“He wanted me to tell you that their expectation is for you to return to your highwayman disguise.” She took a moment, looking away from him, one hand at her throat. “And that they expect you to pay them as you have done before with an increase on top of that. From what he said, I believe he also expects you to steal from those you stop and that what you take from them will then be shared out amongst the three of them equally.”
Angry at such demands, Felix shook his head, his free hand balling into a fist.
“I will not do so.”
“He also said that if you did refuse, there would be consequences.” Lady Elizabeth’s voice had dropped significantly until it was just above a whisper. “I stated that I was to end our betrothal this very evening but that made very little difference. He did not believe me, and certainly will still use my connection to you regardless.”
A hole tore itself in Felix’s heart.
“You intended to end our betrothal this evening?”
“I was not certain what I intended,” she answered, hoarsely. “I wanted to speak with you privately before this ball. I wanted to spend time explaining my present situation, my thoughts, and my feelings, but that has been snatched from me by this man’s arrival.”
Felix swallowed.
“Then why did you say such a thing?”
“In the hope that he would leave me alone... but it was no use.”
Wishing he could sweep her into his arms, Felix closed his eyes for a moment, waiting to see if a moment of clarity would come to him, an immediate answer which might help him know what to do - but nothing came.
“Come.” Without being able to linger out in the hallway any longer, he had no choice but to lead Lady Elizabeth into the ballroom. She accepted his arm and, as they walked together into the room which was crowded with the rest of the guests, the hubbub of laughter and music was overwhelming; a distorted fanfare to his tormented thoughts. “I should never have suggested courtship.” Muttering darkly, Felix pushed one hand through his hair, looking back when Lady Elizabeth caught her breath. “That is not to say that I had no wish to, Lady Elizabeth – pray do not misunderstand me. My desire to court you was very strong indeed, just as it is now. However, I fear that my foolishness has now brought you into danger and it isthatwhich I regret.”
Lady Elizabeth sniffed, and to his horror, a single tear ran down her cheek.
“But that does not solve our situation at present, Lord Winterbrook.”
His smile was a little stiff.
“No, it does not.”
What answer could he give her? What solution could he offer her? Nothing came to mind.
“Who is the man? Is it all as he says?” Lady Elizabeth sniffed and looked away. “Is he indeed a man you paid to ride with you?”
Wishing that the floor would open up to swallow him whole, Felix had no choice but to nod.
“It will either be Stafford, Griggs, or Connolly.” He could not hide anything from her now. “These are three men I hired to ride with me in my activities as a highwayman. I did not think about how foolish such an action was until much later. I made it clear from the beginning that I would always return whatever I took, as the enjoyment for me was simply the thrill of chasing the carriage, having it stop at my command, and playing the part of a highwayman. It was a disguise that offered me a different life for a time.” It all sounded so very weak and, wincing, Felix looked away from her. “I should have expected that these men would do something akin to this. I had never revealed to them my name nor shown them my face, but they have recently discovered it – again, thanks to my own foolishness. No doubt they will have been able to learn of our betrothal through various questions of people who work as servants of theton’s gossips. I cannot tell you how sorry I am that they have involved you.”
Lady Elizabeth’s lips trembled, but when she spoke, her voice was steady.
“So they wish you to return to that situation so that they earn more than they have previously.”
“Yes, it seems so.” Felix ran one hand over his eyes, his jaw tense, his whole body tightening with frustration. “For the moment, I find myself greatly perturbed. These men are the very worst sort of ruffians. The reason I dispersed them, in the end, was because they attempted to force me into stealing from Lord Stanfield when I stated that I would not. It seems now that they are determined to do whatever they can to force my hand – which includes threatening you.”
Groaning, he allowed his anger to grow, though his shame grew with it.
“Then what can be done?”
Lady Elizabeth’s wide eyes begged him for an answer, but Felix had none. The only thing he could suggest, he rebelled against inwardly. The silence grew between them and, as she continued to look to him for an answer, it was the only thing he could offer her. His heart tore itself into pieces and it took him some moments to force the words from his lips. All they brought with them was pain.
“You should end your connection to me. You should end it at once.”
Lady Elizabeth’s eyes flared as they stood together at the edge of the ballroom, one hand going to her mouth.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“I mean you should not marry me. You should make certain that all of society knows our connection is at an end. Perhaps that will be enough to convince these men that you are of no importance to me, even though it is precisely theoppositeof what I desire.”
