Page 42 of The Lady and the Footballer
Colin stood up as tall as he could, his shoulders twice as broad as the man before him.
“I’d think about what exactly you are about to say,” he said, “and turn the other way. Leave this young woman alone.”
“She is my betrothed.”
“I most certainly am not!” Lily exclaimed from behind Colin, and when he took a moment to glance behind him, he saw the color had risen in her cheeks, her fists were at her side, her jaw clenched. “My father denied you, Lord Nathaniel, and now I am as well. I will not marry you. Not now. Not ever. I ask you to leave me alone and not bring this subject up again.”
The look he gave her made Colin’s skin crawl, but with one more glance at Colin, he finally shrugged his shoulders and walked away, though not without a look back, as though telling them that they were both going to regret this conversation.
But it was worth it – even if the man was a member of the nobility – if it meant keeping Lily safe.
Once Lord Nathaniel was finally out of sight, Colin turned around to see Lily standing there, her shoulders drooped, the fight in her dissipated.
“Are you all right?” he asked softly, touching her elbow.
“I am now,” she said with a small, grateful yet wry smile. “Could we sit somewhere – alone?”
He nodded, looking around, trying to determine where they should go. She took his hand in hers, and he jumped at the spark of their bare skin upon one another.
“There are private rooms this way. I accidentally opened the door to one earlier,” she said, leading him through a door at the end of the corridor.
The room was dark and cold without a fire in the grate but was, blessedly, empty.
Once they walked into the room and he closed the door behind them, she leaned against the wall, her shoulders slumping.
“Thank you,” she said, closing her eyes. “I know he wouldn’t have done anything, not in a public place, but it was still rather disconcerting.”
“I can imagine,” Colin said slowly.
“I am worried,” she admitted, “for what if he traps me alone somewhere much more private?”
“You have to be careful,” he said, wanting to beg her not to go anywhere alone but knowing it wasn’t his place to do so. “Why did he think that you were to be married?”
“His father is Lord Montgomery. He owns the Montgomery Mill and sponsors the Manchester Athletics. His father approached mine with an offer for our families to merge our fortunes through marriage, but, fortunately, my father declined him. He is aware of Lord Nathaniel’s… proclivities, and while I do not see much of my father, at least he cares enough not to allow me into such a marriage.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Colin muttered, wanting to say more but uncertain how much he should.
“Of course, my mother wouldn’t care at all and continues to suggest that I reconsider the match since she and his mother are such good friends. She seems to think Lord Nathaniel is now beyond whatever sins he committed in his youth.”
She rolled her eyes as though it was a slight inconvenience, but it was apparent how much her mother’s disregard upset her.
Colin stood before Lily, wanting to lean over her and show her that he cared, that he would do what he could to ease her concerns, but he also didn’t want to remind her of how Lord Nathaniel had trapped her.
Instead, he reached out his hands, his palms upturned, and she slipped her hands on top of his.
“You are right not to give in to what feels wrong to you,” he said. “Do not allow anyone to take away your smile. That’s yours to keep, not to give away.”
“But to share, perhaps?” she asked, tilting her head as she gazed up at him.
“To share, yes,” he said, his breath catching. “With those who deserve it.”
“Do you have any suggestions?” she asked, her voice so low that it was near a whisper.
Oh, he had suggestions all right, but none of them were any that he should be voicing aloud. Even to admit them to himself felt wrong.
“I only want you to be happy,” he said, drawing closer to her despite his better judgment. “You deserve all that you ever wanted and more. I hate seeing a man like that cause you any distress.”
“Do you know something?” she asked, her blue eyes glinting. “When I saw you through the glass panel, I knew I would be safe. That you would look out for me. You bring me… comfort.You make me feel that everything will be right with the world, no matter what else is happening.”
