“My lord, this is not the place for such a conversation.”
“I need an answer now,” he demanded.
Taken aback by his forceful demeanor, she answered truthfully, “I am sorry, then, my lord. I cannot accept your proposal as I find my heart has become lost to another.”
“I see.” Collingwood tightened his grip. “I will speak to your mother regarding this matter. Perhaps she can impart a little common sense.”
“My mother has very little influence over me, sir.” She softened her voice, realizing she might have
hurt his feelings with her rejection. “I am certain you will find another woman to love.”
“Love?” Collingwood laughed as he neared his carriage. “I do believe you have my feelings for you all wrong, Miss Drake. I do not love you.”
“Oh?” A tingle of fear straightened her back. “Then why would you wish to mar....” her voice trailed off. The money, of course. She must be tired to have forgotten that so quickly.
Collingwood tapped the toe of his boot impatiently waiting for something. “Well? That is your answer, then?”
“Yes,” she replied more firmly than she’d ever felt about any proposal. She would rather live off Tessa for the rest of her life than marry this man.
“Very well then,” he spat.
Louisa watched as he abruptly turned and climbed into his carriage without a glance back at her. A sense of relief mixed with unease. If not Harry, someone must be paying him a fortune.
And she needed to discover who.
Chapter 24
HARRY WAS DELAYED ARRIVING home due to his steward’s questions regarding the fire at the Smiths’ house the previous night. When he finally returned to London, it was nearly four, and he was filthy from riding. As soon as he had bathed and dressed, he would call on Louisa to settle this mess. His valet entered the room to pull out the appropriate clothing.
“The burgundy jacket?” he asked as Harry worked on the buttons of his dust-covered breeches.
“Yes, that will be fine,” he replied.
A scratch sounded at the door. “Your Grace, Mr. Kingsley is—”
“Here,” Simon said, pushing past Jenkins. “Everyone out.”
Jenkins and Andrew sent glances to Harry.
“You heard my brother,” Harry commented.
“Yes, Your Grace,” they replied in unison.
“Thank God you are home,” Simon added as the door shut. “What the bloody hell happened at Worth?”
Harry continued to work the buttons on his breeches. “I do not believe that is any of your business.”
Simon sank into the chair by the window with a sigh. “It is when a beautiful lady returns to my gaming hell in tears from a liaison with you. Then she relates a story of how you paid Ainsley to stop courting her. And that she believes you paid Collingwood to marry her. None of this makes any sense at all, Harry.”
“I didn’t pay Collingwood, Simon.”
Simon stared up at him with an angry look. “And Ainsley?”
Harry gave up on the breeches and poured them both a whisky. After sitting on the end of the bed, he replied, “I offered Ainsley money to stop courting her. But he didn’t accept the money. Too much damned pride.”
“Why would you do such a thing?”
“He needed the money, so he wouldn’t have to marry some unacceptable lady.”