Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(82)

Alex shook his head, replying in a mumble she couldn’t quite hear.

“What?” she asked. “What did you say?”

“I said it’s painful for the horses.”

“Yes, but the pain doesn’t last long, and really it’s safer with them docked.”

“Their tails are their only protection against flies,” he said, not looking at her.

“Adores children and animals,” Lily murmured, feeling a kindling of warmth toward him. “You’re not living up to your coldhearted reputation, my lord. Here, let me drive the phaeton.” She stretched her hands out for the reins.

Alex gave her a blank look, as if the concept of a woman guiding the horses were completely foreign.

Lily laughed and chided him gently. “I’m quite good at it, my lord.”

“You’ll ruin your gloves.”

“What’s one little pair of gloves?”

“I’ve never let a woman take the reins before.”

“Afraid?” she asked sweetly. “Apparently the trust in this marriage is to be one-sided.”

Reluctantly Alex handed over the reins. Her firm, expert grip seemed to reassure him, and he sat back a little.

“Relax,” Lily said with a laugh. “You look as though you intend to snatch them back at any moment. I’ve never overturned a phaeton, my lord.”

“There’s a first time for everything.” He glanced at the reins longingly.

“So it seems,” she said with perfect demureness, and flicked the horses to increase the pace.

After about a mile, Alex complimented Lily on her driving. He took pride in the sight of her small hands exerting such confident pressure on the reins. Not that he was entirely comfortable with being her passenger—it was not in his nature to relinquish control easily. But Lily’s pride in her own skill was as exciting as it was attractive. She would never be easily cowed by him or anyone. She would be an ideal wife for him, a woman capable of matching his passion, strength, and stubbornness with her own.

The phaeton progressed toward Brompton and Chelsea, and Alex retrieved the reins the last part of the way. He took them down a side street to a small stone church with arched wooden doors. A soberly dressed lad in his teens waited outside the church entrance. “Hold the horses,” Alex murmured, tossing him a coin. “We won’t be long.”

The boy caught the coin in his fist and grinned cheerfully. “Aye, m’lord.”

Alex descended from the phaeton and reached up for Lily. She was frozen in place, looking down at him with wide eyes. The sight of the church had been like a bucket of cold water thrown in her face, making her realize exactly what was about to happen. Alex spoke casually. “Give me your hand, Lily.”

“What am I doing?” she asked in a small voice.

“Let me help you down.”

Lily put her hand to her thrashing heart as she stared at him. His manner was easy and unthreatening, but deep in his eyes there was a steely gleam, and his voice contained a thread of warning. Now that she had allowed him to bring her this far, there would be no escape. Feeling as if the situation weren’t quite real, she placed her hand in his and alighted from the carriage. “After H-Harry jilted me,” she stammered, “I promised myself…I vowed…I’d never marry anyone.”

Alex looked at her down-bent head, realizing how much her fiancé’s desertion had hurt her, enough that the memory of the humiliation still lingered after ten years. He slid an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “He didn’t deserve you,” he whispered into her hair. “He was a weak, cowardly fool.”

“Intelligent enough to s-save himself. And some might call you even more of a fool for doing this—”

“I have my faults,” Alex said, gently kneading her shoulders, turning his back to shield her from the curious gazes of passersby. He smiled ruefully. “Many faults, and you’ve managed to become acquainted with most of them. But I’d never leave you, Wilhemina Lawson. Never. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” she said with a smothered, hopeless laugh, “but I don’t believe you. You think you know the worst about me, but you don’t.” She didn’t dare say more than that. Holding her breath, she waited to see if it would be enough to make him change his mind.

“I know all I need to,” he said quietly. “The rest will keep for later.” Keeping his arm around her, he walked with her into the church.

The inside of the little building was touching in its simplicity, filled with the light filtering through quaint stained-glass windows. The glow of candles caused the polished oak pews to gleam. An elderly vicar waited for them inside. His face was weathered and kindly. Although he was no taller than Lily, he possessed a strong and vibrant presence. “Lord Raiford,” he said with a serene smile. His clear blue eyes moved to Lily’s apprehensive face. “And this must be Miss Lawson.” He surprised Lily by taking her shoulders in his hands and studying her appraisingly. “I’ve known Raiford for quite some time, my dear. Almost since the day of his birth.”

“Oh?” Lily returned with a wan imitation of her usual saucy smile. “And what’s your opinion of him, vicar?”

“The earl is a good man,” he replied thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling as he glanced at Alex, “though at times he is apt to be somewhat prideful.”