The Bride Thief

a side path leading into the gardens. Her teacup froze halfway to her lips and a frown bunched her brows. What on earth was Samantha doing traipsing about in the gardens at this time of night? Why was she not asleep as she'd retired several hours ago?

Fustian, the girl and her unorthodox behavior would be the death of a mother. No doubt she'd take a chill and be ill the next time Lord Wesley called upon her…

Peering through the darkness at her daughter, Cordelia's heart skipped a beat. There was something decidedly odd-and perhaps furtive?-about this late-night stroll. Cordelia's eyes narrowed briefly, but then she mentally scolded herself for her untoward suspicions. Surely Sammie would never… and Lord Wesley wouldn't think to…

No, an assignation was out of the question. Wasn't it? Of course, if they'd made arrangements to meet, why that would be positively wonderful-er, worrisome.

Walking swiftly back to the settee, she set her cup on the mahogany table. 'Lydia, it is a lovely evening. Let us go for a walk.'

Lydia stared at her as if she'd grown a third eye in the center of her forehead. 'A walk? It's nearly eleven o'clock!'

'Hubert planted a new flower in my garden-something he developed in his Chamber. I quite forget the name of it, but it supposedly only blossoms at night. I'm most anxious to see if it has bloomed.'

'A night-blooming flower?' Lydia asked, interest sparking in her eyes.

'Yes. If it has flowered, I'll supply you with some clippings.' Surely such enticement would convince Lydia. It would kill the woman if Cordelia possessed a flower she did not.

'Well, I suppose as long as we brought lanterns we'd be safe from turned ankles-'

'We absolutely cannot bring lanterns. Nor can we talk above a whisper. Any such light or noise and pffth!' She snapped her fingers under Lydia's nose. 'The flowers will instantly close up.'

When Lydia hesitated, Cordelia heaved an exaggerated sigh. 'Oh, well I suppose if you're too weary, Lydia… quite understandable for a woman of your advancing years.'

Lydia popped to her feet as if a giant spring were attached to her buttocks. 'I am merely two years older than you, Cordelia. I assure you I am very fit.'

'Of course you are, dear. Now why don't you just sit down again before you injure your delicate self.' She reached out a helping hand toward Lydia, who nimbly sidestepped her and shot her a dark glare.

'I most certainly will not sit down. Your suggestion of a walk merely startled me. Now that I've thought upon it, I believe a silent, unlit stroll in the gardens to search for night-blooming flowers is a smashing idea.'

'Well, if you insist, Lydia…'

'I most certainly do.'

Lydia lifted her chin, then sailed toward the door like a queen approaching her throne. Cordelia followed close behind, biting the inside of her cheeks to stifle her triumphant smile.

At precisely eleven o'clock, Eric dismounted Emperor, tethering him to a tree a short distance from the Briggehams' garden gate. As he approached the garden, he caught sight of Samantha sitting on a stone bench, and he paused. She seemed lost in thought. Was she thinking about last night? He stared at her profile, allowing the memories of their passionate evening to fill his mind. Every sensual touch, every exquisite taste, replayed in his brain, simultaneously filling him with longing and a thudding ache of loss.

He resumed walking toward her. He'd nearly reached her when a twig snapped beneath his boot, and she jumped to her feet, turning toward him. She stood bathed in a pale shaft of moonlight, and his heart performed a crazy roll as his gaze roamed slowly downward, taking in her slightly disheveled chignon and her modest muslin gown. He then returned his gaze to her face. She peered at him through her thick spectacles with serious eyes. Her tongue peeked out to wet her lips, and he involuntarily mirrored the gesture, imagining her honey-sweet taste.

He walked slowly toward her, stopping when only two feet separated them. His pulse pumped through him at double its normal pace as his hungry gaze devoured her… the woman he loved. The woman he could not have. The woman he would most likely never see again after he walked away from her tonight.

God help him, he wanted nothing more than to drag her into his arms and take her away. Repeat the passion and pleasure they'd shared last night. He looked into her eyes and felt his resolve slipping like sand through a sieve. He had to tell her their affair was over. Now. Before the wants and needs of his heart overrode everything else.

'I have something to tell you,' they said in unison.

They stared at each other for several surprised seconds. Then, relieved to postpone the inevitable for a few more moments, he inclined his head. 'Ladies first, my dear.'

'All right.' She drew a deep breath and looked up at him with emotion-filled eyes. 'I've spent hours trying to find the right words, but I'm not certain they exist, so I shall have to simply say it. I wish to end our… liaison.'

Eric felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. She wished to end their affair? Here he'd been agonizing, so concerned about hurting her, and she no longer wanted him! A bark of stunned disbelief lodged in his throat, and he would have laughed at his own conceit if he'd been able.

Certainly he should be relieved by this unexpected turn of events, which released him from the responsibility of breaking off their relationship. All he needed to do was agree, then walk away. He stood motionless, waiting for the happiness he should be feeling to wash over him, but happy was definitely not the 'h' word to describe the emotions roiling through him. Hurt was much closer to the mark, damn it.

'May I ask why?' he asked stiffly.

She clasped her hands in front of her, then pivoted to face a tall, perfectly pruned hedge, leaving him to stare at her back. At her nape. At the delicate curve of her neck that he knew tasted like honey and felt like silk.

'Many reasons. I fear we risk discovery if we prolong our affair, and as it was only a temporary arrangement anyway…' She paused and squared her shoulders. 'Your visit today gave my mother false hope that you are pursuing me. I did my best to convince her that she was wrong, but Mama is most persistent in these matters. In addition, I have been neglecting my work in the Chamber. I wish to devote my energies to furthering my experiments, and perhaps even plan a trip to the Continent. Therefore, I believe it is the wisest, and most logical, decision for us to no longer see each other. In any capacity.'

Unreasonable, unjustified anger gripped him like a vice. 'Look at me,' he grated out through clenched teeth.

She slowly turned around until she faced him. Her eyes appeared huge, but she seemed otherwise perfectly composed, a fact that annoyed him further.

'So you wish for our friendship, as well as our affair to end?' he asked.

Her head bobbed in a jerky nod. ' 'Tis for the best.'

Silence fell between them. She was perfectly right, of course. His mind told him to bid her farewell and depart, but his voice and body refused to cooperate.

After what felt like an eternity but was surely no more than half a minute, she asked, 'What did you wish to tell me?'

That I love you. That I want you to be my wife. My love. The mother of my children. I want to see the world with you and share all those adventures you dream of. Explore the ruins of Pompeu. Trek through the Colosseum, visit the Uffizi, and view the works of Bernini and Michelangelo. Swim in the warm waters of the Adriatic… I want to tell you that I do not want one day of my life to pass without seeing your smile, hearing your laugh, and touching your skin. And that I'm dying inside knowing that I shall never have those things with you.

He attempted to force his features into a sheepish expression, completely unsure if he succeeded. 'Oddly enough, I'd intended to suggest we end our liaison… for much the same reasons as those you gave.'

'I… I see.' She looked at the ground for the space of several heartbeats, then raised her chin and offered him a small smile. 'Well, then, it appears we are agreed. I wish you a long and prosperous life. It has been my… very great pleasure to know you.'

She moved, clearly intending to leave him like that. Simply wish him well then saunter away.

Before his better judgment could stop him, his hand shot out, grasping her upper arm as she walked by him.