Chapter 8

Eight

A chill slid up Athena's spine, and she groaned. The warm blanket that had kept her cozy had suddenly disappeared. She flicked her eyelids open and frowned. Where was she? She stretched and then groaned again, this time in pain. It was then she remembered everything. Including the fall from Hades and the reason her hip bit with a harsh ache that hadn't improved overnight.

"That bruise on your hip is quite pronounced," Roman murmured. "I should have been more mindful. I'm a cad for having taken advantage of you while you were in pain."

She stared up at him. "I'm perfectly fine," Athena told him. "It's a minor injury, and you did nothing I didn't want you to do. So stop feeling guilty." She sat up. "How long have you been awake?"

"Not long," he said. "I went to check on the horses. The sun should be up soon, and it would be prudent to ride back as soon as it does."

She smiled. Roman had dressed, but she still sat there without a stitch on, and for some reason that didn't bother her at all. If she wanted to, she was certain she could charm him out of his clothes. Especially since his gaze kept trailing over her bare flesh and he paid particular attention to her chest. He liked her breasts, and she wasn't above using that to her advantage. "Are you quite certain I should dress so soon?" Athena trailed her fingers lightly along her décolletage.

He swallowed hard. "As much as I'd like to keep you just as you are," Roman began. "I'm afraid you'll get cold soon enough. The fire in the hearth has died down and I don't wish to start another when we need to leave shortly."

Athena sighed. "I do admit that a chill roused me from sleep. I suppose I should dress." She stood up and stretched. Her hip ached, but stretching helped ease it a bit. She reached for her chemise and pulled it over her head and then retrieved the rest of her clothes and dressed quickly.

Roman sighed. "You shouldn't be able to wear men's breeches, love. You're a temptation in a gown, but your derriere is pure decadence in a gentleman's trousers."

"You will not convince me that it is in my best interest not to don them while I ride. I've had this argument with my father, and I will not have it with you." Athena glared at him. "I don't wear them outside of our property. I'll never wear them riding in Hyde Park." She rolled her eyes. "I do understand some decorum is necessary. But when I ride Hades, I like the freedom breeches allow."

"I had no intention of ordering you out of them." Roman's gaze trailed over her body. "At least not in the way you're suggesting."

She laughed. "Darling, you just had a sound argument as to why I needed to put my clothes back on. Do not tell me that you now have reconsidered." Athena adored this man…

"I much prefer you in a state of undress," he agreed. "But we do not have time to frolic any longer. The sun is rising, and I need to see you home." Roman tilted his head to the side. "Is your father in residence?"

Her father had sent her home with servants. He wouldn't be there waiting for them. For that, she was grateful, since she had spent the entire night in the cabin. Though her maid and the rest of the servants might wonder what had happened to her. She met Roman's gaze. "He's in London."

"Then I'll have to return there to ask for your hand." He kissed her cheek. "Will you miss me?"

"Always," she said. Then she frowned. "How did you know where to find me? I mean yesterday afternoon. I hadn't stopped at the pond as I usually do."

Roman smiled. "I went to call on you first, but the butler informed me that you had gone for a ride. I headed toward the pond to search for you. You were a good distance ahead of me, but I saw you galloping in the distance, and you had flown right by the pond. I did my best to follow you in the hope I would eventually catch up to you."

"That explains it." She hadn't thought to ask him that the day before. Another thought occurred to her. "You spoke with my sisters. What did they tell you?"

"Not much," he said. Roman paused for a moment before continuing. "What happened to send you running? They inferred that the ton was not welcoming, and you decided to end your season early."

How much should she tell him? Would it scare him away? She should be honest with him. If they had any chance of having a good relationship, she needed to tell him the entire story. She had almost finished reading her mother's journal. "I need to show you something. Give me a minute." Athena went out to Hades and retrieved the journal from her saddlebag. Fortunately, the rain hadn't ruined it and the leather of the saddlebag had protected it from becoming waterlogged. Athena rushed back in and flipped through it. "Here, read this page."

