Married By Midnight (13 page)

But why not? she asked herself. Wouldn’t it be a dream come true to have him as a husband who would genuinely love her, pleasure her, share a bed with her, be devoted to her?

Of course it would be, but that was nothing but a pipe dream, an existence he did not want, and she certainly didn’t come here to put herself in the painful position of getting her heart broken again. She had resolved to be independent and not rely on any man, for she had suffered at the hands of every man she had ever trusted.

She’d already made things more difficult for herself by kissing Garrett and dreaming about him romantically, but she could not rely on him to rescue her.

An uncomfortable silence ensued while the coach wheels sliced through the soft, melting snow.

“
But you both seem so well-suited to each other,” Charlotte said with disappointment. “I thought perhaps there was a chance you might fall in love, and that he might choose to stay as well.”

Anne regarded Charlotte with understanding. “It is clear you love your brother very much,” she said. “I cannot blame you. He is a wonderful man, but the truth is...I cannot pin my hopes on him. He has made it clear to me that he is not seeking a life of matrimony in the conventional sense. Please understand that I must protect myself.”

Eventually, the duchess patted her hand. “We understand,” she reluctantly said. “But this offer will remain in effect. Once you marry my son, you will always be welcome here, Anne. If you ever want for anything, anything at all, you need only ask.”

Anne thanked her and gazed out the window. It was important that she try and forget about their proposition, for it would not be wise to dream about a life—and a love—that was beyond her grasp. Garrett did not want a true marriage and she must honor that.

She felt Charlotte’s eyes on her suddenly and pasted on a smile in an effort to appear comfortable with her decision.

Charlotte smiled at her in return, but the rest of the coach ride was filled with light conversations about the weather, while Anne felt completely and utterly exposed.

Chapter Nine

As she dressed for dinner that night, Anne hoped she could remain aloof and sensible about Garrett, but even before she walked into the drawing room for drinks, her pulse leapt with excitement at the mere notion that she would see him again.

She began to wonder how much longer she could behave virtuously. This powerful sexual pull was growing stronger each day. Was it even worth the fight? They would be married in a week regardless and would consummate the marriage at that time. What difference would a few days make if they chose to consummate it earlier? Why not steal some pleasure for herself until he left? Lord knows she had gone long enough without. But could she manage it? How would she survive if she fell more deeply in love with him and then he deserted her afterward without a care? As the contract said he would.

When at last he entered the drawing room, her body responded with an explosive round of desire, and she was forced to accept that all her lofty goals to remain aloof had been defeated. She was in love with Garrett. There would be no escaping it.

Tonight he wore formal black dinner attire with a white waistcoat and tie. His golden hair was damp at the ends, as if he had just stepped out of the bath, and that image of him stepping out...well that alone was enough to upset her whole cart of sensible intentions.

She turned to face the other direction, so that she couldn’t stare at him like a love-struck fool.

A moment later, she felt a hand on her arm and knew it was him even before she turned around.

“
Good evening,” he said.

Just the sound of his voice sent her reeling into a place where the future seemed far less important than the sizzling thrill of the present moment.

Heaven help her, for she knew she would soon be done for...if given the opportunity.

* * *

After a day spent sleeping late and playing billiards with his brothers—and sipping far too much cognac—Garrett assumed dinner would be a stodgy affair and he would be too drunk to respond to Anne’s singular, sensual beauty.

He was proven wrong, however, when he walked into the drawing room and saw her in that form-fitting blue gown, which took on an ethereal glow in the evening light. He got a whiff of lilac perfume as he approached, and had to work hard to remind himself theirs was not a love affair. Not an affair of the heart. There was a binding contract between them. Tonight was a performance for his father’s benefit, nothing more.

“
Good evening.” Her smile was luminous. “I heard you were engaged in a billiards game today, and that it lasted many hours.”

“
That’s right,” he replied. “And I heard you attended a children’s concert in the village that melted everyone’s hearts.”

Her full lips curled into a mischievous grin and her eyes twinkled. “The children were quite adorable.”

She
was adorable. Impossibly beautiful. Utterly irresistible.
And no child
.

A footman came by with two crystal glasses of sherry on a silver tray. Garrett picked them up and handed Anne one.

“
I wasn’t sure if you would be angry with me today,” he softly said, glancing over his shoulder to ensure no one was listening.

“
Why would I be angry?” she asked.

He paused. “Sometimes a woman is displeased when a gentleman leaves her bed in the night without saying good-bye.”

Anne slowly sipped on her drink. “A woman would only be displeased if the gentleman had taken improper liberties with her, but you were a perfect gentleman last night, Garrett. So no, I am not angry. But I am curious. How long did you stay?”

He glanced over his shoulder again. “Most of the night. I left just before dawn.”

