Chapter Ten

He could hardly sleep last night and his restless tossing and turning were beginning to catch up with him. Michael grimaced at his second cup of coffee, willing it to do something, to give him the energy he needed to tackle the rest of the day. Last night’s ball had gone on until well into the morning and the few hours he spent in bed hoping to sleep had been occupied with thoughts of Lady Elaine.

Constant, relentless thoughts of her.

Even now, sitting in his office with his documents spread out before him, he couldn’t think about anything else but her.

Michael groaned aloud, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. The first phase of his plan, the introduction, had been a smashing success. He’d sown the first seeds and it was not nearly time for him to start the other phase as yet. So why on earth was he contemplating dropping everything to go and see her?

His frustration had only deepened since last night, and now, as afternoon approached, it threatened to overwhelm him. The previous night, sleep evaded him as he thought back on everything that had happened during the ball. Her smile, the sparkle in her eyes when they spoke, her unexpected beauty. Perhaps it would have been easier if she’d been a little duller with a far more modest appearance. Perhaps then he would not have had to deal with this infuriating attraction to her.

Because that was exactly what this was, he realised. He was attracted to her from the moment he laid eyes on her. Why else would his heart race and his stomach twist whenever their eyes met?

It was a problem, certainly. An unprecedented one. But now that he had recognised the issue, he understood the steps he needed to take in order to fix it.

For now, it was adistraction. He drained his cup of coffee and straightened in his chair, trying to focus.

But before long, Lady Elaine’s laughter echoed in his mind and he was gone again.

“Michael?”

“Clarissa!” he answered, a little louder than necessary. “Come in.”

Clarissa peeped into the room, frowning at him. “Is everything all right? Did something bad happen?”

“No, nothing bad has happened,” he said urgently, getting to his feet. “Why do you ask?”

She entered the room, closing the door slowly behind her. “You are acting rather odd…”

“Am I?” Michael shook his head, shaking off the odd feeling. He was acting odd. All because he was hoping Clarissa’s presence may help him forget about Lady Elaine for once.

His question only served to deepen Clarissa’s suspicion. She ventured to the side of the room, sinking into the armchair as Michael came to join her. Michael calmed himself, realising that he was indeed acting a little odd.

“Lady Elaine is rather nice.”

Michael sighed. That was the opposite of what he’d wanted to hear. How could he distract himself from her when she was now going to become the topic of conversation?

But rather than telling Clarissa he didn’t want to talk about her, he said, “Yes, she is.”

“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 wish you the very best as well. Pray, Michael, whatever your intentions may be, do take 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 was hosting 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.

***

“Is something amiss, Lady Clarissa?”

Clarissa blinked, glancing over at Lord Fornsworth. His pinched features seemed even tighter when he frowned with concern.

“Yes,” she answered. “Why do you ask?”

“That is the fourth time you have sighed since we’ve begun our walk. I can only assume that there is something on your mind.”

Clarissa couldn’t deny it so she fell quiet. She supposed it was a little unfair to Lord Fornsworth for her to be like this. Even though she had no interest in him, she enjoyed his company well enough. That had been her only reason for accepting his invitation for the walk in the first place. And who knew? Perhaps this walk was what it took for her to see his merits as a future husband.

But she couldn’t stop thinking about Michael. She couldn’t stop worrying about Michael.

They ambled down a mostly secluded path in Hyde Park, the more populated area already behind them. Her lady’s maid was a quiet presence on their tail. Clarissa let her eyes wander over the lush grass and large wisterias, landing on a bench sitting near a pond.

“Shall we rest a spell, my lord?” she suggested in the silence.

Lord Fornsworth only nodded, his jaw tight. Clarissa hoped it wasn’t because of her. She hadn’t meant to upset him with her absentmindedness.

They came up to the bench and she quickly sat, brushing away invisible lint from the front of her skirt. It took her a moment to realise that Lord Fornsworth was still standing. And he looked far more displeased than she’d realised.

