“No.” A brief, uncomfortable smile fluttered over her lips. “You have been excellent company, my lord. A good friend. I have enjoyed the time we have spent together.”
He drew back from her. With every word out of her mouth he felt as if she’d just delivered more blows to his gut that left him breathless. Friend? Friend! His instincts told him she couldn’t possibly think so little of him. “You’re lying to me, to yourself as well, if you think friendship is all we have. Love is not something you can brush aside so easily. I know you care for me,” he told her.
“I am not brushing anything aside, my lord. I do care about you but I’m being practical, too. Now is the time to protect your life before any lasting harm is done. Let Northport claim the moral high ground this one last time, but you know the truth that he has none. Pursue one of his choices and marry them, but do not allow him to threaten your inheritance ever again.”
They stared at each other for a minute, her words burrowing into his brain. How could she say any of this to him? He’d give up everything for her. To love her. “Northport cannot disinherit me.”
“I know but he can ruin the estate before you inherit out of spite,” she whispered. “You could need his fortune one day.”
“He would never beggar the estate.”
“But blackmailing his son is perfectly normal behavior to you?” she said. “Think of the worst he could do? Too many people will depend on you to make their lives better when he is gone. You must give me up and marry someone good.”
He stared at her, noticing the stubborn set of her face and sagged. He’d made his choice…but she was not his still. “All this time, I thought we were making a life together. A future you wanted as much as I did.”
She fiddled with the diamonds on her wrist. His first gift to her sparkled in the afternoon light, mocking him. He’d imagined it the first of many presents he could bestow, including eventually seeing her wear the family rubies upon their wedding day, in the dim far-distant future. A future that she claimed never to want, even now.
He lowered his face and gulped. She loved him. He knew it, felt it, every time she was in his arms. Every time she smiled his way, his hope had grown little by little that he could have it all. “This is love.”
“I’m sure it seems that way to you right now, but that was only desire leading you astray,” Aurora promised with a sigh. She fingered the bracelet on her wrist and unbuckling the clasp. “I ought to give this back.”
“Keep it. I don’t want it without you too.”
She put her hand over the gems. “There’s nothing left to say then, my lord, and I can see no good can come in prolonging the inevitable parting. I must go, and you should return to live in Upper Brook Street where you belong.”
He reached for her, shocked she’d suggest abandoning everything he loved about his life. “No. You can’t leave yet.”
She glanced at his outstretched hand with a frown.
He pulled his hand back with difficulty. “We need to talk about this, Aurora. Wait a moment,” he begged, unwilling to give up yet. “I’m sure we can figure this out.”
“There is nothing left to decide but your choice of bride.” She shook her head. “My answer will always be the same. I don’t belong with you. I never did. I am sorry if I’ve led you to believe I ever could.”
“And so am I, because I don’t belong anywhere else now,” he said, raising his voice on the last words.
She flinched at the anger in his voice, and Drew worked to control his temper. He couldn’t believe his promises counted for nothing. They were in love. He’d prove his devotion. He just needed more time to make her see Northport’s threats were nothing to worry about. She had to change her mind and stay.
He looked up just as Aurora took a step back from him. “Goodbye, Drew.”
She turned away to snatch up her reticule from the desk, and clutched it against her chest a long moment as they stared at each other.
When she turned away, Drew called out before she could leave the room. “Where are you going?”
She paused at the door.
Drew stared at her straight back, at the tight set of her shoulders, and hope bloomed in his gut.
“You don’t know, do you? This is a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
She shook her head. “I’m going where I belong. Don’t follow me. I don’t want to see you again.”
“Damn it, Aurora. We belong together!”
She said nothing to that and hurried from the room, calling for Mr. Bloom, her faithful servant. Drew followed as far as the study doorway, watched her rush out of his life without looking back.
But he was left reeling with shock, his feet stuck to the boards beneath him, and his heart torn to pieces all over again.
The front door shut loudly behind Mr. Bloom as he rushed out, following Aurora to the street.
Drew waited a moment, then went into the hall, hoping she’d change her mind any moment and return to him. But she did not return after ten minutes of standing there waiting, and he had no choice but to go look out to the street running before the house.
The woman he loved and adored, the lady he was giving up a greater fortune for, had left him.
He closed his eyes briefly. Devastated that he’d lost everything important to him in one day. Drew had never been able to change Aurora’s stubborn mind in the whole of their acquaintance. He’d never really had her…and now there was nothing left he could do. She’d taken his happiness away.