His eyes focused on her standing beside Nate, bringing him up short. “Elizabeth. I didn’t realize you were here.” He shot a look of reproach at Nate. “Or, that you are acquainted with my brother.”
Brother? Now it was Elizabeth’s turn to be surprised. She split her perusal between the two men. Nate might be fair in contrast to Gabe’s dark hair and tanned complexion, but now that she was aware, she noticed their similarities. They both had the same predominant jaw line and the bow of their lips followed the same path. Surely after all these years, she would have heard if Gabe had a brother.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She recalled he had half-siblings. All of London knew, or at least had heard, that his father could form a small army with his illegitimate children. But she had no idea Gabe had a relationship with any of them.
“As you can see by her obvious confusion, dear brother, we are newly acquainted and I hadn’t the chance to explain my connection to you,” Nate drawled at her side.
Elizabeth noticed he hadn’t questioned her connection to Gabe. Nate obviously knew more about her than she did him. “Our conversation hadn’t moved from initial introductions . . . and a marriage proposal,” he added.
Shocked that Nate would inform Gabe of their improper exchange, she spun back to Gabe, and if she hadn’t been looking for it, she might have missed his reaction. A slight widening of his eyes and tightening of his jaw were the only signs Nate’s announcement had touched his icy exterior.
Unexplained anger swarmed her. The proposal might have been in jest, but was it too much to expect the man to have a reaction of some sort? What kind, she wasn’t sure. Anything to prove he held some sort of affection for her would be appreciated.
His expression cleared. “Seems sudden, don’t you think? Even for you, Nate.”
“What is the point of waiting when you’ve met the one woman you can’t live without?” Nate answered with a shrug of his shoulder, obviously goading Gabe. To what point she wasn’t sure. There seemed to be an undercurrent flowing between the brothers that had nothing to do with her.
Whatever their issue, she didn’t appreciate being spoken about as if she wasn’t standing right before them. Her irritation added bite to her words. “If you gentleman don’t mind, I’ll excuse myself. I don’t believe my participation in this discussion is warranted so I’d like to get on with my ride.”
She had taken no more than a few steps in the direction of the stable when Gabe asked, “What ride?”
A simple question, but she knew it would be the beginning of another battle of wills. She squared her shoulders. “The ride I’ll be going on as soon as I select a horse.”
“The hell you will.” The steel of his words caught her completely off guard.
Her riding skills surpassed most women’s, something Gabe was fully aware of. There was hardly cause for his harsh refusal. Little did he know his forbiddance would only fuel her desire. “I don’t believe I was asking for your permission, Your Grace.”
“Asking or not, you will not head off on unfamiliar land unescorted.”
“I will hardly be alone. Contrary to what you seem to believe, I’m not a complete numbskull. I plan on taking a groom along.”
“I’ve seen you outmaneuver a groom with a simple canter. You need an escort who is proficient enough to handle the horse . . . and you.”
She caught Nate trying to smother a snicker. Hard to believe a short moment ago it had been Nate that Gabe had thrown subtle barbs at. Leave it to men to find camaraderie at a woman’s expense.
Outraged, she straightened her back to gain more height. What she wouldn’t give to be able to look down at Gabe just once.
Struggling to keep her voice calm, she replied, “For your information, I haven’t needed to be handled since before I was twelve. And, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m no longer a child.”
Nate chimed in for the first time. “Believe me, I’ve noticed.”
Keeping his eyes locked on her, Gabe addressed his brother. “Stay out of this, Nate. Your opinion is not needed.”
“Merely trying to offer an impartial view, big brother. A voice of reason if you will.”
“Stifle it before I turn you out like I should have years ago.”
“Promises and promises.” Nate sounded anything but concerned at the threat. Elizabeth surmised this wasn’t the first disagreement between the brothers. Even though Nate appeared perfectly at ease with Gabe’s temper, she wasn’t all that surprised he chose to remain silent. She had yet to meet anyone Gabe wasn’t able to control when he set his mind to it, either with his formidable manner or his even more effective charm. She would be damned if she would fall under his thumb so easily.
Gabe returned his complete focus to Elizabeth. “The answer is still no.”
She wanted nothing more than to scream and yell, but she settled for throwing up her hands. “For heaven’s sake, Gabe, you know I’m more than capable of going for a ride without a troop of escorts. Besides, what do you think could possibly happen to me?”
He took a step closer, making it impossible for her not to notice how his white shirt did nothing to disguise his firm chest. “Don’t press me on this, Elizabeth. I won’t budge.”
Sometimes she wondered what about this man drew her. He could be so maddening! “Fine. If you want to be highhanded, you’ll just have to escort me, because I won’t be leaving this stable unless it is on the back of a horse.”
Before Gabe could interject, and possibly call her bluff, she spun and entered the stable. The deep chuckle of Nate’s laughter followed in her wake.
Chapter 22
Seething, Gabe allowed his horse to follow at a slower pace. How the hell has the minx managed to get the better of me, yet again?
Not even the arousing view of her bottom gently bouncing on the saddle removed the sting of defeat. Especially as his downfall had happened in front of his brother. One of the few people who would never allow Gabe to forget being outsmarted by a mere slip of a girl.