“My lord?”

“What is your intention with me, Lady Clarissa?” he pushed through gritted teeth, his beady eyes glaring into the sparkling pond.

Clarissa frowned. Surely she’d heard that incorrectly. “ My intention with you ?” she echoed.

“Do you intend on pulling my heart along on a string like a lovesick puppy?” he spat. “Do you not see a future with me?”

“My lord, where is this coming from?”

“You have not listened to a word I’ve said since we began our promenade!”

Clarissa blinked. “Lord Fornsworth, there is no need to raise your voice at me. And yes, perhaps I have been a little distracted, but it is simply because there is an issue—”

He was upon her suddenly, so close that she could smell the staleness of his breath. He seized her hand without warning. “My heart burns for you, Lady Clarissa. Ever since I met you last Season, I have thought of nothing else. Of no one else. Can’t you see that?”

“My lord, please unhand me.” She tried to calm her voice, to keep her panic from showing. All of a sudden, she was aware of the fact that they were alone with only her hapless lady’s maid there to witness.

Lord Fornsworth only clasped her hand with both of his this time, squeezing tighter. “Lady Clarissa, would you do me the honour of—”

“I am certain the lady asked you to unhand her.”

Clarissa’s heart leapt to her throat. She recognised that voice—the same deep baritone that had shaken her to her core last night during Lady Jones’ ball. Clarissa watched as Lord Fornsworth’s tiny eyes looked above her head, first with irritation, then surprise, then repentance. He quickly let go of her.

“L-Lord Abney,” he stammered, getting to his feet. “I did not see your approach.”

“Likely because you were too busy accosting a lady away from seeing eyes.” Lord Abney did not come any closer, an overwhelming presence hovering right over her shoulder. And Clarissa didn’t dare turn. “I will give you three seconds to leave here before I make you regret your decision. One—”

Lord Fornsworth took off without a moment’s hesitation, feet kicking dirt up in his wake. Clarissa would have laughed at the sight if she wasn’t so focused on the man standing behind her.

“Are you all right?”

She swallowed, schooled her expression, and hoped she seemed nonchalant before she turned to face him. But even then, she wasn’t prepared for the sight of him. He’d scarcely left her thoughts since last night and now here he was, as if she’d summoned him.

Lord Abney frowned deeper. “Do not tell me you are traumatised into silence?”

“I am not traumatised,” she snapped. “And I was more than capable of handling the situation myself, thank you very much.”

Lord Abney shoved his hands into his pockets. “I do not doubt it. But I could not simply stand by and watch it happen.”

Clarissa rose, not liking the way she felt at having to stare up at him. “Well, thank you all the same. It was appreciated, even though—”

“Even though you could have handled it yourself. Yes, you made that clear.”

Clarissa narrowed her eyes, not sure if he was poking fun at her or not.

Lord Abney seemed more relaxed than last night. For one, he did not wear that constant scowl, as if he was studying everyone within seeing distance. She decided she quite liked this version of him.

“What were you doing around here?” she couldn’t help but ask. “This is not the usual path taken for strolls.”

“Which is exactly the reason I tend to take it,” he responded. “So imagine my surprise when I come across my dear friend from last night and the rather overzealous Lord Fornsworth in what could have easily become a compromising position.”

Clarissa only heard one thing. “Dear friend? Since when have we become friends?”

“You wound me. Are we not?”

“Is that how quickly you make friends?”

“Not usually. But you are different.”

“How so?” she asked softly.

Lord Abney tilted his head slightly to the side, voice lowering as he said, “It would be far too much to say now. But by the end of our walk, I shall answer your question.”

“But we aren’t on a walk together.”

“Now we are.” He took her hand gently and slowly as if giving her time to protest. Clarissa didn’t think herself capable of doing such a thing. She let him tuck her hand into the crook of his elbow.

She was helpless to his charm, she realised a little too late. But she had a feeling that, with the viscount, that was not such a bad thing.