eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he watched her that she wondered if she’d even seen it. “I’m glad to hear it,” Lord Coleridge replied with what sounded like honest sincerity.
Caroline could barely prevent her jaw from dropping. How on earth was it possible for him to appear so sincere when, in truth, she knew he could not mean what he’d said?
“I’m sorry for how all this affected you, my lord,” Caroline said with feigned compassion, wondering if there was a way to tease an honest reaction out of him. “I assume you were devastated when you learned of their marriage.” There! Let him say something pleasant now!
To Caroline’s great disappointment, his jaw did not drop nor did his eyes narrow or a scowl come to his face. In fact, the man seemed amused, a light snicker leaving his lips as he dropped his gaze for a brief moment as though he were embarrassed to reveal a secret.
“I must confess something,” Lord Coleridge said as his gaze returned to hers, his left hand coming to settle on hers as it rested on his right arm.
Caroline wanted nothing more than to jerk her hand away, and it cost her every bit of strength she could muster not to do so. “Confess?” she asked, annoyed with the slight croak in her voice.
Lord Coleridge nodded, an affectionate smile coming to his face. “I never sought your cousin’s hand in marriage. She’s a wonderful young woman and I did enjoy her company. However, truth be told,” a deep sigh left his lips as though he truly were speaking from the heart, “it is you I want.”
Caroline’s knees felt as if they would buckle as the shock of his words slammed into her. Her eyelashes blinked rapidly, trying to rid her of the mirage that had appeared before her, speaking nonsense. “I beg your pardon?”
Lord Coleridge chuckled warmly. “It is true. Long ago, I singled you out as the one woman who could make me that happiest of men.” He sighed, and his hand squeezed hers.
For a second, Caroline feared she’d lose the contents of her stomach.
“But you always seemed so reserved and reluctant to mingle that I was afraid a direct approach would frighten you.” His gaze darkened. “I noted how Markham’s rather persistent address affected you, and I feel the need to apologize on his behalf. He ought to have acted the proper gentleman and taken your sensibilities into account.”
Caroline’s head spun and, without thought, her hand on Lord Coleridge’s arm tightened as she fought to regain her balance. He’d seen her with Pierce? Her mind screamed. What else had he seen? And why was he doing this? Was this another game? He couldn’t possibly be sincere, could he?
Inhaling a steadying breath, Caroline allowed her gaze to sweep over the peaceful scene before her; lords and ladies promenading, children running and laughing, the sun sparkling off the clear water of the Serpentine. All was well…
…until it wasn’t.
Off to the side near the bridge stood Pierce, a dark scowl on his face as he stared at her—at them!—a dark-haired beauty on his arm who, in that moment, leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
While Lord Coleridge’s words had unhinged her, it was the sight of Pierce and his companion that turned Caroline’s world upside down. Tears shot to her eyes and she quickly averted her gaze as her heart hammered painfully in her chest. What was going on? Had the world gone mad?
*
If he’d been armed, Pierce doubted he would’ve been able to keep himself from ending that man’s life right then and there! And blast the consequences!
His blood boiled with rage, and he felt sickened to the stomach when he finally took note of the young woman on Coleridge’s arm.
It was Caroline!
His Caroline!
What on earth was she doing here? With that man? That monster!
Dimly, Pierce felt Charlaine’s hand tighten on his arm before she leaned in to whisper something in his ear. “Is that her?”
Yes! His heart screamed as he shifted his gaze to catch Caroline’s, desperate to understand what he was seeing. To his utter shock, she averted her eyes and turned away from him, her eyes slightly misted as she looked up at Coleridge as though…as though…
“You look as though your head is about to explode,” Charlaine remarked beside him, her hand giving his arm a gentle tug, no doubt seeking to draw his attention. “What’s wrong?”
Pierce barely heard her as his mind kept circling the same questions again and