Red Roses Mean Love

have?' Dear God, I must get out of here before I lose my mind.

'Quite a few, actually, but I won't bore you with his numerous lesser titles. He is the Marquess of Glenfield.'

Hayley stared in profound shock. 'We must be speaking of two different people. The man I met was a tutor.'

'No. The man you met is Stephen Barrett, the Marquess of Glenfield. He is also my brother.'

Black dots danced before Hayley's eyes and her breath clogged in her throat. She gaped at Victoria, speechless.

'I'm so sorry to spring the news on you like this-'

'I must go,' Hayley said, jumping to her feet and looking frantically about for her reticule. She didn't understand what was going on here, but she had to get away. Stephen was a marquess? Victoria was his sister? He'd said he was a tutor-with no family. More lies… like when he said he cared for me. The depth of his deception hit her like a brick to her head. A tutor? A hysterical half laugh, half sob bubbled up her throat.

No wonder his Latin was abysmal and he couldn't shave. His formality, his criticism of her household-now she understood it all so well. Dear God, the man probably owned half of England. How he must have laughed at them. All of them. Especially her.

Nausea grabbed her and she clutched her heaving stomach. She couldn't bear to hear another word. Spying her reticule, she snatched it up and practically ran across the room, desperate to escape.

'Wait!' Victoria caught up to her and grasped her by the upper arms. 'Please, don't leave like this. I must speak to you about my brother.'

'I have nothing to say about your brother.'

'Because of the way he left you. I understand. But there are so many things you don't know. Things I need to tell you. Please. You don't have to say anything. Just listen to me.'

Hayley stood stiffly, looking at the floor.

'Please,' Victoria repeated.

Raising her chin, Hayley saw that Victoria appeared very serious and earnest. She also now noticed that her green eyes were very much like Stephen's, and they were pleading with her to remain.

'Does he know I'm here?' Hayley asked, not willing to stay if there was a chance she might come face-to-face with Stephen.

'No. And neither does Justin. No one will disturb us here.'

Not convinced she wasn't making a grave error, Hayley reluctantly walked back to the sofa and sat down. 'Very well. I'll listen to what you have to say.'

Victoria sat next to her. 'I would first like to say thank you. You saved Stephen's life and I shall always be grateful.' Reaching out, she clasped one of Hayley's clammy, trembling hands and squeezed.

'I don't understand any of this,' Hayley said in a tight whisper. 'He said he was a tutor. He said he had no family-'

'Someone is trying to kill him, Hayley.'

Hayley's blood turned to ice. 'I beg your pardon?'

'Someone tried to kill him the night you found him. From what I understand, it may not have been the first attempt on his life.'

'Dear God,' Hayley whispered, pressing her hand to her stomach. 'Did Stephen tell you this?'

'No. Stephen was here for dinner the night before last. He and Justin had a most revealing conversation which I, ah, accidentally overheard. Stephen was foxed, and revealed quite a bit of his feelings to Justin.'

'He spoke of a plot to kill him?'

'Yes. And he spoke about you.'

'Me?'

'Yes. That is how I knew who you were and where you lived. Hayley, ever since Stephen returned to London he's been miserable. He misses you. He needs you.'

Hayley shook her head. 'No. You're wrong.'

'I'm not wrong,' Victoria said vehemently. 'I heard it from his own lips. I know Stephen very well. Except for Justin, I am the person he is closest to. Justin is worried about him, and so am I. He doesn't sleep, he barely eats, and he's drinking far too much. He's lost interest in everything, and his eyes…Hayley, his eyes are so empty and haunted.'

'Why are you telling me this?' Hayley whispered, fighting back tears.

'Because he loves you, although he's too foolish to know it.'

Hayley dropped her head into her shaking hands. Victoria's words crashed into her, mortifying her, confusing her.

'He wants to go to you, Hayley, but he feels he can't. Not with someone trying to kill him. He doesn't want to place you or your family in any danger.'

Hayley raised her head. 'Is that why he didn't tell me the truth about who he was?'

'I honestly don't know. I only know what I overheard.'

'Perhaps you should tell me what you heard.'

'Of course.' When Victoria finished, Hayley felt as battered as if she'd fallen off a cliff. She was angry at him for his duplicity, terrified for his safety, heartsick at the hopelessness of her love for him.

Victoria reached out and squeezed her hands. 'Stephen has never been a happy man, Hayley. Our father has always been very hard on him, demanding absolute perfection from him because he's the heir. As a result, Stephen is quite cold and forbidding with most people. But since his return to London two weeks ago, he has been abjectly miserable. Someone wants him dead, and I'm afraid they'll succeed before he pulls himself together.'

The thought of Stephen dead made Hayley's blood freeze in her veins. 'But what can I do? I offered him everything I could, but he still left.'

'But don't you see, he had to leave. He had to return to London to find out who's trying to kill him.'

'Again, I ask, what can I possibly do?'

'You can make him happy. Do you love him?'

Hayley drew in a sharp breath at the sudden question. Do you love him? A hundred images of Stephen flashed in her mind; images she'd tried without success to banish.

Images of the man she loved.

Unable to deny it, she whispered, 'Yes. But surely you can see how hopeless this is. Stephen and I are from two different worlds. Dear God, he's a marquess. I would never fit in-'

'Nonsense,' Victoria interrupted, waving her hand in a dismissive fashion. 'You could if you wanted to. All you would require is the proper support and patronage, and you already have that.'

'I do? Who?'

'Me.' Victoria's gaze was steady and serious. 'I want Stephen happy. Even if I didn't find you delightful, which I do, you're the woman he wants. That is good enough for me. Now, are you certain you love him?'

'Positive.'

'Then help me save him.'

'How?'

Determination sparkled in Victoria's eyes. 'I have a plan.'

SHAPE * MERGEFORMAT

Chapter 25

Lights blazed from the windows of the Blackmoor country home two nights later. Elegant carriages emblazoned with noble crests pulled up the curved drive, and footmen assisted elite Society members from their seats. By the time Hayley entered the marble-tiled foyer, the party was in full swing.