Free Midsummer Eve at Rookery End by Elizabeth Hanbury Page B

option did she have when her situation at home was unbearable?
    How ironic that the only man she had ever desired was an infamous rake. Eve was glad the gloomy interior of the carriage hid her blushes; she had always prided herself on being more sensible than her mother and her sister, but this evening she had committed the ultimate folly and fallen for a rake.
    And yet she truly believed he had a good heart. He had rescued her from Sir Ralph when he could have left her to her fate, and she had detected loneliness behind his nonchalant manner. Eve knew that emotion too well herself not to recognise it in the Marquess. She had glimpsed the warm, kind man behind the profligate reputation, and oh, she could love him, if only he would be himself rather than the libertine society expected! But such dreams were pointless; Lydia was right to say that rakes rarely reformed and Eve could never marry a rake.
    Berating herself for her stupidity, she became aware of the drumbeat of approaching hooves. An imperative demand that the driver stop or suffer the consequences followed and the coach creaked to a violent halt.
    “Footpads!” squeaked Mrs Leighton, pushing back her turban which had slipped over one eye.
    “We are not out of the driveway yet, Mama,” observed Eve. “It is most likely a servant with a message from the Earl. Perhaps he has decided to offer for Lydia this evening after all.”
    The sound of raised voices outside was followed by the door being wrenched open. However it was not a servant’s face which appeared out of the gloom, but the darkly handsome features of the Marquess of Shaftesbury.
    “Mrs Leighton, forgive the intrusion, but I must speak to your daughter. In private. It is a matter of the utmost urgency.” Lord Shaftesbury held out his hand to Eve, inviting her to step out of the coach.
    Eyes wide with shock, Eve stared at him. It was only when he smiled and she caught the pleading uncertain look in his eyes that she came to her senses.
    She allowed him to help her down the steps and lead her a little way from the coach. In the light from the flambeaux illuminating the drive, Eve noticed the horse he had used to pursue the carriage. Sweating and lathered around the mouth, the mare was grazing nearby, but she had not been saddled and it appeared he had ridden the animal bareback.
    Following the direction of her gaze, he said, “I took the first horse I found in the stables. I did not want to waste time saddling up and lose you in the process.”
    “Lose me?” she murmured, looking up into his face.
    His fingers curled around the top of her arms and he swallowed hard. “How can I afford to lose my life?” he said, in a hoarse, urgent whisper. “Dear God, it’s you, Eve. You are the one and I knew it the moment we met. I love you, Eve Leighton. Will you marry me?”
    Incredulous, Eve gaped at him. “W-What?”
    “I asked you to marry me, Eve. I love you!”
    Her lips trembled; it was cruel of him to tease her this way. “You can’t mean it,” she murmured.
    “I do, with all my heart.”
    “B-But where is Lady Draycott? When I left, you were with her … you were going to the Greek temple together–”
    He shook his head. “As soon as you had gone, I told her I had made a mistake. She wasn’t pleased, but I didn’t care because my only thought was to get back to you.” His grip tightened and there was a catch in his voice as he said, “Eve, you must listen! I sensed you were different the first time I saw you. It may sound fanciful, but I saw my future in your eyes. I know that I’m not worthy. I’m not as bad as my reputation, but I don’t like the man I have become – in truth, I’m ashamed of him. But I swear I will do better, if only you will agree to marry me. You are as vital to me as the air that I breathe and my life is worthless without you.”
    “But I can’t marry a rake” whispered Eve. “It would break my heart to know you bedded other women.”
    “There will be no