Free Lilly by Angela Conrad Page B

Reece tried to take her hand, but she pulled away and smiled sadly at him.
    “Don’t pretend Reece, it just hurts more.  You said you didn’t want me anywhere near yo u, that you don’t want to see me.  I’ll never forget you saying it for as long as I live.  Have your wedding night with someone you care about in town,” Lilly offered, looking down so the hurt wouldn’t show in her eyes.
    “Christ, I didn’t mean it that way Lilly.”
    “Reece, there’s really only one way to m ean such remarks.  I offend you, you can’t stand to look at me, and you want me on the other side of town.  I understood you.”
    “I don’t think you have any idea what I think of you.”
    “Probably not, don’t say it.  I have enough hurt already.  What is the name of your solicitor?  If you give me his address, I was thinking I could get messages to you, through him.  Don’t worry, I don’t mean often, just something serious like if I deliver a baby or get very sick, or anything,” Lilly said, wondering if she was laying it on too thickly.
    Half of him thought she was playing a game, for no one was that considerate of another or that able to handle rejection.  The other half thought he had wounded Lilly so deeply she wanted to avoid him, she detested him.  That made chills run inside him, like snow down his collar.
    “ Lilly, if you have a baby I don’t want to find out by a note from my solicitor.”
    “Oh.  Sorry, I thought you’d want to know.   I won’t bother you with it then.”
    “Of course I’d want to k now!  Not from him, from you,” Reece replied, trying to manage his growing anger.
    She looked at him then and quickly looked away.
    “Alright, I’ll send you a note if it happens.”
    “ Lilly, we really need to talk.  You’ve misunderstood me and I’ve misspoken in anger.  I am going to see you.  You won’t be in town alone all the time,” Reece offered, wondering if seeing him would make Lilly elated or sad.
    At that moment, such a rush of emotion hit Lilly, she wondered if she hated him.  ‘Alone all the time,’ that was plain enough. He’d see his footman, his butler, his mistresses, friends, acquaintances, and strangers, more often than her and suddenly in a fury, Lilly was glad.
    “I don’t care if I ever see you again Reece.  After what you said to me, where you plan to house me, you won’t have to worry about me searching you out, I’ll never look.”
    Finally her spirit and temper returned and Reece was glad, for a moment he feared he’d destroyed her.  Then her words sunk in and he felt real alarm.
    “We’re going to talk later.” 
    Reece spoke sternly, but Lilly didn’t answer, she just looked away and smiled at her aunts and her father.  He would have given anything if she would look at him that way, just once.
    The entire village was there and after Lilly broke away from her conversation with Reece, she joined them.  They all laughed and embraced Lilly, as if she was their favorite family member.  Some crying, others laughing and holding her too close.  Children gathered around her and kissed her cheeks, lightly touched her soft satin wedding gown, and begged for a hug.  Grown rough men from the fields clasped her and made her laugh.  Elderly ladies with canes and snuff kissed her and whispered joyful wishes. 
    Reece had never seen anyone so well loved.  Not once in his life had a village full of people even glanced his way with recognition or gladness and he was their earl.  The thought of taking this wonderful, kind and giving girl and hiding her in an off London street, under an assumed name was madness.  She was coming home with him.  The vision of Lilly on some side street, mixed with whores and tradesman, closed off from people, was disgusting to him.
    He noticed how all the me n watched her.  Robert, some man named Joshua; every one of them down to the field hands, adored her.  Did he think if Lilly was abandoned in London, she would not be