Free Shattered Dreams by Laura Landon Page B

head. “It’s not that. I just—“
    “I promise we won’t walk far. If you tire, I’m sure we can find a bench where we can sit for a while.”
    She searched for another excuse. “Being alone in the garden with you isn’t proper.”
    “We’ll hardly be alone. In the short time we’ve been out here, each of your brothers has checked on you from the windows at least once. I’m sure one of them will come to find us before long. Which one do you suppose it will be?”
    Elly turned to look over her shoulder just as Spence stepped away from the window to rejoin the men. It was always like this.
    Elly felt a clenching in her chest. She was seven and twenty and they still watched over her as if she were eleven and they could undo what had happened.
    She looked up and locked onto his gaze. “George.”
    “Pardon?”
    “George will come to find me first. He’s my twin and there’s a connection that’s hard to explain. He’ll come.”
    “Then you have nothing to fear. Shall we?”
    She only hesitated a moment. She’d always dreamed of having a handsome man at her side as she walked through a moonlit garden. And there wasn’t a man in all of England who was more handsome than Chardfield.
    He extended his arm and she stared at it for a quick second before she pulled back.
    “There’s no need to escort me. I’m not easy to walk beside.”
    “I’ve been told I’m an excellent escort.”
    He had a way of saying the perfect thing for every occasion. She felt so at ease around him the warning bells went off inside her head. She wondered if he had that effect on all women and knew he did. If not, he wouldn’t have the reputation he did.
    That made him an even bigger threat.
    She took an independent step away from him and crossed the smooth stone terrace. When she reached the steps, she used the railing to steady her descent. He followed behind her.
    “Would it have been so difficult for you to accept my help?” he said as they walked the cobbled lane.
    “I’m quite capable of managing by myself.”
    “Most women are but they accept a man’s assistance because it makes the man feel useful.”
    “Are you admitting a sense of ineptitude?”
    “Not ineptitude, exactly. But helping a female builds a man’s self-confidence.”
    Elly laughed. “I grew up with four brothers, my lord. Not one of them lacks confidence.”
    “Don’t they?”
    Elly thought of all the sacrifices her brothers had made to make up for what happened that one disastrous day. But her brothers were different. Charfield couldn’t have anything nearly so heavy weighing on him.
    She couldn’t imagine him lacking self-confidence.
    “What if I told you that I do?”
    “I wouldn’t believe you for a second.”
    “Oh, Lady Elyssa, let me assure you. There isn’t a man alive who doesn’t need every opportunity to prove himself to the woman he’s trying to impress.”
    Her footsteps halted. “You’re trying to impress me?”
    “Of course.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I think you are worth impressing.”
    Another warning sent a shiver through her. She couldn’t allow him to say such lies. She turned to face him. “What is it you want?”
    “You think I want something from you?”
    “Of course. What is it you want?”
    “To be your friend. To enjoy your company for the next two weeks and hope you’ll enjoy mine.”
    She looked up at him and felt a warmth flow through her that washed away every warning she’d issued. She was weakening and the little voice she could usually count on to deliver such stern rebukes was suddenly quiet. Instead, she heard an earthier-toned voice whisper that it would be all right to give herself over just this once. That she didn’t have to be totally independent - just this once.
    “Have I come close to convincing you that you can trust me?”
    Elly stared at his outstretched hand. This was the second time tonight she’d been expected to walk with someone other than one of her brothers. The second time