Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

E lwood had some things to do before he could offer himself to Meliah without any restraint. He was grateful that some of the attention regarding his notorious status as Rake of the Month had dimmed, so that he could leave the sanctuary of his townhouse without getting bombarded by half of society's irate females.

He spoke with his solicitor and once the arrangements had been made, he headed for Mayfair. He didn't know the name of Meliah's parents' shop, but he knew an orange seller who did.

He did a bit of asking around, but it didn't take him long to find someone named Samantha, who soon confirmed she was Meliah's friend. She was a plain girl with brown hair, and as he approached her, her welcoming expression hardened.

"Good day, madam. My name is?—"

"I know who you are, Lord Belmont," she returned stiffly. "If you are here about Meliah, I'm afraid I can't help you."

He frowned. "Please, I must know where to find her."

She glanced around to make sure they weren't being overheard, and then she hissed, "You would do well to leave her alone. She has a chance to get over you and move on. She is to be married and?—"

He instantly held up a hand. "Wait. What did you say?"

Her brown eyes narrowed with a wary glint. "Meliah is betrothed. Matthew is a kind man and will treat her well, unlike you, who only wants?—"

"You misunderstand," he snapped. " We want the same thing—Meliah's happiness. I think I can give that to her." He stopped himself. "I know I can give her that. But not if I don't have a chance to plead my case."

The girl crossed her arms. "Why should I help you when it has taken you this long to figure out if you care for her or not?"

He shoved a hand through his hair. "Suffice it to say I've never been in this position before. Neither do I intend to confess my life to you in the middle of the street where anyone might hear, but I will do it if that is what it takes."

For an instant, she continued to glare at him, but she eventually softened. "Brick Lane. Number 17?—"

She hadn't finished speaking before Elwood was rushing off. He climbed into his phaeton which was waiting a short distance away, grabbed the reins and headed for Spitalfields.

He found his way to Brick Lane and inspected each of the faded signs before he spied Number 17. He didn't waste time making his way to the front of the establishment and pushing his way inside.

When he stepped over the threshold, the first thing he heard was the unmistakable, clanking sound of a loom. There was also the scent of various dyes permeating in the air. Having never been into a weaver's shop, it took him a moment to recall why he was there.

Meliah .

There was a pause in the rhythmic motion of the loom as a small, statuesque woman came into view. She wore a simple cap over her hair and a welcoming smile, but it was the green eyes that captured his attention. They were exactly like her daughter's.

"Mrs. Newton?"

She looked surprised. "Yes, sir?"

He removed his hat and set it to his side. "I was hoping to speak with Miss Newton. Is she here?"

Rather than reply, she looked behind her, where a man of average height and build appeared. He had faded brown hair and a direct gaze. Again, Elwood was reminded of Meliah, most notably the first time they'd spoken—when she'd accosted him in his bedchamber. "Might I ask your business with my daughter?" he asked.

Something told Elwood that Meliah hadn't said anything to her parents about him. "I was wanting to speak with her about a prospective… position."

Mr. Newton nodded his head, although his expression wasn't entirely confident that he believed his claim. Elwood didn't care, so long as he found Meliah. "I'm sure she would be interested, but she has just become recently engaged. She may not have time for what you have in mind."

Elwood could feel panic starting to set in. "I should still like to speak with her if you will but tell me where she is."

Her father glanced at his wife and then seemed to make a decision. "They went for a walk, but should be back momentarily."

Elwood inclined his head and then returned his hat to his head. "Thank you, Mr. Newton."

With that, he turned on his heel and went outside to wait.

Meliah had a slight smile on her face as she conversed with her betrothed. It was so strange to think of the solemn man beside her as her future husband. Of course, the more time she spent with Matthew, the more she was able to convince herself that he would be a good man to spend the rest of her days with.

He wasn't devastatingly handsome like Lord Belmont, but neither did he seem to be the type to stray when the years passed and they grew weary with one another. He was considerate, offering his arm to her as they walked, but after he asked permission to do so. She had no doubt that he would be a caring lover as well, regardless if the idea of laying with anyone other than Elwood made her sick to her stomach.

However, for her family, she was determined to go through with this union and make the best of it. She could certainly do much worse.

Matthew continued to speak about their future together and how he planned to take over his father's shop someday, and how they would have to live above the bakery. "Father promised me that we could have the bed and he would sleep elsewhere?—"

She winced at the idea of her father-in-law listening to them consummate their marriage night after night, but she smiled and nodded, as if she agreed to everything he promised and was glad to do so.

"I daresay your parents must be doing well for themselves if they have the gentry knocking at their door."

At the change in topic, Meliah glanced at him. "Pardon?"

He nodded in front of them. "Do you know him? He appears to be walking this way."

