Chapter 25
Sam inched toward Elijah on the high perch of the phaeton as he expertly maneuvered the conveyance through Hyde Park.
The sky was clear, and there was barely a breeze, making the afternoon perfect for their ride.
Orange sellers shouted to passing carriages as the fruit’s crisp scent hung in the air.
The phaeton belonged to Jude’s husband, meaning Elijah was staying at Lord Cartwright’s residence.
Odd that her sister hadn’t informed her of this fact during her morning social call to Craven House, nor the morning prior—or even at the ball two nights before.
More peculiar still, Sam hadn’t wondered where he’d found lodging.
“I hope your evening was pleasant.” Elijah kept his cautious stare straight ahead.
He hadn’t said much since collecting her, preferring to focus his attentions on driving the phaeton. He’d said it had been many years since he’d driven one, and Cartwright’s was rather ancient and not the best maintained.
“It was as many nights are at Craven House,” she said. He hadn’t asked after her and Garrett’s conversation the day before. “Marce hosted a card game, and I was charged with keeping Payton upstairs and out of sight, something that was once Jude’s responsibility.”
“Card games?” He turned toward her with a raised brow. “Your mother was once the proprietor of a bordello and your sister now runs a gaming hell in your home?”
“That is better than a bordello, is it not?” Sam couldn’t help but laugh at his shock.
“But seriously, yes, she hosts card games. Only a few rules; men must remember their manners, refrain from overdrinking, and keep their hands to themselves…other than that, bring your coin. The house takes a cut, and the men are free to play late into the night so long as no arguments start. It allows us to retain our financial freedom.”
He remained silent as an enclosed carriage pulled alongside them, and a young woman leaned out the window. “Good day, Miss Samantha!”
“And to you, Miss Mallory,” Sam replied. “May I introduce Lord Ridgefeld, my companion for the afternoon?”
“A pleasure, my lord.” The girl’s eyes traveled the length of Elijah, and tiny coils of jealousy sparked within Sam. “Lovely weather for a day in the park, is it not?”
“Certainly, Miss Mallory.” Elijah nodded in agreement. “It is delightful to make your acquaintance.”
Sam narrowed her eyes on Miss Mallory when the girl tittered, covering her mouth with her fan. She thought the chit interested in Garrett, so what in blazes was she doing making cow eyes at Elijah?
“Have a wonderful turn,” Sam called. She tugged at Elijah’s sleeve, signaling him to move on and away from the flippant girl. “That is the debutante who’s smitten with Garrett.”
“She seems nice enough.” He flicked the reins, and the horses began a four-beat walk.
“Miss Mallory is a vulture, and her mother is far worse. Thankfully, Garrett has no title, no house of his own, and limited funds.” It made the girl’s interest in him all the more puzzling.
It could be nothing more than her need to rebel against her family’s wishes by seeking the favor of an unsuitable man.
“However, I will not allow the girl to get my spirits down. Not on a day as beautiful as this.” She tilted her face toward the bright sun overhead, the edge of her bonnet falling back slightly to allow the warm rays to reach her face.
“Were you in any trouble after I departed yesterday?” he asked. “I certainly would have walked you to the door and spoken with your brother.”
“Everything was perfect.” And it actually had been.
It had only taken one mention of Mallory, and Garrett had been distracted long enough to forget all about Elijah’s carriage in their drive…
with his little sister inside. Sam did not relish manipulating Garrett; however, if the need arose, it had to be done, especially if she and Elijah were to continue their arrangement without unnecessary questions from her siblings. “And your evening went well?”
Elijah remained quiet for so long, Sam glanced at him.
“Are you unwell, my lord?”
“My apologies.” He rubbed his free hand across his face and massaged his neck. “I spent the rest of the day at the museum. Unpacking, organizing, and cataloguing all my grandfather’s possessions. It was very strenuous, and the task is not any closer to completion.”
Sam felt the tiniest bit of guilt. “And here I am, demanding you waste precious time on a carriage ride through the park.”
“I cannot spend every waking hour at the museum,” he said with a smirk. “This outing is a welcome respite. Especially with you for company.”
Sam glanced away as a blush blossomed. “Good day to you,” she called to a trio of matrons walking the path alongside the carriage trail, hoping they attributed her scarlet cheeks to the warm weather.
“I enjoy your company, as well, my lord.” Meeting his eyes while she made her confession was too much.
He would see how true the declaration was, and Sam was not ready for that.
“Then I suppose it is a good thing I will be extending my stay for several days.”
“That is awfully convenient, Lord Ridgefeld,” she conceded.
“It is Elijah, remember?”
In her mind, she’d thought of him as Elijah since their night together in Lord Cummings’ study, alone but for the book filled with wickedness. Sam hadn’t dared slip into the room and collect another volume after Elijah had departed Hollybrooke.
Broken. She’d been broken and hurt after he left.
No drive had remained to explore the intricacies of the marriage bed.
But after their time in the carriage the day before—and the heat of his thigh pressed against hers now—Sam longed to be alone once more, not on the high perch of a phaeton for all the see, with no privacy for even the smallest kiss.
Would he demand his reward for their outing today? Would Sam be forward enough to oblige, even knowing any number of people could witness their intimacy?
Blooming bullocks. Sam would press her lips, as well as every inch of her body, to his right here. Right now. In the middle of Hyde Park, with any number of society members as witness to her ruination. But a most sweet, public ruination it would be.