Thoughts of Nate reminded Gabe of the questions that must be spinning inside Elizabeth’s pretty head. Questions he knew she had to be yearning to ask. Questions he wasn’t sure he was ready to answer.
Various members of the ton knew Nate was Gabe’s brother, but it was rarely spoken of because Nate refrained from visiting London. Having no desire to be grouped with the countless illegitimate children of the previous Duke of Wesbrook, Nate avoided anything to do with the nobility. After the scandal regarding the latest Wesbrook bastard had passed, no one had spoken of Nate. Besides, there were plenty of other Wesbrook by-blows to keep the focus off him. So, it wasn’t a surprise Elizabeth had never heard of his brother.
Other than those at the estate and the surrounding area, very few were apprised of Gabe’s kinship with Nate. There wouldn’t be any reason for anyone to suspect the two men had developed a friendship.
Recalling the early days of their relationship reminded Gabe of his own youth. His gut churned thinking of what the fates had thrown at him. Being young and on the verge of manhood, there had been only one choice for him to make. Most boys of ten and seven would have embraced the chance to revel in the vices he’d been presented. Whoring, gambling, and drinking. For Gabe it had been a family obligation; the only way to placate his father and thus save his sanity. Even if it meant losing himself along the way.
His horse tossed its head at the short reins allowed by Gabe’s tight fist, pulling him from his reminiscing. Shoving the past, something he couldn’t change, from his mind, Gabe eased his grip and looked ahead for Elizabeth.
Bloody hell. While he had been lost in the past, she’d managed to get a good fifteen lengths on him. Knowing her, that was enough distance for her to stumble across some type of trouble. Which in turn would probably end badly for him.
Nudging the h
orse with his heels, Gabe quickly reached her. He pulled his mount alongside hers, prepared to lecture her on the dangers of riding ahead. Seeing the flush of her cheeks and the simple happiness on her face, he couldn't voice the words.
Since the morning at the inn he hadn’t seen Elizabeth’s usual, smiling demeanor. Not that she was despondent. Before she realized he was in the vicinity, he would come upon her laughing with her aunt and Phoebe. Only when she became aware of his presence would she suppress her pleasure. Seeing her easygoing smile as she rode pierced his heart.
What I wouldn’t trade to be the cause of her joy.
Instead of censoring her he asked, “Are you enjoying the estate?”
She turned to him, clearly surprised at his question. “Umm . . . yes, it is very beautiful.” She faced forward again, letting her horse continue its easy walk. “Phoebe seems to be taking everything in stride.”
Her deflecting the question away from herself didn’t bode well for him. She obviously had no interest in discussing anything of a personal nature. He couldn’t blame her. He’d essentially compared their intimate night together with that of a man and a paid companion.
He’d been the one to push her away, but something deep within begged for him to reach out to her. To eliminate the hostility that had flared between them. “Yes. I am fully aware of how Phoebe has been enjoying the estate and all the wonders it would hold for a child.”
She returned her gaze to him. This time there was no mistaking her surprise. She plainly had no idea he’d been informed of his daughter’s daily activities.
“I believe I asked what you thought of the estate,” he stressed.
She glanced away, staring into the distance.
“Elizabeth, despite what transpired between us, we can’t avoid conversing forever. You are involved with arranging the care for my daughter, after all. Besides, at this continued coldness, someone will suspect something happened between us. I don’t think either of us would want that.”
Was he was making any progress?
I have to try. “If nothing else, can we at least return to being friends?”
Gabe realized his mistake the very moment her body tensed. In tune to its rider, her horse took a sudden sidestep. Elizabeth easily, albeit silently, settled the animal.
An apology for what had happened at the inn perched on the tip of his tongue, dying to be set free. But he was afraid of what an indication of regret would say to her. Pushing her away had been for the best. He tried one last time to reach her. “Elizabeth, we’ve known each other too long to let something like this come between our camaraderie.”
She cut her eyes to him. Those beautiful green orbs burned with hostility. “All right, friend. Let us talk.” There was nothing friendly about her response. “Shall we begin with . . . hmm, let me think. How about the brother with whom I never knew you associated? Or, what about Phoebe? We’ve never actually discussed anything regarding your daughter. Perhaps Phoebe’s mother. Should we discuss her? There are so many things we’ve never covered in the course of our friendship. Why don’t you pick one?”
How had this gone so wrong? All he had set out to do was mend what he’d broken. If not completely, at least repair what he could. Maybe it was unfixable. Maybe his spurning of her had been too much for their fragile relationship to withstand.
Either way he must try. If that meant revealing some of his secrets, so be it. Living without Elizabeth in his life would wound him more than opening himself to her.
However, he wasn’t about to divulge such details while riding over the countryside. “If it will destroy this festering animosity, then that is what we’ll do. But not here. Follow me.”
Without giving her the chance to respond, Gabe spurred on his horse and headed for the small grove of trees off to the left. There was a low hillside overlooking a river that created the western boundary between his estate and the neighbor’s.
