Married to the Rake (The Wallflower Brides Book 1)

by Samantha Holt

  “Brook, where are we going?” she pressed.

  “Somewhere we can talk.”

  She made a sound of annoyance but did not ask him any more questions and allowed him to tug her along until they reached his horse. “Get on,” he ordered.

  He suspected she rolled her eyes at him but he missed it. Even so, she climbed up on the horse with his help, settling at the front of the pommel and allowing him to get on behind her. He took the reins, enveloping her and settling her across his lap. With her soft bottom nestled into his lap, every part of him was on fire. He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the subtle scent of flowers that came from her hair. Now was not the time to be thinking of all the devilish things he would like to do to her.

  He rode at a gentler pace toward the spot by the river that was past either of their lands. An ancient stone bridge across the river and he brought his horse to a halt just by it. Dismounting, he handed Chloe down, and allowed himself just a few more moments of touching her until he released her to light the two lanterns that were set on poles either side of the bridge. They were rarely lit these days as the bridge was ill-used but it would be a lot easier to talk to her with a little light.

  “You know, we could have waited and spoken at the border.” She folded her arms and gave a little shudder.

  Brook grimaced and removed his jacket, throwing it around her shoulders even as she made a sound of protest. She quickly huddled into the fabric and Brook smiled.

  “What is it?”

  “I was just thinking how fine you look in my jacket.”

  She frowned then yawned, covering her mouth with one hand. “What are we doing out here, Brook?”

  He swallowed hard. There was a small chance he had not thought this moment through properly, however, he was never one to dawdle. He needed to act now.

  “We need to fix this, Chloe.” He took her hand to lead her to the middle of the bridge and leaned over to look into the water.

  She followed suit. “It was rather a disaster. I am not certain how we can fix this, however.”

  “I have an idea.”

  “Oh?”

  He twisted to face her, and took one of her hands, urging her to meet his gaze. His hand trembled a little and his heart picked up its pace. He never imagined he would get to this point in his life, especially with a Larkin of all people. Especially Chloe Larkin. She was smart, and bookish, and a wallflower, and far more opinionated than anyone he had ever met. She was also funny and kind and dutiful. She was many, many things, and he suspected there was still more for him to find out.

  “Brook?” She frowned at him. “What is wrong? If it is about today, we shall do our best to figure something else out. I know how much you want to repair the relationship between our families.”

  “I do indeed.”

  “We shall think of something. I will still help, I promise.”

  He allowed himself a smile. He doubted anything other than what he had planned would resolve the matter. Perhaps even this would not work. But he had to try.

  “I have an idea. In fact, I think it might be the best idea I have ever had.”

  She chuckled. “Better than our fathers nearly having a fight in the middle of town?”

  “Yes, perhaps that was not the finest of ideas. I think we underestimated quite how angry and willing to fight our fathers are. However, they will not be able to fight over this.”

  “Fight over what?”

  He kept her hand in his, and he wasn’t certain if she’d even noticed. It was ridiculous to feel so nervous about such a matter. How many brave and bold things had he done and never felt any nerves whatsoever.

  “Well, it is quite obvious really.”

  She made an exasperated noise. “What is?”

  “We marry, of course.”

  She blinked at him several times, slowly. “Marry?” she echoed.

  Brook nodded. “It makes perfect sense”

  “Perfect sense?”

  He chuckled. “Have I broken you?”

  She tilted her head back and peered at him. “You speak of the idea so matter-of-factly.”

  “If we marry, our parents will have no choice but to reconcile. Then, when I inherit my father’s estate, we can solve the boundary issue with your brother.”

  “I–I know you are keen to fix this problem, Brook, but marriage seems a little extreme. I am certain there are other ways.”

  He frowned. “You have no desire to marry me?”

  She hesitated, just long enough for him to see something in her expression that gave him hope. He wasn’t certain what he had expected or that he had rather expected she would be keen on the idea.

  “I had never really considered marrying but I certainly never considered partaking in one as an act of duty.”

  “But, Chloe, why should we not marry? You have no other plans to marry, do you?”

  Chloe tugged her hand away from his, her gaze narrowing. “If you are asking as to whether I have other offers, no I do not, as you are fully aware. That does not mean I’m going to leap at the first offer that comes my way. If I were ever to marry, I had rather hoped it might be for love, and not duty.”

  Brook cursed under his breath. What a royal mess he had made of this. Somehow he had thought appealing to Chloe’s practical sense of nature might be more useful than appealing to her emotions.

  “I did not picture marrying anytime soon either. But that was before I met you, Chlo.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If we were to marry, I’m certain it would fix the problems between our families. However, I should also like to marry you out of love.”

  There, he had said it. The words are out there, as they probably should have been in the first place. It was the one and only time he had ever asked a woman to marry him and, he had to admit, he should have planned it better.

  “Love?” she repeated.

  He gave a tilted grin. “Indeed.”

  “You love me?”

  He nodded.

  “But that’s impossible,” she spluttered.

  “No, it is entirely possible.”