“
Did you sleep at all?”

“
Very well, in fact.”

“
No unpleasant dreams?”

“
Not a single one. I should thank you for that.”

His shoulders relaxed, but the agitation did not leave him, for he still wanted to bed her in the worst, most ungentlemanly way.

“
If you like, you could come again tonight,” she quietly suggested, running the tip of her finger around the rim of her glass.

Was it possible her resolve was weakening? Garrett wondered as he tried to decipher her motives and her intent.

“
Are you sure that would be wise?” he asked.

“
Why wouldn’t it be?”

He glanced around. “What would the others say if they knew?”

Her eyes glimmered like gemstones, and the ring on her finger flashed brilliantly in the firelight. “I don’t think that is your chief concern,” she said.

“No?” he asked.

One dark, arched eyebrow rose a fraction. “No. I think you are terrified you might fall in love with me, Garrett, then all your ambitious plans for a life of loneliness and despair would be undone. That would be terribly disappointing, would it not?”

The butler entered just then to announce that dinner was served.

Surprised and more than a little disconcerted by Anne’s daring inference, he offered his arm and escorted her into the dining room.

Later, when dessert was served, he leaned close to her ear and told her in no uncertain terms that he was afraid of nothing.

Then he told her exactly what time he would arrive at her bedchamber door that evening, and suggested she be ready for him.

* * *

With a mischievous note of challenge, Anne rolled to face Garrett on the bed and propped her cheek on a hand. “I suppose you’ve been with a lot of women?”

“
A few,” he casually replied, sweeping her hair away from her face so he would not lose sight of her bewitching beauty. “Is there something you wish to know?”

She began to run her fingers lightly over his chest—a rather flirtatious manoeuvre which again surprised him. He let his eyes fall closed and settled in to enjoy the heavenly splendor of her touch.

“
I am curious about something, actually,” she said.

“
What is it?”

She continued to tease him with light, featherlike strokes. “Is there someone else waiting for you? Someone you could not marry for some reason? Is that why you wanted a binding contract to ensure your freedom? So that you could leave here immediately after the wedding?”

He found himself wondering how much it mattered to her. If he said yes, would she stop running her fingers across his chest and freeze over with jealousy? Or would she tell him it did not matter, for this was merely a business arrangement?

He opened his eyes and watched her expression carefully. “There is no one else.”

“
But there must have been...
once
.”

He hesitated to speak of it, or even think about it, but did not wish to keep anything from her, for she had been very open with him thus far.

“
Yes, there was someone.”

Her expression remained unchanged. “I see.”

Clearly, she was working hard to keep her feelings hidden from him.

And what were her feelings, exactly? Was she dreaming of something more between them? Was this a sign of her growing affection? Or was it possessiveness?

Jealousy and emotional turmoil were not things he’d wanted from this charade, for he had been trapped once before.

But no...not Anne...
please
. He did not want her to have such a plan in her mind.

“
You wish to know more,” he cautiously said. “You want to know why I left it to my brothers to find me a bride.”

Strangely, despite everything, he wanted to tell her.

“
I admit I am curious.”

He wrapped an arm about her shoulders and pulled her close, wondering if it would be a mistake to continue this conversation. Surely it was too intimate. It would reveal too much.

At the same time it seemed rather selfish of him to tell her the truth, as if it would somehow ease his guilt, release his shame into the world and lighten his own heart—when he, and he alone, deserved to live with it for the rest of his days.

“
Remember when I told you I lost my boat?” he said, because it was too late to turn back now. “I lied when I said I was alone. There were others with me. A woman I intended to marry and her nephew—the son of her brother and his wife, who were also on board.”

Anne sat up. “You were engaged?”

He nodded.

“
What happened to her? Was she lost with the boat?”

He nodded again, and she stared back at him in shock.

“
Good heavens.” Anne stared at him speechless, as if she had no notion what to say. “What caused the boat to sink?” she asked. “You never really told me about it.”

He exhaled heavily. “A sudden squall came out of nowhere and turned the boat over. I tried to save everyone, but somehow, for some reason I will never understand, I was the only survivor.”

“
Oh, Garrett,” she replied. “I had no idea. You haven’t told anyone in your family?”

“
No.”

All at once, he wanted to rise from the bed and walk out. Leave the house and go straight back to Greece to be alone, where no one asked any questions, but he forced himself to remain beside her.

“
When did this happen?”

“
In the spring.”

Anne cleared her throat. “Why did you only come home now, and why do you want the money? Do you wish to buy a new boat?”

“
No. I mean to give the money to Georgina’s parents. They lost a great deal that day.”

Anne sat in silence, digesting all of this, then turned her face away. “I cannot believe you were engaged, and that she died. I’m so sorry.”