearing when he saw Lady Wilde approaching him.
Too late, he realized that he was in the corner of the terrace, unable to move past her without physically pushing her out of the way. It was clearly by design, for Lady Wilde came up to him, far too close to be proper, and smiled her winning smile.
“My Lord Bolton, I am surprised to see you out here alone. Are you not accompanying us to the sleigh ride today?”
“Most assuredly, I was merely taking in the beauty of the view,” he answered as evenly as possible.
She fluttered her eyelashes and looked up at him coyly. He imagined it was a look that would stir many men to disgrace, but it left him cold.
“And how do you like the view now, my Lord?” she asked. It was so bold a question that Nicholas found himself momentarily unable to speak. “I know what game it is you are playing, and I have been thoroughly entertained these last few days. But I believe if you are to declare your intentions, you should do so. We could have a great future together. The alignment of our houses would be most advantageous. Far more so than other connections you may have entertained.”
Nicholas felt a flare of anger now. He was no longer irritated; he was furious. His expression would have deterred anyone else, but Lady Wilde, it seemed, was not to be deterred.
He sucked in a breath as she laid a hand against his chest, leaning into him. Her floral scent surrounded him, and he wished he could leap over the side of the terrace and run full pelt toward Clarissa.
“You toy with me, I know. But I have no objection to a game. All games have their place, but I believe you and I must become a pair to win this one.”
She smiled again, and this time, the lascivious nature of it revolted him. It was not just her forward manner that he disliked; it was the assumptions she had made about his character.
He had gone out of his way to put her off, yet it seemed she did not need a syllable of encouragement to set her sights on what she wanted.
His chest tensed as he leaned away from her, her fingers stroking over his chest alluringly. But enough was enough.
Nicholas gripped her wrist firmly but gently and stood up to his full height. He leaned forward, using his bulk to push her gently back from him, and glowered at her with the full forceof his fury. He could not miss her meaning that their family alliance was more advantageous than with the Crompton’s. Clarissa’s family were still wealthy, and her father was a gentleman, but their status left much to be desired.
I could not care a jot about any of it. I would rather have Clarissa than any woman on this Earth.
Lady Wilde stepped back, looking shocked. Her wrist was still held firmly between his fingers, and he did not release her until he had given her his response.
