When the Earl Met His Match (Wedded by Scandal #4) - Stacy Reid Page 0,92

shadows, scanning to ensure no one else lingered who could gossip and cause irreparable harm to her reputation.

“Why have you dragged me here?” came his wife’s scathing demand. “You will release me at once!”

“Phoebe, please,” the man breathed. “Did you get my letters?”

Hugh faltered into remarkable stillness. Letters?

With a scoff, she whirled around and made to head up the stone path back to the ballroom.

“Please, Phoebe, we have been friends for years! Please…I…I only wish a moment of your time,” the man cried in a choked voice.

She stopped and closed her eyes briefly, a spasm of emotions crossing her face Hugh could not decipher. The coldness inside grew.

She turned around. “The only reason I even allowed you to drag me away is because I did not want to start a scene and a scandal. I have people depending on me who would hate for any luridness to attach to our names, and that is the only reason I did not punch you on the nose, George.”

He chuckled, yet his expression was one of pained regret. “This is what I love about you, Phoebe. Your boldness. How you speak your mind. You are so decided. I…I love you. Please, please let me make this up to you. Marry me, Phoebe!”

His father had warned him that it was easy to make enemies within the ton, and because of its fickle nature, he should be aware to whom he gave that epithet. One should not be eager to claim an enemy because having a friend was more worthwhile. Yet it was with a sense of pleasure he mentally moved the man before his wife into enemy status.

“Do not be ridiculous,” she said cuttingly.

“Your brother…he told me if I wished to do the honourable thing, I should be at tonight’s ball and try and speak with you. He gave me hope, Phoebe…hope that you perhaps think of me with the same longing as I think of you. I want to give you a husband that you love…and one who loves you…a happy life…a happy family. I can give that to you. Please give me a chance to make up for the fool I was.”

She stared at him for several seconds, and the man seemed to hold his breath, awaiting her reply.

With a sense of disbelief, Hugh found he did the same thing. He waited, his heart twisting as if a knife had been lodged within.

She did not answer. Merely turned away. The man grabbed her shoulder and twisted her around. A low growl came from his wife’s throat, and Hugh moved forward, iciness flowing through his veins.

“George, you will—”

The man hauled her to him and pressed a kiss to her mouth, cutting off her furious rebuttal.

…

Phoebe jerked from George’s embrace, shock tearing through her. A glint entered his eyes, and he reached out a hand to her. Outrage poured through her, and she slapped his hand away and stepped back. “How do you dare? I am a happily married woman!” she said furiously.

“Married?” he cried, shock slackening his jaw. He appeared a besotted, miserable fool, and Phoebe did not care to offer him any kind words. George squared his shoulders. “Your brother clearly believes that marriage is of little consequence if he is willing to take steps to see us reunited. I even suspected that marriage is a tale to support you returning with a child.”

She stumbled back. Richard told him? Phoebe breathed harshly, anger and hurt pouring through her veins. “I am not sure what Richard told you but—”

“I deduced it myself! You disappeared from society without any word like many ladies do who run away to the country for months and return a widow. We have a child, don’t we?” he asked hopefully.

“We do not, George. My husband and I have a child.” Not even sparing him another glance, she deliberately used the back of her glove to swipe away the imprint of his mouth on hers and whirled away. Thank goodness he had not tried for more intimacy or she would have bitten his tongue off! She did not believe violence was the first response, but she should have slapped his face again!

Phoebe took three steps and collided into an unyielding frame with a rousingly familiar scent. Glancing up, she met the bluest, most beautiful eyes. Phoebe’s breath caught as a burst of relief and happiness filled her heart.

“You came,” she cried happily, flinging herself into his arms.

It took a few moments before his arms came around her. He enfolded her