All's Fair in Love and Seduction Read Online Free Page B

eye. “Lord Creswell must marry you. I can see no other way.”
    Difficult as it was, Elizabeth had to face the truth of her words. And that wasn’t to say she herself abhorred the thought. Her distress stemmed from the unfortunate circumstances and her one glaring omission. She had to tell him who she was.
    “He is going to be angry.”
    Missy’s back went straight as a board and a steely glint entered her blue-gray eyes. “Then he should have been more circumspect in his dealings with you,” she said her voice cooling several degrees.
    As much as Missy admired the viscount, Elizabeth knew her cousin would have no problem taking him on to defend her honor. Elizabeth dropped her gaze to her lap. Never had she felt so unworthy of such unstinting loyalty.
    “I will speak with James tomorrow, you best get some sleep.”
    Elizabeth’s face blistered with heat. Good Lord, what would he think of her? And worse yet, what would he do? “James will not-not—”
    Missy’s countenance softened and a teasing smile transformed her beautiful face to nothing short of breathtaking. “Don’t worry, my dear, my husband is not a violent man. Moreover, he is terribly fond of Lord Creswell, as are we all.”
    “Oh no, I didn’t mean—”
    The soft lilting sound of Missy’s laughter cut off Elizabeth’s stricken protest. “Be assured, James will know precisely how to handle this situation. He’s a very gifted arbitrator. Jason and Jessica are as malleable as clay in his hands,” she said, speaking of her and James’s two-year-old twins.
    Elizabeth smiled faintly. She could well imagine. The earl had that kind of effect on people.
    “But I don’t want him to be forced to marry me if he is opposed.”
    “The viscount should consider himself very fortunate to have you as his wife.”
    Now would be the time to tell Missy about the less than amiable past they shared, but after seeing the hope and confidence in her cousin’s eyes, Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to heap yet another bit of misery upon her tonight. Perhaps, when the morning dawned clear and bright, her future wouldn’t appear quite so miserable and gray.
     
    ~*~*~
     
    Gray skies and a misty rain greeted the morning. Derek didn’t so much mind the gloomy weather for he hadn’t any pressing plans that required him to leave his residence that day.
    He was taking breakfast in the dining room when he heard the doorbell chime. Surprised, he shot a glance at the cherry, long-case clock by the far wall. Nine o’clock. Like many of his peers, he owned a well-appointed flat in Mayfair, but he did not normally receive callers before noon. On Sundays, no one called.
    A minute later his manservant entered and inquired if he was in for Lord Alex Cartwright and Lord Windmere.
    Curious but not alarmed, he instructed Paulson to have the men await him in the drawing room.
    When he joined them, ten minutes later, Rutherford prowled the room. Cartwright stood in front of a narrow paned window that stretched the length of wall, his back to him, hands thrust deep into his trouser pockets as he looked out into small yard at the back. Both men turned at his entry.
    Taking in the grim set of Cartwright’s mouth and a somber Lord Windmere, Derek immediately evinced this wasn’t to be a pleasure call.
    “Good morning, gentlemen. I can see from your expressions you aren’t here for the want of my company.” Derek smiled in an attempt to ease the sudden tension in the room. Surely whatever the news, it couldn’t be all that bad.
    Cartwright shook his head, a move that held suppressed fury. “You couldn’t just leave well enough alone could you? Damn it man, why couldn’t you leave her alone when I expressly told you she isn’t the type to dally with.”
    Bloody hell, they obviously knew about the kiss. But how? Miss Smith hadn’t seemed the type to run and tell tales the moment his back was turned.
    While Derek grappled with just how he should respond, Rutherford stalked