Free Only an Earl Will Do by Tamara Gill

dislodge his grip without success.
    “Why can ye not understand?” he asked as he pulled her toward the end of the darkened terrace. “I couldn’t marry you as poor as I was. I admit that was possibly a mistake, but I needed a fortune. I couldn’t marry ye a poor earl looking for a rich wife. I refused to be termed a fortune hunter.” He paused, needing her to understand at least some of why he left and stayed away.
    Henry tipped up her chin and made her look at him. The need to kiss her defiant mouth overrode all decorum, and he leaned close. “Tell me ye do not feel this overwhelming attraction, this need when we’re together.”
    “I do not.” She looked away, biting her sensual lips.
    He growled. “Elizabeth, you lie.”
    “You abandoned me, Henry. Left me to defend myself against risks we both took.” Elizabeth pushed him away, and he stumbled. “I wasn’t worth your trouble two years ago, so why the change now?”
    “I dinna abandon ye. Someone has played us both fools and I will find out who it was and when I do, they’ll wish they were dead.” He followed her up the terrace, away from the other strolling couples and farther into the shadows. “Furthermore, I find it odd that none of my letters reached you. I wrote often until I realized it was a pointless exercise when I received nothing in return.”
    “All contact from you the moment you set foot on that packet ship ceased.” She crossed her arm over her chest. “I cannot forgive you for that.”
    Henry ran a hand through his hair and fought for calm. “And now ye’re just being obstinate. You’ve held onto this anger for me for so long that ye can no longer see reason.” Hurt flickered in her eyes and he ignored it. Damn it, he wanted her and no one else. Wanted to kiss all her hurts away and make them better.
    “I’m not obstinate.”
    “You, Elizabeth, are the stubbornnest Worthingham I know.” He raised his brow. “I would’ve returned had I received ye letter. Of course I would’ve. I loved ye.”
    Her surprised gaze met his, and he took her hand, cursing the silk glove that stopped him from feeling her flesh.
    “You never said you did before you left.”
    A self-deprecating laugh escaped. “No, I did not. I was too much a fool. I thought ye would wait for me, as ye promised, I might remind.” He played with the buttons at her wrist, undoing two so he could touch her. He felt the shiver that ran through her body at his touch. Damn it, the need for her almost buckled his legs.
    “I ruined ye, Elizabeth. I would not have touched ye had I not loved ye with all of me heart. You were a duke’s daughter, and your father is an excellent shot, I might remind ye. I certainly dinna want to die before my life had even begun.”
    As soon as he said the words, Elizabeth stepped back, shutting him out and putting too much space between them. He frowned, wondering what it was that he’d said that offended her. “Elizabeth, please.” Henry swore as her brother stepped out onto the terrace. Henry moved back, not liking the hard gaze in Elizabeth’s brother’s eyes.
    “Go inside, Elizabeth. I wish to speak to Lord Muir for a moment. I’ll meet you for supper shortly.”
    Elizabeth cast her brother a glance and then left. Henry let her go, his mind whirling to make sense of it all. He leaned against the terraced balustrade, crossed his arms, and watched as the Marquis of Worth stalked toward him. He braced himself for the coming confrontation.
    “Worth,” Henry said as the future Duke of Penworth stopped only a few feet away. He was only slightly shorter than himself but was of similar build. Henry narrowed his eyes and wondered if the conversation would entail words or fisticuffs.
    “Lord Muir, I’m surprised to find you outside with my sister.”
    Henry shrugged. “I wished to speak to her. Since the terrace sits beyond the ballroom doors, I hardly think it scandalous to talk to her here. And let’s not forget she’s a widow,