Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,372

to make it sound like a joke, but Lord Fallon didn’t laugh.

Her inner senses told her to move away as he strode closer. All too soon she found herself backed up against the glass doors out to the terrace. But Lord Fallon kept coming.

“A little birdie tells me you may decline Lord Bladestow’s offer. To say you have surprised me is an understatement. Pleasantly surprised, I might add. I thought I may have been too late.”

Too late? For what? He didn’t stop until his chest was almost touching her breasts, and the doors to the outside were marking her back as she pushed against them, trying to put distance between them. For the first time she wished he was as tall as Blade so she didn’t have to look him in the eye, because what she saw there frightened her. Desperation.

“I’m expected back in the ballroom. Please let me pass.”

A finger ran down her cheek, and she turned her head away. His touch made her skin crawl. “I don’t think so. You see, you are the answer to my predicament.”

At her frown, he laughed. “So innocent, but not for long. If I ruin you, your father is still likely to allow our marriage to stand because he won’t want his eldest daughter ruined. It dampens the chances of the second daughter making a fine match. Your dowry will be forthcoming because he won’t want you to suffer in poverty like I and my family are suffering.”

Fear almost made her knees buckle, but she refused to let him see it. “My brother will kill you if you touch me.”

He gripped her chin in his hand. “Most likely. So best we depart for Gretna Green before that can happen. So convenient that from York it’s only a few day's ride.”

“Not in this weather.”

He shrugged. “But the fresh snow will cover our tracks. So shall we?”

On the words ‘shall we’ the door behind her flew open, and before she could scream, he pushed her out into the frigid night air, his grip on her arm vice like. She bit his hand to scream, but he shoved his cravat into her mouth. The cold hit her like a fist and she knew she’d freeze to death if he hadn’t brought wraps for her, carriage or no carriage. The only thing calming her was he needed her alive—at least until he had his money.

That thought and the chill seemed to chase away her fear. She had to escape before he got her in any conveyance he may have standing by. She’d play scared and helpless until the perfect opportunity to escape came her way. She refused to think about what would happen to her if she did not escape. Trello would find her. She just prayed it was before Lord Fallon ruined her.

Blade wandered out to the ballroom, excitement raging inside him. In less than an hour he would get down on one knee and pledge his love for her, to all those present and he prayed she would not throw it in his face. But she deserved to have a public declaration of his love, or how else would she believe him? What had Harriet told him? To be brave. He’d never considered himself a coward, but her words had the ring of truth to them.

Well, he’d show her he could be brave too, and vulnerable, and so in love with her it hurt.

He was no longer scared to open his heart. Having it ripped to shreds once before was no excuse. He’d been foolish, and he’d made a mistake in picking a woman who was empty inside. Harriet wasn’t empty. She embraced life and cared for nothing but family and friends.

Harriet had let herself be vulnerable. She’d told him what was in her heart, with no thought to her pride. She’d told the truth and demanded he face his feelings for her. She wanted love—wanted his love, and by God, she deserved a man who loved her. She deserved his love and he would freely give it to her.

The idea of her marrying any other man set his teeth on edge. He rubbed his chest. He wanted her and no one else.

Soon he would know if he had left his declaration too late. He hoped it didn’t spoil Christmas for everyone. He hoped that they would remember this Christmas forever. For the right reasons. For what could be a better present than the gift of love?

“Your Grace, have you seen Harriet?” He looked