Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE NEXT MORNING

H eavy footsteps and deep voices sounded from the front door, and Rowan stirred from his sleep and sat up, feeling a little out of sorts. He and Lucy had stayed awake long into the night talking about their childhoods—the differences and similarities. He hadn’t tried to kiss her again after they’d read the letters. Although he’d wanted to. Desperately . But he knew if they’d continued, he might have gone too far. He might have seduced her. He couldn’t allow that. Lucy was too innocent and too sweet, and he could not be responsible for breaking her heart when he couldn’t give her what she wanted. Marriage . A family. Love . He could see that vulnerable yearning in her eyes.

He’d wrestled with himself. God , how he’d wrestled. But how could he take advantage of such a lovely, wonderful young woman who deserved to be cherished by a man who deserved her love.

And that could not be him. He’d led the life of a scoundrel. So many years of taking what he wanted from women who’d known the ground rules. Lucy had no idea what her innocent sensuality was doing to him. And because of that, they’d argued yesterday evening.

They’d washed and put away the dishes after dinner, and he was adding more wood to the fire in the parlor. Lucy had been staring out the window.

“ The snow seems to have stopped,” she said. “ Do you think we’ll return to the Latham’s tomorrow?” She’d turned to look at him and his breath had caught at how beautiful she looked in the glow of the firelight, her satiny hair over her shoulders, her lips full and still swollen from their kisses. He’d had to stop himself from sweeping her up in his arms and making love to her on the floor in front of the fire.

“ Yes . The horses are well rested. The roads will still be covered in snow, but it will be manageable,” he’d said abruptly, turning away from the vision of her standing just a few feet away. “ How is your ankle? I’ve noticed your limp isn’t as pronounced.”

“ I’m feeling much better,” she’d said walking up to stand beside him.

He’d glanced up at her and almost groaned at the shy, sweet smile she’d given him.

“ May I go with you to feed and water the horses?” she’d asked.

“ No . You’re not going out there.” He’d practically growled at her then turned back to close the grate. “ It’s cold and icy. The last thing we need is for you to fall and reinjure your foot.”

“ I see. You’re back to making decisions for me again.”

“ I’m trying to keep you safe,” he’d countered, defending his position.

“ I appreciate that, but I’m not a child,” she’d said.

She’d turned away from him, and he could hear her sniffling.

He’d cursed. The last thing he’d wanted was to hurt her. He’d wanted to say something but thought better of it. Perhaps it was better this way.

“ I suppose we should get some rest,” she’d finally said. “ I’m sure you plan for us to leave early.”

“ I do,” he’d said, rubbing the back of his neck. “ Lucy …”

“ No . It’s quite all right, Rowan . Good night.” She’d picked up Ashe , given him a goodnight kiss, and then settled into her makeshift pallet on the floor in front of the fire.

Sleep had eluded him until later, much later, but eventually, he’d fallen asleep a few hours before dawn.

“ Garrison , are you awake?” Latham called out, stepping into the parlor.

“ We’ve come to save you,” Slice said in a teasing tone, following behind.

“ Even though nothing could save you,” Nelson added.

Rowan sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes.

He glanced up at his friends and saw the shock on their faces.

Damn . Damn . Damn !

Rowan was suddenly wide awake as he realized what his friends were seeing, what they were assuming.

God’s teeth! It’s not what it looks like.

Lucy was still sound asleep next to him on the floor, nestled against his chest. Their pallets had started several feet apart, but somehow, during the night, they had moved closer together—probably for warmth. They were lying in the center of a cocoon of sofa pillows, sheets, and blankets, with Ashe curled up between them. To make matters worse, Lucy was wearing his clothing. At least she’s dressed . A sweat broke out across his forehead, and he fought to calm his racing heart. “ I assure you, gentlemen. It’s not what you think.”

“ What in the world were you thinking?” Latham said a few minutes later in the kitchen, his voice barely below a shout.

“ Quiet , or you’ll wake Lucy ,” Rowan said, combing his hands through his hair.

“ Have you lost your mind?” Slice said. “ Waking Lucy is the least of your problems.”

“ What the hell happened?” Latham growled.

Rowan quickly explained everything—how he’d caught Lucy stealing the fox, how the snowstorm had come upon them with such ferocity that he’d had no choice but to bring Lucy to his manor house, which was closer than Latham’s , how they’d had to make do, roughing it to keep warm…”

“ You’ve just given the ton yet another scandal and yet another reason for those harpies to keep calling her Unlucky Lucy ,” Nelson accused, crossing his arms over his chest.

“ Can you stubble the sarcasm? Lucy’s very sensitive about that cruel moniker,” Rowan bit out.

“ Oh , is she?” Nelson arched a brow.

“ Yes . She is.” Rowan was angry with his friends but even more angry at himself.

“ Look , Rowan . You know as well as we do what this means. You’ll have to marry her,” Latham said. “ And you’ll need to ask her before we head back. Lucy’s been through enough.”

“ I know what she’s been through,” Rowan muttered.

“ Then you’ll know that when word gets out—and it will—that if you’re not already married or on the way to the chapel, then that poor girl will be completely ruined,” Slice warned.

“ What ? Why ? She’s a widow,” he shouted. “ No one expects that. And she’s not ruined.” Even as he said it, Rowan realized how callus it sounded. He also knew the truth. The circumstances of Lucy’s widowhood were not exactly typical.

“ She’s a virgin,” Latham said. “ As you well know. She’s not one of your paramours. She’s not some jaded widow or bored wife of a diplomat. She’s an innocent.”

“ And you’ve compromised her,” Slice said. “ She will be ruined. She had no chaperone.

“ She spent several days alone in an empty house with one of the most notorious rakes in England ,” Nelson added.

“ You have to handle this before we go back,” Latham said.

“ Nothing happened. And besides, she doesn’t want to marry again,” Rowan persisted. He wished he could have stopped those words before he uttered them.

Latham , Slice , and Nelson synchronously arched their brows and looked at him with curiosity.

“ You’ve asked her?” Slice asked.

“ No ! Of course not. It just came up in conversation.” Rowan wanted to punch a wall but tried to keep calm.

“ Look , Garrison . You are an earl and are just entering the peerage. The scuttle that results from this will cause problems for Lucy but also you. You must do the right thing. And that means you must propose,” Latham said.

“ And you’ll need to convince her to marry you. Besides , you should think about getting married in any case. You’re now the Earl of Scarborough ,” Slice added.

“ Garrison , we know this isn’t what you wanted. You weren’t interested in getting married, at least not for a while,” Nelson said. “ And it isn’t that…we…don’t believe you. But facts are facts.”

“ That woman’s reputation has withstood small tears, but this scandal will send it into complete tatters,” Latham added.

“ Surely you see that you must do the right thing,” Slice said.

Rowan blew out a breath. He was coming across like the very scoundrel he was reputed to be. Hell , his reputation was well-earned. But his friends were right. He could not allow Lucy to suffer because of this. He could not live with himself if she was ridiculed or even shunned by Society if he could prevent it. “ Fine . I’ll speak to Lucy . Privately . You three stay here or make yourselves useful and tend to horses.”

Rowan left his friends in the kitchen and made his way back to the parlor. Crouching beside Lucy , he gazed at her sleeping form. She looked so young, so lovely and sweet. And now he was about to completely upend her life.