Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss - Bree Wolf Page 0,107
She knew they would not stray far, but merely allowed her some privacy to speak to Lord Gillingham.
“You seem absent-minded,” her companion remarked as they neared the small grove, its trees casting long reaching shadows. “Is something wrong?”
Leonora could barely bring herself to look at him, afraid to see his face fall, to know that she was the one who had hurt him. He deserved better for he had always been most kind to her. “I am fine,” she told him with another insincere smile. “Please do not worry about me.”
Lord Gillingham gave a short nod, then urged his gelding closer to her, a determined look coming to his eyes. “Lady Leonora, I must confess I invited you here today to put a question to you.” The corners of his mouth quirked upward, and Leonora felt her heart drop into her stomach.
“My lord, if I may—”
“As I’ve said before, I hold you in the highest esteem,” he continued on, seemingly unaware that she had tried to interfere. “Never have I encountered a lady more suitable to my own disposition and interests than you, Lady Leonora. I believe wholeheartedly that a union between us would be beneficial to my happiness as well as yours.”
Leonora’s hands tensed upon the reins as a shiver danced down her back. “My lord, please I must tell you—”
Lord Gillingham pulled his mount to a halt, then turned to look at her, a bright smile upon his face. “Lady Leonora, would you do me the honor of accepting my hand?”
Leonora felt ready to faint. Indeed, she ought to have insisted he listen to her. Now, she had to refuse his proposal, instead of simply letting him know that she had no intention of ever marrying. “My lord, I do thank you for your kind proposal.” She lifted her eyes off her hands and forced herself to look at him. “However, what I meant to tell you earlier was that…I have no intention of taking a husband…ever.”
His brows slowly drew down into a puzzled frown. “Pardon me?”
Leonora inhaled a deep breath. “We are all different in our ways, and I believe that I am not the kind of woman who desires marriage. My refusal of your kind proposal has nothing to do with you, I assure you. Indeed, any woman would be most fortunate to call you husband.”
His jaw tensed. “Then why do you refuse me?” His frown grew ever darker. “Is there another?”
Taken aback by his insistent questioning, Leonora knew not what to say.
“What woman does not seek marriage?” Lord Gillingham demanded, urging his mount closer still. “Any proper woman knows that there is no greater honor than securing a suitable husband.” Something dark came to his eyes as he regarded her, a sneer curling the corners of his mouth. “Why would you dishonor your family so? If not marriage, what is it that you seek?” His gaze raked over her from head to toe, and Leonora felt a painfully familiar sensation settle in her stomach, something sickening and repulsive.
“I simply…I…” Leonora cleared her throat, willing her gaze to remain upon his. She could not help it, but every fiber of her being suddenly felt weak and frightened. “I simply do not believe that marriage would contribute to my happiness, my lord. I ask you to respect my decision.” She glanced over her shoulder to where her sisters were chatting animatedly atop their horses. “I believe, we should return to the others.” However, as Leonora tugged on her reins, Lord Gillingham leaned forward and snatched them up, cutting off her retreat. “What are you doing, my lord?”
An evil sneer contorted his face, once and for all wiping away the kindness she had seen in him before. Had it ever been there? Or had she been a fool to believe so? “How dare you refuse me after everything I’ve done for you?” Again, he tugged on her reins, urging her mount closer to his until they stood side-by-side, his knee brushing against her skirts. “Did you not appreciate the return of your precious notebook?”
Leonora almost slid off her horse as the shock of his words barreled into her. It was as though the air was squeezed from her lungs, and she began to feel faint.
A part of her longed for the oblivion of unconsciousness while another urged her to remain alert, reminding her of the threat barely an arm’s length away. “You? It was you?”
Staring at Lord Gillingham, Leonora was unable to wrap her mind around everything. Yet,