Chapter 21

Chapter 21

It would have been difficult to leave Lydia before, but now that he knew how she tasted? It was downright impossible. Even putting things back into his trunks to ready himself to leave for even a short time felt excessive. It was as if there was a magnetic force pulling him toward Lydia and he did not even know where she was at the present moment.

Weston did not realize that he was so consumed in his daydream of that office until his shirt fell onto the floor beside the trunk and William burst through the bedroom door.

“Might we delay our trip by a few hours?” William asked with a bright smile.

“What? Why?” Weston was disinclined to agree because he feared that any delay caused by the pair of them would result in him not wishing to leave whatsoever.

“Or, perhaps if the delay is inconvenient, you would be willing to go on ahead without me? I shall catch up with you.” William offered.

That was even more strange. Weston could not remember the last time that William was willingly offering to do anything on his own, let alone travel. Weston’s brow quirked. “What has happened? Why are you keeping secrets?”

William’s face split into a wide grin before he allowed himself to flop backward onto Weston’s bed. He sank into the lush bedding, looking every bit the starfish as he lay there smiling dopily. “I have just had a wonderfully enlightening conversation with Kitty.”

“A first name basis as well?”

“She is a wonderful lady.” William gushed happily. “It has been such a delight in getting to know her better. I think asking me to accompany you on this trip might just be the very best thing that you have ever done.”

Weston snorted. “Well, can I presume that I no longer have to be forced to attend balls with you?”

“Do not be silly, of course you will. However, they will be attended with an entirely different motivation, I think. Who knew that I could be so fortunate?”

Seeing his dearest friend in this way was everything that Weston had ever wanted for him. He knew that William tended to have difficulty connecting with others on anything more than a superficial level. The pair of them had been friends since boyhood, so it was inevitable.

“And of the troubling news that we are going to investigate?” Weston asked carefully, wanting to know if that was a part of their conversation.

William’s expression darkened as he rolled over on the bed so that he could better see Weston. The look on his face was unlike anything that he had seen the man make before.

“Yes, we discussed that as well. Kitty was kind enough to fill me in on the information that Cassian seems to be holding over her head. She was very emotional. I know that she feared that I would take the news poorly but what sort of hypocrite would I be if I held her past against her?”

Weston was glad to hear it. “But she claims that the rumors are valid?”

“I care not for their validity. She does not know what alleged ‘proof’ that Cassian might or might not have against her. It could be something purely fabricated. If that is the case, then our trip to London will serve two purposes as I intend to find everything that I can to discredit him. Then, no matter what he says, it will not matter.” William insists firmly.

It would appear that they were wholly on the same page. Weston never doubted his friend for a moment.

“And if we cannot find said proof? What shall you do now?”

“Well, then I shall swiftly marry her so that she will be above reproach.” William said with a shrug, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. “It is the only thing to do. If the truth ever comes out about her, no one will believe it and it shall not matter. She will be blissfully married to a baronet.”

Weston looked impressed as he retrieved the rest of the belongings that he needed and dropped them gracelessly into the open trunk at the foot of the bed that William lay upon.

“That is why I wish to delay a little while longer… I would like to discuss my plans with her. I would not wish to do something foolish like request an audience with her father if she does not wish me to…”

There it was, the uneasy way that William normally conducted himself.

Weston shook his head and dropped the lid of the trunk closed. “I have watched the pair of you together this whole visit, William. I have never seen you speak with a woman so comfortably. I certainly have not had the pleasure of watching you trail behind any woman like a smitten pup. It is both endearing, and something that I plan to tease you for, for the rest of your life.”

William picked up the nearest pillow and hurled it at Weston with terrible aim. The taller man did not even have to dodge in order to keep from being hit. He merely tracked the motion of the pillow with his eyes, and gave his friend a look as if to say really ?

“Even with your terrible aim, I am very thankful for your company and everything that has happened so far. I think that your love might even defuse the bomb that Cassian is attempting to hold over our heads. But we must not underestimate how slippery of a git that he is. Having alternate options would only benefit us.”

Besides, Weston also needed to request an audience with Lydia’s father for reasons all his own.

“I agree. Now, if you are all ready? I shall see you to the door?”

“No need. I shall venture forth ahead of you and meet you at the inn a few hours down the path? We can set out again together in the morning.” Weston flipped the latch on his trunk closed and clapped William on the shoulder firmly as his friend sat up. “Congratulations, William. Truly.”

With that, he set out for the carriage while the servants finished loading everything up. The very last dredges of his self-control were set on not seeking Lydia out for a lengthy goodbye. He knew that if he did not leave now, that his resolve would waiver and this time he was intent on doing things in the proper order. Well, mostly.

Pulling on his pair of brown leather gloves he stepped up to the carriage and shut the door behind him.

The moment that the carriage pulled into motion, his thoughts drifted right back to Lydia. His hands itched to touch her. He longed for the taste of her on his tongue, to hear the sounds of her pleasure that she had so desperately attempted to muffle.

Everything about her was perfect. She was everything that he could have ever wanted or hoped for in a wife. Headstrong, capable, protective of her family and above all else passionate. The beautiful mystery woman that he had been completely obsessed with from the moment that her lips first touched hers, the only woman he had ever desired in such a way. One way or another, he would have to make her his own.

When he returned from London, and with her father’s blessing, he would propose to her.

The return could not come quickly enough.