Page 51 of Cherish and the Duke
Reggie turned back to her, raking a hand through his hair in order to calm his own turmoil. “Lady Albin came at you because my uncle likes you. He likes you very much. Is it not obvious? In truth, I think he likes you so much it scares him.”
“Reggie,” Gawain said with a growl, having no desire for his feelings to be the subject of discussion.
His nephew ignored him. “You are more of a threat than you realize, Cherish. But will my uncle ever admit it? Will he ever follow his heart? No! He will let you go and pretend you are better off with me because this is what he does best, deny his feelings and lock everyone out. Those stone barricades around his heart are more precious to him than anything or anyone else. Do not fall in love with him, Cherish. He will only crush you.”
He stormed off, and Margaret chased after him.
Gawain was now left alone to face this sweet girl who had done nothing to deserve any of the treatment she was receiving. Not from him. Nor from Katie. Nor from a vindictive uncle who meant to use her as a servant.
The footman returned just then with the glass of sherry he’d ordered.
Blast.How much had the man heard? Not that Gawain cared for himself, but he did not want Cherish tarnished in any way. He hoped Reggie’s words would not be misconstrued to imply he and Cherish had done… No, they had to know she was respectable.
Her eyes began to water. “Cherish, here. Drink this.” He meant to hold the glass to her lips, but she took it from his hand and took a sip on her own.
“I’ll be all right,” she said, trying to make light of her struggles. “You can leave me now.”
“How can I leave you? Your hands are still shaking.” He reached out to caress her cheek, but she turned her head away.
“I already knew this about you,” she said, her throat so constricted, she could hardly get the words out. “For a moment, I thought perhaps you might open your heart to me…but no. It is as your nephew warned. You will never change.”
Great, now she believed Reggie. Well, with good reason, he supposed.
“I wish my heart understood this about you,” she continued in a voice so fragile, it sounded like delicate glass about to shatter.
He felt pain tear through him. The last thing he’d ever wanted to do was hurt her. “Cherish…”
“It is an awful situation, isn’t it? I tried so hard not to let you in. But hearts are quite difficult to control, are they not? They set their own determined path and barrel straight on. It does not matter how hard we try to hold them back or try to guide them elsewhere. They will not be budged once they have set their course. Do not worry, I will force myself to forget you in time. In fact, I will start right now.”
“Cherish, you are hurting and upset.”
She took another sip of her sherry, grimacing as it slid down her throat. “Indeed, I am. But I will tell you this—if Lord Fellstone will have me, I will leap at his offer of marriage.”
Her words were a solid punch to his heart. “Even if you do not love him?”
“Aren’t you the very one who told me to start thinking of myself?” Tears formed in her eyes. “Well, this is me being mercenary…trying to be mercenary. Is this not what you want?”
“No, I did not mean—”
“Oh? Then what did you mean? Were you not encouraging me to turn greedy and grasping? Was I not directed to set my cap for Reggie? And failing that, find some other dupe like Lord Fellstone who might succumb to my captivating smiles and innocent blushes? Are you suggesting that now I should not grab what I can?”
He groaned. “I would not fault you for doing whatever you need to protect yourself. But the problem is, you are not at all hardhearted. You cannot fake your feelings, as you’ve just made clear.”
“And now you know my feelings and do not care to reciprocate them. And why should you, when I have an uncle who is likely cheating me out of my inheritance and I cannot even ride a horse? Yes, you ought to distance yourself from me as soon as possible. In fact, I shall make it easy for you. Go away and do not speak to me again, for I do not wish to speak to you. Truly, I am so sorry I ever met you.”
“Cherish, please—”
“No!” She drank the last of her sherry and obviously had no taste for it, if her expression was any indication. “Ugh, that is vile. I’ll have another.”
He sighed and set the glass aside. “I think you’ve had enough.”
“Do I embarrass you because I am drunk before breakfast? I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. I am merely in pain, not yet drunk.”
“I’ll have Fiona’s housekeeper fetch some bandages.”
She shook her head. “A bandage won’t fix my heart. There is only one thing that can fix what you have caused, and it is not something you will ever give me. So, here I sit, aching for the hope of love you brought to me…your love. Not Reggie’s nor Fellstone’s. I am so desperately sorry for ever letting my guard down around you. I should have been better prepared for thepain you were bound to cause. It was inevitable. This pain in my heart, I mean. These physical bruises,” she said, glancing at her wrist and hip, “are nothing and will heal quickly.”
“Speaking of those,” he said with concern as blood began to seep through her sleeve, revealing yet another injury, “Cherish, your elbow is bleeding. Let me—”
