The Lady Who Stay

the T

s on your engag

ida and she knew that for certain. She'd had enough time spent behind curtains, corridors and pillars to overhear the lady speak of her with malice. "Thank you," she simply answered, return

Cressida one of those looks that were provoking and condescending yet innocent at

ection of the Herald. The last time she came face to face with one of Belinda's friends, she had ended up emptying a glass of wine on the woman's dress. Her mot

om. "In a few years, when the Lord of Haverston will die, not that I wish that to happen at all, your soon-to-be-husband will inherit his title and he will be in need of an heir or his brothe

, "If that happens, I hope that the child will not be from you, dear Be

er mouth fell open in shock.

ink you want to continue that statement, dear," she

all yourse

of Easton seems to like the idea of a scandalous wife than a...pampered, manufactured, phony girl very much comparable to garden plants. I hope you get what I mean." She

lucky that someone like Lord Easton would even consider mar

d. To be considered a member of your circle would be the most insulting and scandalous thing ever," she managed

avy air and the stares. They were not happy stares. Most of them were curious. Ha! They must wonder why she was suddenly engaged and to one of the most eligible bachelo

he had heard whi

's Ea

lled the Lord of Bradf

und without a corset!

land one a lord, I would have l

even tha

it was night time! She hated to go back inside and mingle with the rest of them. Maybe that was why she was never one of them. She always found herself alone in times like this, always

as the ballroom. She walked out the door and found no one there, much to her relief. Gardens in The Town mostly comprised of fake plants the gardeners had to water to k

thought. She sat down on a lone stone bench and took a deep breath

I'd find

d the wall of tall fake bushes. His powerful presence was even more palpable in his evening black jacket and tr

fed, sitting back down o

you here?

u can get it here. Or anywhere in The Town. Except in the

too much

I don't talk too much.

plain," he cut her off, walking cl

ou here? I thought you couldn't come? If

t would th

t abou

don't care wh

meet his gaze. His eyes bothered her. They seemed

re you out

u. I neede

aused anoth

early di

O

hat I

when it seemed to Cressida that he was not planning to star

made your

t want to be h

from telling me to

were boring into her as if he wanted to devour her. She wasn't na茂ve as not to get the meaning. He wan

ion she had seen him wear from the moment she met hi

re a Leaguer. That is something

But I believe this one does. We are both

versing their position. "If I say

*

ignore how she looked in that green dress or

But she knew of that disadvantageous trait that she barely allowed herself to look him in the eyes. He had noticed tha

y take you to them and you c

her lower lip, deep in thought. The woman didn't know she was inviting trouble with he

an be free of this place," she s

he little changes in their plan he had th

days to make up your

made up her mind. "No. I'll do it. Everyone may condemn me

distastef

venture to an unknown world set her off from the rest of the women-even the gentlemen-inside that ballroom. "No, not so distasteful. The Town has been my home from the moment I was conceived and I won't go as far as say it is distasteful just becaus

most selfish move he had done so far, but it was better than to tie someone to a life he couldn't even give them in the first place. Pushing Cressida to get out of The Town was better than to tie her to him

tion to every word he said. "If you leave, I would be left with a missing bride, but still unmarried. They may give me years to search for you or mourn yo

r face as she listened.

ghed. "What I am trying to say,