Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

She’d left him. Fled Surrey in her wedding dress and in Stephen’s car. She’d left the car at the train station, taken her bag and changed into regular clothes before hopping on the train for London. She had never done anything this impulsive in her life—and that included agreeing to marry Stephen in the first place.

Her couture dress was stuffed into a garment bag and was hanging in the closet where she couldn’t see it. So far the only thing she’d been capable of was getting to the room and ordering coffee. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking and her stomach quaked as she thought about what she’d done and the consequences.

What would happen to Baresi Textiles? Her parents? Her baby sister, whom she’d left behind at the estate? Though at least Giulia had Marco. She wasn’t alone.

Gabi put the small cup down on the table and rested her forehead on her hands. She’d ruined everything. But how could she have gone through with it? Marriage to a man she didn’t love? An agreement to bear a child...to divorce...all for financial gain?

It had been a dumb idea. She should have had the courage to say no from the beginning. She’d been so very worried about her father and hiding her own broken heart, but that was no excuse for making stupid decisions. At least she could try to make things right now.

When she thought of Stephen, her gut twisted again. He wasn’t a bad man. He was nice, and incredibly handsome, and he’d always treated her with respect and kindness. He’d been easy to like. But not love. The chemistry wasn’t there. And maybe that had been the clincher. He had been very open about wanting a child to inherit the title that he’d inherited himself only a year ago. In the end, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to sleep with someone she didn’t at least desire.

Was it selfish? Maybe. It didn’t really matter now. It was done. She’d ruined the wedding and Stephen’s plan and his guarantees for her family’s business.

And worst of all, she really didn’t like herself at this moment. It had been a coward’s move, and a panicked one. For a woman who considered herself strong and reasonable, jilting a groom at the altar was incredibly out of character.

Maybe, just maybe, that was indicative of her level of desperation, and not a horrible character flaw?

She’d just lifted the cup to her lips again when there was a knock at the door. Gabi frowned; she hadn’t ordered anything else from room service and she hadn’t told anyone where she was going. Not even Giulia.

A peek through the peephole showed William Pemberton, and her stomach turned to ice.

“Gabriella, I know you’re inside. Open the door.”

She swallowed against the lump in her throat.

“This is a hell of a mess you made. I’m here to help you.”

“I doubt that.” She finally opened her mouth and the words came out stronger than she’d anticipated. Good.

“Minimizing the damage from this helps you and Stephen. Now let me in.”

“Is he with you?”

“No. Now open the door.”

She did, because the last thing they needed was to be having a conversation with a door between them, where anyone passing in the hallway could hear.

He stepped inside and she shut the door behind him.

“Nice room.”

She met his gaze. Oh, he was angry. So very angry, and he had a right to be. But she would stand her ground, too. Maybe it was messy but she’d done the right thing.

“I took a basic room, and not a suite, William.”

“Still put it on my brother’s card, though, didn’t you?”

“Is that how you found me?” She didn’t deny the card. Stephen had given it to her several weeks ago, to pay for things for the wedding. She’d planned to use it to get back to Italy and then pay him back every penny. She’d kept all the receipts.

“No,” he answered. “I spoke to your sister.”

Her gaze snapped to his and held. “I didn’t tell her where I was going.”

“She’s your sister. She remembers things. Apparently there’s a movie you like quite a bit, Cinderella.”

The way he said it wasn’t a compliment. And she supposed she deserved it. She’d run from her wedding like Cinderella had run from the ball. Only the prince wasn’t the one roaming the countryside to find her. It was the younger brother of an earl.

“I couldn’t do it, William. I couldn’t marry him. Not when I don’t...when we don’t...” Her voice caught and she turned away, suddenly exhausted despite the injection of espresso.