Bride for a Night(159)

“Talia, listen to me.”

Talia waved a hand, pacing the floral carpet. “I do not have time to waste, Gabriel.”

“You will not be traveling with me tomorrow.”

Preoccupied with her thoughts, it took a moment for Gabriel’s words to penetrate. Finally, she slowly turned to study his inflexible expression.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I intend my journey to London to be a short, excessively discreet visit,” he said, his tone carefully stripped of emotion. “The fewer people who realize that I have sought a meeting with the king and prime minister, the less chance that I will arouse the suspicions of the traitors.”

It was a reasonable explanation, and yet, she was not convinced.

Perhaps it was only her bothersome insecurities that made her certain that he was deliberately attempting to keep her from traveling with him to London.

But it did not matter.

She was not going to settle for being hidden away like a nasty secret. Not again.

“It does not matter how careful you might attempt to be, the word of your arrival is bound to become known.”

He shrugged aside her warning. “Even if it does, I shall be gone before word can spread.”

Talia forced herself to pause and consider her words. There was no use in directly accusing him of trying to keep her at Carrick Park. He would only deny her claim. No, she must be clever enough to outwit him.

She forced herself to move forward, perching on the edge of the bed and deliberately allowing her robe to gape just enough for a small glimpse of her breasts. Predictably his gaze shifted down to linger on the soft mounds, and Talia hid a small smile of triumph. She was not above using what few weapons she might possess.

“You must know that it will only cause more speculation if it appears you are attempting to sneak about.”

“And what do you suggest?” he demanded.

“Society will find nothing suspicious in the arrival of Lord and Lady Ashcombe in London.”

He made a sound of disgust, but his attention remained focused on her gaping robe.

“You cannot be that na?ve.”

“And it will surely be expected of you to introduce me to the king.” She pressed her advantage, tilting her head so that her dark hair spilled over one shoulder. “We will simply plan a soiree and invite those gentlemen you wish to speak with. No one will have any reason to question such an innocent gathering.”

His gaze sharpened as he lifted his head and regarded her with an impatient scowl.

“Christ, Talia, do you have any notion the stir our arrival will cause?” he snapped. “The scandalmongers will have the entire town buzzing with rumors.”

She shrugged. “Which is precisely what we desire, is it not?”

He pushed away from the headboard, his jaw clenched as he battled his surge of anger.

“Have you taken leave of your senses?”

She met his gaze squarely. What rumors did he fear? Those of their hasty marriage? Of their sudden disappearance?

Or the fact that his bride was the socially unacceptable daughter of Silas Dobson who remained a source of humiliation for the Ashcombe family?

The aching disappointment that was a familiar part of her past threatened to return as she reached to lay her hand on Gabriel’s arm, her expression one of unconscious pleading.

“Just consider, Gabriel, if all of society is speculating on our return to London, then they shall be too occupied to consider who you might or might not be seeking out to speak with.” She forced a stiff smile to her lips. “Surely that is worth enduring the gossips?”