Elizabeth rode up as he dismounted. Instead of following suit, she remained on her horse and stared at him. Apparently she was not prepared to forget what had happened.
He couldn’t hold it against her. He’d relived their passion filled night and subsequent disastrous morning more than he cared to admit. Her smooth contours, spread out before him, haunted most of his waking hours. Her very lush body invaded every one of his dreams.
“We can sit and talk there.” He nodded to an open area at the crest of the hill, smothering thoughts of her naked flesh. Now was not the time to become lost in erotic visions, no matter how tempting.
Gabe walked his horse to a tree and tied it to a branch, allowing him enough lead to graze. While appearing to fiddle with the horse’s saddle, he watched Elizabeth from beneath his lowered lids. She had yet to dismount. Her eyes flitted over the area.
Finally, as if resigned to the notion, she took a visible breath. With no assistance, she dropped from the saddle and chose a branch to secure her horse. Not offering a hand wasn’t meant to be ungentlemanly. He knew of her capabilities. Right now, with her anger, she would have been put out with his offer.
Giving her time to see to her mount, he walked to the opening and waited.
Elizabeth finally joined him, stopping off to his side. Without looking at her, he began, “Before I went off to school, I came here a lot.” He studied the coursing river, its water cascading over the boulders trying to halt its progress.
He sensed her attention, but she remained silent at his side, for which he was relieved. Speaking of his childhood would be difficult enough; he wasn’t sure if he could find the strength to carry on if she’d spoken. When he’d suggested they talk, he had no intention of discussing his parents. But it seemed fitting since he always managed to do the unfamiliar with her.
“For as long as I can remember there has never been any accord in the Wesbrook household. Mother wouldn’t speak a free word to Father and said little to anyone else.” He paused, thinking of the woman who hadn’t tucked him in at night, played with him, or touched him with anything other than a brusque hand. “I don’t believe she is a cold person at heart. Merely broken. Because I didn’t have a true relationship with her, I had no way of reconciling the bond between us. We’ve been content living our lives separately. And Father.” He couldn’t disguise the disgust in his voice. “There isn’t much to say about him that you probably haven’t heard through gossip.”
Silence reigned over the hillside as Gabe took a moment to shove away the loathing that went hand in hand with thoughts of his father. Maybe it had been a mistake coming here. He never discussed his father with anyone. The scant amount he thought of the old man was more than he wanted, given how much he despised him.
What probably destroyed Gabe the most was that despite trying, regardless of all his attempts, he hadn’t been able to escape becoming the very man he hated.
“Generally gossip is exaggerated, filled with embellishments. In this case, the rumors didn’t even touch on half of what my father had done.” Gabe’s muscles tightened as his fists clenched. “And never came close to exposing the horror he’d put my mother through."
Unsure of the best way to continue, he paused again. Unexpected, her soft voice startled him. “I’m sorry. That must have been awful for you.”
He didn’t know how to respond. When presented with the opportunity to hear the varied details surrounding the Duke of Wesbrook and his infamous exploits, no one hesitated to urge Gabe for particulars.
He wanted to change the focus back to anything but him, but knew she wouldn’t permit it. Instead he took a breath and, with as little emotion as possible, answered, “At times it had been more than I could cope with. I strove to survive above all.”
He didn’t afford her a chance to analyze his response as he quickly continued, “As a very young boy the duke had no expectations for me. It wasn’t until I grew older that he disco
vered my usefulness, and only then did I warrant his attention.” Gabe stood motionless while his brain urged his body to run. Anything to halt the picture of his life he was drawing for Elizabeth with each horrid word.
As if she sensed his tormented emotions, she placed a gentle hand on his arm. The feel of her afforded him strength. He was no longer dredging up the past for Elizabeth. He continued for himself. Perhaps in doing so, he would break some of the hold it had on him.
“Actually, that isn’t entirely true. He didn’t show it, but my father had always had an interest in me. In reality, his interest hadn’t been in me, but in what he wanted to make sure I became as his heir. A Wesbrook. His torment of my mother had many different facets but with me there had been only one goal . . . to pass down every required characteristic needed to be the Duke of Wesbrook. Only his weren’t the normal requirements. Nothing noble. Nothing that would preserve the history of a long line of prominent men.”
Gabe’s lips twisted at the thought of the legacy left him. “No, what my father instilled upon me was vastly different from what others taught their children. Instead of instructions on riding, politics, or estate management, the duke taught me about whores, drinking, and gambling.”
At that, Elizabeth drew a sharp breath.
Of course, his words were not suited for a lady, but wasn’t his demonstration meant to show her the man he had been trained to assimilate? In order to do that he needed to push aside any misgivings tugging at him.
“Right before my twelfth year, my father decided it was time for me to learn my place in life. At first it had started with lectures and sermons on how a duke was above all. He answered to no one and everyone answered to him. It wasn’t long before he moved on to other lessons.” Gabe’s lips formed a scowl. “After introducing me to drinking and every game of chance imaginable, my father thought it was time I was educated on the finer points of women and what he believed was their proper purpose. It was his encouragement that led to my first encounter with a woman.”
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