Page 84 of In Want of a Wife
And for once, Lily did not care if she caused offense.
“I understand… that is, I have recognized what you shared with me only recently. But not in time to stop his latest scheme.”
“No matter how disastrous, I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was a scheme. He wished to find you a wife in earnest. That was certainly the case when he arrived at Stonehurst and asked to escort me to Cliffstone personally.”
“You are right.”
Lily hated silence and ached to fill it but couldn’t. Or perhaps she was far too tired to care any longer. Rafe had just ruined her and banished her to spinsterhood. And here she was sharing tea with his brother after telling him, in no uncertain terms, what she thought of his brotherly love.
Let him squirm.
“I will stay out of this matter. You are correct that I have interceded far too often with my brother. But I must inform you that he will not be returning until later this evening.”
“I have no further business with your brother, Lord Devlin. Can someone please convey me to the ferry? I will take my leave now that you are no longer in need of a wife. Congratulations, by the way.”
“The ferry will not sail again until tomorrow. Please stay the night. Matilda will see that you are comfortable, and I would be honored if you joined us for dinner.”
Lily hadn’t touched her tea. She doubted she would be interested in dinner.
“I am tired from my journey. Please excuse me, and thank you for being so gracious.”
Lily rose, impatient for some solitude.
“My brother doesn’t recognize that he is in love with you,” he said as she reached for the door.
Lily closed her eyes tight, breathing through the sharp pain radiating throughout her chest. “I agreed to marry you. And as I am no longer needed, it is time for me to take my leave.”
Rafe cut through the wave,pushing his body harder and harder against the tide. He couldn’t look his brother in the face without wanting to throw a punch. Swimming was a sound solution.
Though fisticuffs likely would feel better.
Henry married? He could have told Rafe. If he hadn’t, they likely wouldn’t be in this mess now.
Why hadn’t he told him?
He closed his eyes and sank back down under the water. He knew why. It just wasn’t something he wanted to believe.
Henry didn’t trust Rafe, and after the mess he caused with the marriage advertisement, he understood why.
He jumped against the sandy bottom and pushed up toward the surface, kicking as the current dragged him out from shore. He was counting on it and swam the other way, fighting until he found the center on the beach once more.
How long had he been here?
Hours, certainly. He likely missed dinner. His stomach continued to rumble, letting him know. But he didn’t care to eat. His muscles burned from exhaustion.
The last few days with Lily had been everything, and if nothing else, they showed him what life could be like if he opened his heart toward love instead of living in fear of it.
The carriage had rattled toward Cliffstone this morning, and it seemed as though everything was right in the world, but Rafe hadn’t been able to breathe. He didn’t wish to say goodbye to Lily. He didn’t wish for their time to end. He didn’t think Henry would be a good enough husband.
But it was worse, so much worse.
She hadn’t so much as looked at him when she realized Rafe had never told Henry of his plan. He didn’t blame her, but he wished he wasn’t such a coward. He hadn’t sought her out afterward, either. Instead, he unpacked, read through some correspondence with the land agent, and visited the Chapmans, where Mr. Chapman served him soggy currant cakes.
He had attempted to live his day as if Lily was not in his orbit, butshe was too powerful. Everything revolved around her now, and he had been too slow to realize it.
No, that wasn’t true. He had been too stubborn to believe it.
Rafe swam to shore and dressed, then hiked through the fields as the last of twilight faded into a dark starry night. He raced up the stairs leading up from the fountain, into the reception room, and skidded to a halt as Lily barreled into him.
