Free Desiring Lady Caro by Ella Quinn Page B

flashed an angry look at Huntley and growled, “This is not over.”
    Lady Bentley’s mouth gaped open as di Venier stalked out of the room.
    Everard hurried to her and, in a soft voice, said, “My lady, excuse us. I’ll see you later perhaps.”
    Shutting her mouth, she curtseyed. “Yes, yes, of course . Countess of Huntley . Who is . . .? Oh yes, Huntingdon’s eldest son.”
    Before Everard closed the door, he called to Maufe and spoke in low tones.
    Huntley turned back to Caro and urged her to sit, pressing a glass of wine into her hands.
    She stared up at him, eyes wide and her lush lips slightly parted. “This goes from bad to worse. The scandal . . .”
    “Here, drink some of this.”
    When Caro had taken a few sips, he took the glass, and she hid her face in her hands again.
    A short while later, Maufe returned with a small book and a long shawl. He handed them to Everard and left.
    Everard joined them at the table. “I’m sorry, my child,” he said, his tone low and calm. “It was, I believed, necessary to protect you from that violent young man.”
    Taking in the prayer book, Huntley closed his eyes for a moment. Any hope he’d retained that he and Caro would not be forced into a marriage died. “I take it you mean to perform the ceremony?”
    His cousin nodded. “I must. There’s no choice. Lady Bentley heard what I told your marchese, and she’ll spread it to all her friends. Some of them are bound to have seen Lady Caro, and the news will quickly make its way back to England.”
    “Give us a few minutes, if you would.” Myriad thoughts ran through Huntley’s mind, chief of which was what his father would say about this harum-scarum marriage, but the shock in Caro’s eyes trumped all concerns about the old gentleman.
    Everard went to the door. “I’ll be right outside. Huntley, I need to have a few words in private with you before we begin.”
    When Caro gazed up at him, her face was still pale. Tears glistened, and her beautiful turquoise eyes darkened in despair.
    She shook her head. “You can’t marry me. It would be a disaster for you.”
    His jaw clenched. Now was not the time for her to turn missish. “I must. It’s the only way I can protect you, your reputation and mine.”
    “Huntley, you don’t understand.” She closed her eyes and her voice shook. “You’ll need an heir, and I—I can’t do . . .”
    He dropped to one knee next to her, taking her cold, fluttering fingers in his. “Other than wed me, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I will never, never force you.”
    Lord, he wanted to take her in his arms, but he made himself be content with holding her hands. He prayed silently she could see the truth in his eyes.
    She shook her head slowly. “You need an heir.”
    He forced himself to smile. “I have a younger brother.”
    “Oh, it’s impossible.” Caro stared at a place beyond his shoulder, ignoring the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I have no reputation to protect. I’m—I’m not a virgin.”
    He took out his handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. “But no one knows, so you do have a name to worry about.”
    “What about you?”
    “That’s not important to me. Caro, please, look at me.” Now he knew what had happened, and it all made sense. Her anger and unwillingness to allow a man to touch her, her determination not to marry. Some blackguard had raped her. Rage for her burbled up inside, and he pushed it back down. The time to avenge her was later. Now he needed to safeguard her as best as he could. When she met his gaze, the pain in her eyes broke his heart. “The only thing that matters is to keep you safe, from Venetian marcheses and from Polite Society. We’ll work the rest out in our own way.”
    “But you don’t want to marry.”
    Huntley gave thanks he hadn’t made his intentions known and tried to keep his countenance neutral. “It wasn’t what I’d planned, but must needs.”
    She closed her eyes. “I really have no