  She shook her head vigorously. “You are Mr. Brook Waverley, the infamous rake. You could have any woman you wanted.”

  “The woman I want is standing right in front of me. Is it so hard to believe that I might be telling the truth?”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Well…yes it is. I have known for a very long time I am not the sort of woman who captures a man’s attention and I made my peace with it. I would certainly never have expected an offer from a man like you.” She sighed. “I know how keen you are to settle this matter, and how worried you are for your father. I do not believe you make such an offer with any malice, but I do believe you are not thinking straight.”

  Brook took her hand again. “Believe me, Chloe, I have never been so straight thinking in my life.”

  “I cannot marry you, Brook. How can I? My father would never forgive me and it would not be long before you would resent giving up your lifestyle.” Her mouth opened a little. “Unless, of course, you plan to be one of these men who leave their wife at home while they go out and indulge whatever needs they have.” She gave a little shudder. “I would rather remain a spinster than have one of those marriages.”

  “I had hoped you might know me better than that.”

  Her gaze searched his and she blew out a breath. “I cannot marry you.”

  “Just think on the matter. I think, given time, you will realize that you can trust me. You might also realize that you love me too.” He grinned at her shocked face. “You do not have to give me an answer now,” he added before giving her a swift kiss on the lips.

  “But I have given you my answer.”

  “Take your time.” He gave her another kiss. “I am more than willing to wait.”

  Her exasperated expression amused him and he could not bring himself to feel downhearted about the matter. She just needed a little persuading. They were a good mat
ch, and she would realize that soon enough. Nor did he blame her for being cautious—after all he was no saint. The more time they spent together, however, the more she would realize that he was sincere about this. If he had to wait an eternity for Chloe, he would.

  He loved Chloe Larkin, he knew that with every fiber of his being.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I am sorry to say, Chloe, the news of your father getting into a fight has spread far and wide,” Joanna said, taking a sip of tea.

  Chloe grimaced and sat on the sofa next to Augusta. She did not even bother reaching for her cup of tea, nor any of the delicious treats that had been prepared for them. It was not just her father’s near fight that made her stomach turn, however.

  No, she was very certain it was almost all Brook.

  How could he propose to her like that? How could he just fling the question at her, as though it were not some great, life-changing matter? How could he declare he loved her?

  The funny thing was, he had done it in such a Brook-like manner. She was beginning to understand that he always barreled through life without really stopping and worrying about the consequences of his actions. She rather liked his bravery most of the time, however, being told that one should marry out of duty was not what she wanted.

  And then he had declared he loved her…

  “Was it so very terrible?” Augusta asked.

  Chloe shook her head. “I did fear they were going to fight physically but it is not that…” She glanced around the parlor room, flitting her gaze from the teal green wall coverings to the elegant wood fireplace and then finally back to Augusta.

  Joanna narrowed her gaze at her. “It is about Brook, is it not?”

  Reaching for the cup of tea, Chloe focused her attention on the tawny liquid inside for want of something else to stay. Her friends knew of her growing friendship with Brook—and Joanna had even encouraged it—but would they think her foolish for believing him, even if just for a moment? The gilded clock on the mantle place ticked by the seconds and she could feel her friends’ gazes upon her.

  Finally, she lowered the cup, untouched and lifted her head. “He asked me to marry him,” she said softly.

  “Marry?” Augusta spluttered and dropped her tea swiftly onto the coffee table as she choked on the sip she had been taking. Joanna stood and gave her a little tap on the back until she recovered while Chloe fished out a handkerchief and handed it over. Augusta dabbed her lips and gave an apologetic smile. “Forgive me. It is just that everyone knows Mr. Brook Waverley is not in the market for marriage.”

  “Well, he was not until he got to know Chloe.” Joanna grinned.

  Augusta lifted a hand. “I do not mean to disparage you, Chloe. You know I love you dearly and think any man would be lucky to have you. Which is why it is hard to imagine you with such a rake of a man.”

  Chloe nodded. “You are not wrong. At least, I cannot deny that I felt the same. Still feel the same. Or…” She paused and frowned, dropping her face into her hands. “I do not know what I feel,” she said against her palms.

  Joanna gave her a gentle rub on the back and Chloe lifted her head. She glanced sideways at her friend who had a somewhat knowing smile upon her face.

  “Augusta is not wrong. He is a rake. We all know of his reputation.”

  “Men change,” Augusta said, “and if anyone could change a man, it would be you Chloe.”

  “What exactly were his reasons for asking?” Joanna leaned forward. “He believes your match could repair the rift between the families?”

  Chloe should not be surprised by Joanna’s assumption. It was, of course, what she had assumed first.

  “He did suggest that such a thing would help our families.” Chloe sat back and nibbled on the end of a thumb.

  “Well, I know you would never get married simply out of duty. So what is the problem?” Joanna’s lips curved ever so slightly.

  Blast, even Joanna knew the reason for the conflict. Brook declared that she loved him, but how could she? She had counselled herself against any feelings toward him at every turn while they had been together. After all, he was charming and handsome and well used to getting his way with women. It would be ridiculous to fall for such a man.

