Page 14 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
He paused. “I am fond of you and I would like you to be my wife. I think we can learn to care for each other and perhaps one day you will be happy.”
Perhaps one day we could care for each other, but will I ever be able to love you? Could you ever learn to love me?
Lord Thornton’s solemn expression appeared sincere. It would not matter if he was not sincere, for she felt she had no choice. This was all her fault. She could not blame anyone else. She behaved recklessly, one too many times, and now it was time to accept the consequences.
Barlow’s gaze was unflinching. “Lord Thornton’s offer is a generous one under the circumstances, Lizzy. Once you are wed, I will speak with Papa, afterward, Lord Thornton will meet with him. We will come to an agreement; I am sure of it. I will send Papa a letter tomorrow so that he will not be alarmed any further. He must await my return to receive a full explanation. He will not be thrilled his plans regarding the duke were thwarted, but this is where we are.”
Elizabeth gazed at Lord Thornton. She tried to hide her inner misery from his probing stare “I accept your offer, Lord Thornton. I will be your wife.”
She was surprised that Lord Thornton appeared relieved. He acted as though he had a vested interest in marrying her. She dismissed the idea for she must be mistaken.
“Now that we are in agreement, I suggest we retire for the evening. We have a few days to travel ahead before we arrive in Gretna Green. Once we return to Thornton Manor, I will obtain a special license. We will remain in the adjoining room for the evening,” Lord Thornton said authoritatively.
He stoodup to depart but then he paused and spun around, “Although it is quite unconventional it may be best for you to continue in your disguise until we arrive. We shall exercise discretion.”
Her throat tight, she said, “As you wish, my lord.”
Robert stood to leave. “Get some rest, Lizzy.”
They departed and closed the door behind them. It was only then that Elizabeth allowed the tears to flow in a torrent down her cheeks. She felt a sense of dread for she was setting out to do exactly what she promised to avoid. She would marry a man she did not love, a man she had not chosen. She was not afraid to admit that she was terrified at the prospect.
She should never have run off with the viscount. She understood now. Rather, she should have insisted to her parents that she would not wed the duke. It was running off that got her into this unholy mess, and she was naive to think it would be without a cost. Elizabeth was gripped with melancholy as the deep pain in her chest threatened to overcome her.
She closed her eyes tightly and wished that when she opened them the entire sorry affair had never transpired. Alas, her eyes opened and it was not so. Thoughts of the viscount flashed across her mind and she wished them away. She thought they would have a future together, but it had all turned to dust, right in front of her very eyes. It could have all been so different if he had fought for her, even at the end. The viscount was gone, and he was never coming back. She formed the thought for what seemed like the hundredth time. Such betrayal.
How could it all have gone so terribly wrong? She had no answer, only tears. Elizabeth rose from the armchair but her weight did not support her, she stumbled. She used a hand to steady herself before she slowly moved to the bed and collapsed onto it. Her tears were no longer silent for they became wracking sobs. She buried her face in the pillow and cried, for how long, she did not know but it was certainly hours, not minutes. She was feeling sorry for herself, pathetic even for her. What was to become of her? Elizabeth wondered if she would make a horrific mistake by marrying Lord Thornton. She wept until there were no tears left and she fell into an exhausted slumber.
CHAPTER7
The following morning, they continued their journey to Gretna Green. Elizabeth was pleased she did not have to ride a horse today because her body was sore from the vigorous ride the previous day. Lord Thornton had hired a carriage that was pulled by a team of powerful horses. They sat in the comfortable equipage and gazed at each other. Elizabeth could not help but notice how exquisitely dressed he was this morning.
“You are staring,” he said with a small smile.
Her cheeks flushed, and she murmured, “Do you blame me, my lord? Our situation is very unusual. I declare I am still shocked.”
“Since we are to wed, we can dispense with the formalities, Elizabeth.”
The way that he spoke her name, it was as though his fingers caressed her cheek, leaving heat in their wake. Elizabeth’s gaze swept his face and the carriage fell away. It was only her and Alexander in their small world. It felt peculiar that she was so aware of him, especially as this awareness felt too heightened and strange. “As you wish, my … Alexander,” she replied, her voice hushed, the sound barely there.
She had a request for Alexander, and this seemed like an appropriate time to ask. Elizabeth took a steady breath. A mask of reserve came over her face. “There is only one thing that I ask, Alexander.”
“The answer is yes,” Alexander said.
Elizabeth jolted. “Yet, you do not know what it is that I want.”
“If it is within my gift, you shall have it. Ask.”
“If we try at this marriage, and we do not succeed, I do not want to live in acrimony and endure bitterness. I would like you to agree that you will allow me to live at another one of your estates if I am not happy,” Elizabeth replied solemnly.
She could see that she had rendered Alexander speechless. Of all the things Elizabeth could have asked, she had chosen this, but it was very important to her. She believed that there was a possibility that they could fail. She needed to ensure that she was prepared for this eventuality.
“You have my word,” Alexander said.
“Do you not find it odd that we are about to marry?”
They were silent for a moment before he spoke again. “The last time I saw you at Brampton Manor there was little hint of your youth.”
Elizabeth lifted a brow. “You did not expect me to change from a child to a woman?”