Today I learned that my family's past will follow me wherever I go. It doesn't matter that there is no truth in the rumors or that my ancestor had been exonerated. The very fact that he had been arrested for witchcraft all those years ago still haunts the Alden family. I am an Alden first, and everyone knows that. My fear is that it will follow my daughters and their daughters. If I could save them from that possibility, I would. Isla is merely two, and soon I'll give birth to twins. There is something I have never told my husband. He would love me regardless, at least I believe he would… Nevertheless, I cannot risk seeing fear in his eyes. It would devastate me. I've seen my own death and when my twins are born, I'll never see them grow. This may be the last passage I write in here. I pray it is not. One day, they will find men to love them. I've seen that too. Fear of the future will delay the first, and temptation will be too much for one twin, and heartbreak will be another's undoing. In the end, if they choose the right path, it will lead to a happy future, and even if our family's supposed magical abilities haunt them, that love will be enough to guide them.

My daughters, if you're reading this, have faith. Believe in love, and beyond all, be true to yourselves. I love you more than anything. I have no regrets. You were my greatest gift and if I could be with you now, I would be.

Sybil, Countess of Harwood.

Roman glanced at her. "You're not a witch."

Athena stared at him. "Of course not, and neither was my mother. Though this suggests she had other special gifts. That might let others believe that she did have some magical capabilities."

"Do you think she actually saw the future?" he asked. "Is this why you ran?"

"No," she said as she shook her head. "I didn't run because of this. I hadn't even read it before I decided to leave. There was an incident in the park and it made me afraid." She tapped the journal lightly. "The first is delayed by fear. That is me. Though I suppose it could be Isla, too. Fear is delaying her from finding happiness, but then again, so is heartbreak." Athena shrugged. "I do know one thing. I will not let anyone scare me into rejecting happiness. I'm going to take my mother's advice and believe in our love and remain true to who I am. I won't apologize to anyone for something that is beyond my control."

"And you shouldn't have to," he agreed. "Let's get you home and then I'll go to London to speak with your father."

"Yes," she said. "It's time."

They went outside. Athena tucked the journal safely into her saddlebag and gracefully mounted her horse. Their night together was at an end, but someday soon she'd be his wife and they would never be separated again.

Roman remained by Athena's side as they made their way back to Harwood Hall. The manor was impressive, though impressive, it was not nearly as grand as Thornridge's vast estate. That was to be expected, he supposed, considering Harwood was an earl and Thornridge was a higher rank. Athena led him to the stables and dismounted from her beast of a horse, then handed the reins over to a stable hand.

"Be careful when you're removing his saddle. He's a little ornerier than usual because he was tied to a post all night. I would brush him, but I'm sore myself."

"He'll be all right, my lady. Hades and I have become friends. You remain his favorite, but he'll tolerate me if you are unavailable."

"Good," Athena said. She petted Hades' mane. "I will come see you later. I promise." She turned toward Roman. He'd dismounted from his own horse and left him with another stable hand.

"I'll see you inside before I leave," he told her.

"That's unnecessary. I know my way home. It isn't even that far from here." She winked at him, and Roman grinned.

"I'll feel better. Humor me."

"In that case," she began. "I would be happy to have you walking with me back to the manor."

She looped her arm with his and they strolled leisurely toward her home. He couldn't wait to make her his wife and have her in his home. They went inside and they both froze in the foyer. Her father was there and neither of them had expected that.

"Thank goodness," the earl said. "I arrived a half hour ago and the butler just informed me you were not here. Where have you been?" Her father glared at Roman. "Why are you together?"

Roman stared at Athena's father, uncertain what to say. Sorry, my lord, I compromised your daughter. That wouldn't go over well. The last thing he wanted to do was offend the man. Especially when he wanted to marry Athena.

"Father," Athena said. "Why are you here? I thought you would stay in London. Maeve is still participating in the season, isn't she?"

The Earl of Harwood glanced at his daughter. "The estate manager needed me here for some business. I'll return in a few days." He narrowed his gaze. "You were riding. Did you go with him without a chaperone?"