Meliah turned her head, and suddenly, everything around her faltered. Her steps came to an abrupt halt, as did the air in her lungs.

"Meliah?"

She heard Matthew calling her name, but she couldn't seem to focus on anything but Lord Belmont as he strode purposefully toward her. Her hand covered her pounding heart as he stopped before them.

"I need to speak with you." He barely spared a glance for Matthew and that didn't settle well with her.

Coming to her senses, she motioned to her fiancée. "This is Matthew Wilde. My betrothed."

She thought she heard the earl mutter, "Not if I have anything to say about it," before he grasped her elbow and steered her in the direction they had just come from.

"Sir, I must protest?—!"

The earl turned back to him and said, "No, you won't. You shall allow us to speak in private because I asked nicely. If you do that, I will make sure to offer a sizeable donation to your father's bakery."

Matthew's eyes widened, and he practically backed down the street with a bow. "Of course, sir! Thank you very much!"

As Lord Belmont continued to steer her in the opposite direction, she found her anger outweighing her delight upon seeing him. "That was completely uncalled for! How dare you browbeat him into doing what you want? I had hoped that you had changed?—"

"I have," he snipped. He glanced about and then steered her down an alley between two other shops. Pinning her against the brick wall with his body, he said, "I can't abide the thought of you giving yourself to someone like that… boy ."

She gasped in outrage, but her breathing had begun to deepen. "Matthew is two and twenty, a year older than me, but with infinitely more manners than you! I cannot believe that you are considered a gentleman. He ?—"

His mouth covered hers, and any further discussion was dismissed by the hot invasion of his kiss.

She was starting to fall down that dreaded abyss of carnal desire, but she forced herself to stop this madness. Putting her hands on his chest, she tried to push him away. She couldn't make him budge at all, but at least he ceased his exploits.

"Do you still want to talk about him—or us?"

She narrowed her eyes. "There is no us. You wanted me to be your mistress and I cannot disrespect my parents like that. I refuse to do it."

"I'm not here to ask you to consider that proposal any longer. I am here because I want you to accept another."

Her eyes widened, and Elwood could tell she was confused. He reached out and traced a gentle line along her smooth jaw and then traced her full lower lip with his thumb.

"What are you saying?" she whispered.

He grinned, knowing that she would be thrilled. "I want you to marry me."

Again, there was that astonished hesitation, but when he expected her to throw her arms around him with enthusiasm, she shoved out of his embrace and turned on him with emerald fury shining out of her gaze. "You're too late, Lord Belmont. I've already given my word to marry Matthew."

This time, he was the one who was taken aback—until he realized that she was serious. "Meliah, you're not thinking sensibly—" He reached for her, but she slid just out of reach.

"I most certainly am. My time with you was a whirlwind, a passion filled frenzy that would have never lasted. You told me yourself that you can't abide affection, that sex is the only thing that matters to you?—"

"That was before I met you ." Elwood was starting to get desperate. All the wonderful things he'd imagined might happen were starting to fade into oblivion. He gave a heavy exhale. "How can I prove to you that my adoration is genuine?"

She said nothing.

He thought of what he'd done earlier that day and while he had wanted it to be a surprise after their wedding day, he decided that he needed to reveal his trump card now. "What if I told you that I'm keeping Belmont Hall?"

He was glad to see interest spark in her eyes. "I thought your father wanted to sell it?"

"He did, but there were too many memories there for me to ignore. From the days of my childhood, the vineyard—" He slowly moved closer to her. "—and recently when you were there, I realized that I couldn't part with it. I intend to fill the nursery and do what my parents always wanted me to do—marry and start a family."

Elwood waited patiently for her to understand the ramifications of his actions. He prayed that she would see how much she meant to him now.

"I think it's wonderful what you are doing," she began, her voice trembling as she spoke. "But what happens when the honeymoon has reached its conclusion? I don't want to be another conquest, Lord Belmont. I want to be with someone who will love me and cherish me the way I deserve."

His mouth twisted. "And you believe Matthew is the one who can accomplish that?" He reached out and grasped her arms. "I felt the way you responded to my touch. You are the one who is facing an unsatisfying future with a man who is entirely wrong for you. We belong together, Meliah."

Her throat worked as she swallowed. "I'm sorry," she whispered harshly. "But like writing, it is just another impossible dream. I have made my decision. What happened at that hunting box was a mistake. We were a mistake. You have to let me go and move on as I have done. Goodbye, my lord."

Elwood wanted to stop her, but when she pulled away from him, he did as she asked and let her go. However, what she didn't know was that he was determined, and he wasn't going to lose this fight so easily.

He might had lost this battle, but he would win the war, and he knew what to do to ensure victory.