It would certainly discourage Lord Gunther and Proctor.
“Eli.” She allowed the shortened name to escape her. Two syllables that had heat pooling at her most delicate spot. “It is a manly, strong name.”
“Thank you,” he said with a chuckle and a sideways glance. “It was bestowed upon me at birth by my grandfather.”
“Your grandfather named you?”
“Yes, there was no one else willing to give me a fitting name.”
“What of your mother?” Sam inquired in a whisper as another carriage rolled past without slowing for a greeting. “Did she not have a name selected before your birth?” His faraway look returned. “I do not mean to pry.”
“It is all right, Samantha,” he said, but the heaviness did not leave him.
“My mother barely noticed she was pregnant once she learned of my father’s death.
She did not leave her bed…she barely ate…
and conversed with no one. So, if she had selected a name for me, she voiced it to no one before she fled shortly after my birth.
She stayed long enough for a portrait to be painted depicting her and me, but then her attention quickly turned to other… things.”
“That is horrible.” And not so far from her own story, though it was her father who’d abandoned her mother. “I do not mean to bring up such delicate matters.”
He led the horses to the side of the carriage path and pulled them to a stop, tying the reins to the wooden peg next to him before shifting to face her. Sam did not dare look around to see if they’d garnered the attention of anyone. Everything faded with his eyes trained on her.
“You are the first person I’ve told of the circumstances surrounding my birth,” he confided. “My servants are aware. Possibly even Lord Cartwright has an inkling, but I have told no one. Not even my classmates at Eton.”
“Why tell me?” They’d shared a few brief moments of intimacy but never had she expected that to lead to a confession of his most private secrets. “Do not misunderstand, I am grateful you think so much of me as to share this…but…”
He took her gloved hands in his, his stare never wavering. “I trust you, Samantha. Since my grandfather passed away, you are the closest thing to a friend I have found. I believe stumbling upon you on that deserted road was fate; it was meant to bring us together.”
A heavy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Elijah had been her distraction, something to take her focus off her father’s reappearance and to keep Lord Gunther at bay. It had hurt greatly when he’d departed Hollybrooke without a farewell, but fate?
Certainly, their association had naught to do with any lasting entanglement, least of all fate.
“I do not understand, my lord.”
“Sam, I left Hollybrooke to allow you the opportunity to connect with your father; something I have longed to do with my mother but have been denied.”
“What would lead you to believe I would ever want to connect with my father?” she hissed.
“He abandoned Jude and me. He left my mother with not a single look back after discovering she had the misfortune of birthing a girl…and twin girls at that. He left us to live barely above poverty while he wed his proper bride and tried for an ideal family.” Sam chuckled, not her usual deep, throaty laugh but a manic cackle.
“Imagine his misfortune to discover his wife was not a broodmare able to give him an heir and a spare, let alone a daughter.”
“My presence was a distraction, everyone knew that.”
“Who is everyone?”
“Your family—“
“My family?” she asked. “Did my family request you leave without saying goodbye?”
He shook his head. “They did outline the reasons I should depart; however, it was entirely my decision to leave immediately.”
He had only been a distraction for her…that is what they’d agreed upon.
Sam hadn’t expected any attachment to develop beyond the physical attraction, which was undeniable.
But there was little other explanation as to why she’d insisted on Eli accompanying her on outings.
She was back in London. It was far simpler to avoid unwanted attention from men she found not to her liking.
Sam wasn’t in need of Elijah to protect her against…
what had she expected him to protect her from?
She was a capable woman. She led a decent life. She had a family who greatly cared for her, and she returned that feeling with all of her heart.
But still, she was drawn to Elijah. Longed to have him close—and not only for what he could teach her about pleasure.
“Who bid you leave Hollybrooke?” Sam demanded. “I need to know who would do such a thing. It was Marce—no, Garrett—who stepped in unbidden to try and steer me down a path not of my choosing. Was it not?”
“It was not, Sam, I promise you that.”
“Then whom?” Her voice cracked as she spiraled out of control.
Elijah glanced around before retaking the reins and bidding the horses continue down the path.
She needs must know who in her family would so outwardly betray her without so much as consulting Sam to see where her intentions lay.
“Tell me who, Elijah.” She infused the demand with all the sternness she possessed, her tone strong to let him know he would not get away with keeping the truth from her.
“It was Cartwright; however, he admitted the advice had come from Miss Judith, err, Lady Cartwright.” Elijah cleared his throat when Sam remained silent.
“She thought it best I allow you the opportunity to decide if you wanted a relationship with your father. I was a distraction from the serious matter at hand. Which I believed to be true. We both know she was correct.”
Her own twin had done this to her? It seemed impossible Jude would wish such hurt upon Sam. How dare she run off with her new husband and leave Sam alone, even taking Eli from her company.
“…and so you left?” Sam couldn’t keep the sorrow from her voice or her vision focused as it blurred, her head spinning.
She shouldn’t have pressed him for an answer.
It had taken weeks, but Sam had worked through the hurt of Eli disappearing.
It would have been far better not to know the reason for his hasty departure.
Maybe even continue to think he’d been called away on important business.
It hurt to know the one person who should care for her above all others had sent him away.
But that was no longer true or even possible. Jude had Simon now. Her allegiance belonged solely to her husband, not her twin.
“I think it is time I return you to Craven House.” His shoulders slumped.
“I think that is for the best, my lord.”