Page 10 of A Whisper of Desire
“Doing what, exactly?”
Maitland’s eyebrow rose and she gasped, her eyes filling with tears. This time it was Maitland who cursed as he pulled her to him. At her distress he whispered, “The man is not worthy of your tears. He’s a liar and a cad. No man should profess love when he does not mean it.”
He lay holding her as she cried in his arms, impotent to do anything to ease her hurt. After a while he felt her shudder and her tears dried.
“I brought it upon myself. I was vain enough to tell everyone I wanted a love match. He told me what I wanted to hear, and I didn’t look too closely at the behavior behind his words.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. He lied and deceived. How could you know?”
She sniffed and sat up. “It’s all moot now, anyway. I wouldn’t marry him if he were the last man on earth.”
“Good.” But her words changed his world, and not for the better.
He lay on his side, looking at her as she struggled to compose herself. Even with eyes red from crying, hair like a bird’s nest, and a tatty quilt wrapped around her, she was the most beautiful woman he could remember sharing a bed with.
He ran his finger down her bare shoulder. “You’ll marry me instead, and I promise you now, I will never lie to you.”
Just then the door opened and Sebastian had returned with Beatrice, who was carrying clothes for Marisa.
Beatrice helped Marisa stand, and with quilt in place made to escort her from the room to dress in private. Marisa halted at the door. “Thank you, Maitland.” He loved his name on her lips.
“What for, little one?”
“For being my friend.” And she swept through the door as if she were already his duchess.
As soon as the door closed, Sebastian threw clothes at him. He sensed his friend was unhappy with the situation. “I understand this is not what you would have wanted for Marisa.”
“It’s not what I want that is important, it was what Marisa wanted. I want her to be happy and I don’t think you can make her happy.”
Maitland halted while pulling on his shirt. “I respect your honesty, but may I ask why you have formed this opinion?”
He watched Sebastian struggle with his words. “I admire and respect you, and love you like a brother, and once I may have thought you a perfect husband for Marisa. However, since I met Beatrice I know you are not what she needs. I want her to find what I have, a love that completes her. She deserves a man who would lay down his life, pride, and honor for her. A man who would bare his heart for her.”
“I see. I wonder if you know me at all. I’d do all of those things, except—”
“Love. You’ve told me many times you don’t believe in love, and that is why you are not the man for her.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s face it, emotions of any kind make you uncomfortable. Christ, they call you the Cold Duke.”
If only his friend knew why he kept his emotions under control. He wondered why Sebastian had never guessed. Sebastian knew what his father had been like. “But you’d let her marry Rutherford?” he declared angrily, shoving his hands through his sleeves so hard the thin linen almost ripped.
“Rutherford will become a marquess on his father’s death. He and Marisa are very similar in personalities and age. They both love life and he’s totally in love with her. I’ve never seen a man so besotted.”
Maitland turned and held out his cravat. Sebastian stepped close to help him tie it. The men were eye-to-eye in height, but Maitland didn’t have Sebastian’s dark good looks. Sebastian had always had women at his beck and call—widows, wives, and courtesans. Yet Sebastian didn’t turn into a slave to his desires like Maitland knew he would.
Maitland suddenly understood. Sebastian saw himself in Rutherford. The only difference is that Sebastian was also honorable, whereas Rutherford was a cad.
“You profess to care for your sister, yet you are cavalierly trusting in a young man of twenty-two.”
Sebastian pulled the knot tight. “I’ve learned that where love is concerned, many things are not important: background, age, looks—”
“Truth. What about truth?”
“Of course. I know you are a man of honor and the rumors of you and Marisa will hurt your reputation, but if Rutherford could be convinced of the situation, and that nothing occurred, if he stands by Marisa, will you let her have her happiness?”
“If he doesn’t, will you support this marriage?”
Sebastian stepped away and began to pace the room. “I won’t force Marisa to marry you. I will protect her from scandal and I’ll do anything to see her happy.”
Maitland’s anger, anger he usually could control, was building along with the hurt. His best friend had just insulted him and didn’t even realize it. “You are straining the bonds of our friendship. You’d rather see her disgraced than married to me, is that it?” He turned from Sebastian, unable to look at him without wanting to punch him, but a part of him knew she would be better off without him.