  She chewed on the end of her thumb for a few moments more. “I suppose…I suppose my concern is that I might…feel something for him.”

  “But does he feel something for you?” Augusta asked. “You would not wish to be married to a man who does not love you.”

  “He more than feels something for me.” Chloe opened her palms. “He said that he loves me.”

  Augusta clapped her hands together. “Oh, how wonderful. Well, then what is the problem?”

  “Chloe does not know how she feels,” Joanna said.

  Chloe pursed her lips. “Joanna is not wrong. Can I really take him at his word? What if he thought he needed to say that to sway me into marriage simply for the sakes of our fathers? After all, Mr. Waverley had a heart attack. If Brook wishes to save him strain, I would understand him wanting to do anything to help his father.”

  Joanna tatted. “Firstly, do you really believe he is capable of such a thing?” She held up a hand. “I am aware of his reputation—have read all of the gossip columns myself—and even warned you of his reputation before. However, you have good instincts, Chloe. If you like the man, and even have feelings for him, I would trust your instincts. And, secondly, though the marriage might heal the rift between your families in future, do you really believe both fathers will be happy about the match? I highly doubt they would welcome it.”

  “If that is the case,” Augusta interjected, “then it would be against his best interests to ask to marry you.”

  Chloe inhaled deeply. That was true too. If she told her father she was getting engaged to Brook, goodness knows what he would do. No matter which way she looked at it, it seemed impossible. She could trust Brook and trust her own feelings and marry him and maybe leave herself open to injury as well as disappointing her father or she could continue to deny him…and deny herself. Though it might not fix everything between their families, at least her father would not be angry with her.

  “This seems impossible.” Chloe dropped her head to her hands once more.

  “It is a difficult decision indeed,” Augusta agreed.

  “I think you need to be more certain of your feelings,” Joanna suggested. “If you were, you would not feel so conflicted.”

  Chloe lifted her head to her friend.

  “Do not forget,” Joanna said, “you had resigned yourself to a life of being a spinster wallflower. Now it is all changed overnight. Be kind to yourself, Chloe. This is not the sort of decision you should make lightly.”

  “Yes, you are right.” Chloe smiled gratefully. “Thank goodness I have you two fellow wallflowers or else I would be entirely lost.”

  “Augusta and I have to live vicariously through someone!” Joanna chuckled.

  “You know you can always come to us.” Augusta leaned in and gave Chloe a little squeeze around the waist.

  A light tap on the door was followed by Chloe’s lady’s maid entering. “Forgive me, miss, but your father wants a word with you.” Some sort of warning flittered across Mary’s expression. Dread pooled in her stomach. Whatever this was, it could not be good.

  Joanna rose. “We shall leave you but should you wish to…um… go somewhere where a certain other person might be, do not be shy. I am always happy to play escort.”

  Chloe smiled gratefully and embraced both of her friends. She rather wished they would stay by her side for the next several weeks until she had handled this Brook situation and her father. It was all becoming a bit much to face on one’s own.

  After she waved her friends off, she made her way to her father’s study, moving slowly past the portraits of ancestors that lined the corridor. Pressing a hand to her stomach, Chloe straightened the sleeves of her gown and tapped her knuckles lightly on the study door. Whatever her father wanted
, it was likely not to be a good thing. The last time she had been summoned to the study like so she had been fourteen and had been in trouble for teasing her younger brother too much. What had she done now, she did not know, but she was not looking forward to this.

  “Come in,” came her father’s voice, gruff and abrupt.

  She twisted the doorknob, the clicking sound seeming like the loudest noise in the world. She closed the door behind her, wincing at the creak of hinges, before facing her father. This was silly, and she was not a child anymore. But he was still her father and the last thing she ever wanted to do was disappoint him. What exactly had she done?

  She waited a few moments while he finished off a letter, the quill scratching across the paper with quick efficiency. The room was dark, with the curtains semi-drawn. He wrote by lamplight and the scent of the lit wick infused the air. He seemed to take a long time to finish the letter then blotted it slowly as though reveling in her discomfort. She stared at her shoes, eyeing the peach bows and tracing each loop in her mind.

  Finally, he looked up at her. Looping his hands together on top of the table, he ran his gaze up and down her. “Do I not give you many freedoms?”

  “Yes, Papa.” Chloe frowned.

  “Would you not say that you have many more freedoms than other women of your age?”

  She nodded, biting down on her bottom lip. Her stomach began to hurt. No wonder she’d suffered misgivings. She had a horrible feeling she knew where this was going.

  “I have never pressured you into marriage. Nor have I forced you to partake in activities that you do not enjoy. I let you spend time with your friends and have that Mrs. Lockhart to escort you around.” His jaw tightened and his cheeks reddened.

  Gone was the frail, tired old man, she had feared was ageing too rapidly. The tightness in her stomach spread up to her chest, making her heart beat faster.

  “Do I not give you all of these things?”

  She nodded again.

  “Do I not?” he demanded.