"Of course not," she said, then snorted. "We crossed paths. I had a small fall off of Hades and the Earl of Kendal assisted me."

The concern on the Earl of Harwood's face made something inside Roman ache. He clearly adored his daughter. "Are you all right," he asked Athena. "Do you need me to send for a physician?"

"It's nothing," she reassured her father. "It hurt my pride more than anything." She glanced at Roman. "The earl was kind enough to see me home safe."

He should say something now, shouldn't he? This was as good a time as any. "My lord," he started. "If you have a moment, I'd like to speak with you."

"Of course," Harwood said. "Come with me to my study. We can speak there. I can thank you properly for assisting my daughter."

Roman glanced at Athena and smiled. "There's no need for that. I would do anything for her."

He followed the earl to his study. "It's early," Harwood began. "But I still feel like I need a drink. Would you like some brandy?"

"Yes," he answered. He needed it. Roman had never needed it more in his life.

The earl handed Roman a snifter of brandy. "What did you wish to discuss?"

Roman took a drink of the brandy. It burned as it traveled down his throat, but he welcomed it. He swirled the amber liquid in the glass and stared into it as if it held all the answers he needed. He glanced up at Harwood. "I would like to ask you for permission to marry your daughter."

Harwood grinned. "I assume you mean Athena, as I have three daughters."

A lump formed in Roman's throat. "Yes, my lord. I wish to marry Athena."

The silence in the room was deafening. Would he ever give Roman an answer? He held his breath and prayed. He wouldn't say no. Harwood couldn't be that cruel.

Harwood sipped his brandy, then set the glass on his desk. "Why do you want to marry Athena?"

That answer was easy. Roman didn't even have to think about it. "I love her."

"I trust you have heard the rumors about my late wife." Harwood held Roman's gaze. He seemed to say, without speaking a word, that Roman had better give him an answer that wasn't derogatory. The earl need not have worried.

"I don't listen to gossip," he told Harwood. "However, Athena has spoken to me about her mother and what some believe about her family. Even if there is some validity to that speculation, none of it matters to me. Athena's happiness is my only concern, and I hope I'll have the privilege of being a part of her life."

Harwood grinned. "Good answer. Yes. You may marry my daughter." The earl picked up his glass and saluted him with it. "However, it will not be a hasty wedding. The banns will be read, and it will be a proper ceremony. I do not want the ton speculating about anything and that means a special license is out of the question."

"Agreed," Roman answered. As long as she was his wife, in the end he would have agreed to any of the earl's demands.

"Now go tell my daughter she can stop listening at the door," the earl said. "And give her the news she was hoping for."

Roman smiled and did as Harwood suggested. He set his glass of brandy down. It held no interest to him any longer. Then he strode to the door and yanked it open. The earl had been right. Athena was on the other side, pacing in front of the entrance to the study. She glanced up at him and lifted one brow expectantly.

"We're going to get married," he told her. "Start planning the wedding. The banns need to be read, and I'd prefer it to be as soon as possible."

"Not too soon," Harwood yelled from behind them. "No unnecessary rumors need to spread about this union."

Athena grinned. "I think we can plan something acceptable in a couple of months. That gives us time to arrange for the banns and send out invitations."

Roman longed to kiss her, but propriety prevented him from acting on the desire in her father's presence. "Let us walk in the garden," he suggested. "We can further discuss our wedding, and afterward, I shall take my leave to inform my mother. She'll need to be informed of my plans to make you my countess."

She led him to toward the back entrance of the house. Once they were outside, they stopped. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her as he wanted to moments earlier. He pulled back. "I love you," he told her.

"I love you as well. Now kiss me again," she said. "You're leaving soon and I don't know when we will have a chance again."

Roman would not deny her anything. Especially something he desired as well. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers and savored her sweetness. The ton might believe she had charmed him, and perhaps she had, but he knew the truth. There was no other woman for him. They were fated. If that was magic, he would gladly thank whatever being gifted him the love of Athena. He couldn't imagine loving another as much as he adored her.