Blake frowned, but before he could respond, the door behind them pushed open, and Rosilee stepped through—a breath of fresh air in a pretty, soft-pink day dress. She paused when her eyes landed on him, but only a moment before she said, “The Earl of Stagbourne is here. Shall I send him away?”
His heart stopped. Or stuttered. Or skipped a bit beat. Whatever it was, it was deuced painful. He shot a glare at Bishop. So, this was why the man had come to press him about Lady Rosilee.
It changed nothing.
He looked back to Lady Rosilee, fortifying his heart. “No, don’t.”
Her brows furrowed. “No? Why not?” Her gaze flicked between him and Bishop. “We...”
“I am not your answer, Rosilee.” It was best to be curt. Best to be blunt. Best to nip any and all expectations and hope in the bud. “I am not your future.”
“But last night . . .”
He clenched his jaw, ignoring Bishop’s scowl. “Was a mistake. Stagbourne is your most favorable option. You should go see him.”
She stared at him, and Blake forced himself to remain upright and not to allow any part of his body to sag. “Is this your final answer then?” she asked softly. Only a fool wouldn’t be able to hear the hurt there.
“Yes.”
“I see.” A small pause. “Then I shall go receive the earl.” She turned to walk away.
Wait! He couldn’t help himself. Hehadto say, “I don’t want to take advantage of you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She suddenly laughed, turning back to him. “But you have, haven’t you? Taken advantage of me, that is.”
He paled. “No, I mean—”
“I don’t mean last night together, Blake.” She shook her head. “I meant the moment you decided to approach me because of my situation.”
“I approached you because I wanted to help you.”
“Is that really the case?”
“I don’t understand your meaning,” Blake said, wishing he could smooth the deep lines between her brows.
“Of course you don’t.” She sent him a rueful smile. “Because you only ever thought about yourself. You say you wished to help me, but what will you do after I’m married? Go back to your castle and spy on me for another eighteen years? Drawing from the moments we shared here? All because you didn’t want tohurtme? Because you think you’re a monster?”
“I—”
“Stop,” she said, lifting her hands. “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear you. You’re so afraid that your title will blemish me, but have you ever thought that I might be the onethat stains it, but with light, not darkness? You haven’t, have you?”
His jaw clenched. “Rosilee . . .”
She shook her head for him to stop. “You should never have come for me, Your Grace,” she said, turning to leave, shutting the door behind her.
Everything inside him shattered.
Chapter Fourteen
Rosilee paused justoutside the drawing room, her heart lodged in her throat as if it would leap out at any moment. She clenched her eyes shut, forcing away the image ofhisface. She shoved aside his words, the pain,everythingalong with the sharp sting they brought. Now wasn’t the time for weakness.
Not when there was still so much at stake.
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the folds of her skirts, exhaled slowly, and allowed a smile to bloom across her lips before entering the room. Lord Stagbourne stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back, looking out over the grounds with an expression that, at first glance, appeared contemplative. But when he turned to greet her, a smile immediately lit his face. That effortless charm of his was so disarming. They had only met last night, but it felt as if he had been a friend for years.
“Lady Rosilee,” he said with a slight bow. “You look positively ravishing this morning.”
Rosilee allowed herself to smile a little more genuinely at his compliment, trying to match his easy demeanor. “As do you, Lord Stagbourne.”
