Chapter Ten

“Get the hell out of my house, Witherspoon,” Edward’s furious voice boomed through the house. “If I so much as catch you in the same village as my sister again you’ll find yourself on the unpleasant end of my dueling pistol.” 

“Oh, no.” Phoebe tossed her book onto an end table, and shot out of the chair she’d been lounging in. When had Edward returned home? She dashed to the top of the stairs, dread settling in the pit of her stomach as she flew down the steps. “Edward! Edward, stop!”

Phoebe careened around the corner into the entrance hall. Edward and James squared off by the oversize door, two titans prepared for battle. Their butler stood against one wall, uncharacteristic panic lining his usually staid façade.

“Get back upstairs, Phoebe,” Edward growled. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“This concerns me very much.” She marched into the hall and speared her brother with a withering glare. “However, it does not concern you.” Ignoring her brother’s return glare she turned to James. “The parlor is this way. Please join me.”

James shifted a guarded gaze from her to Edward but said nothing, and made no move to follow her.

“James?” She took a hesitant step forward, dreams of love, marriage, and brown eyed children rapidly evaporating.

“James?” Edward stormed forward and… exploded. “James!” He shoved James square in the chest with enough force to send the larger man staggering backward. “She’s using your given name now? Just when did you become so familiar with my sister.”

Regaining his balance, James clenched a fist at his side as a murderous glint steeled in his eye, but he remained silent.

Phoebe’s heart hammered. Part of her prayed James would tell Edward the truth and fight for her, while another feared what her brother would do if he knew just how close she and James had been.

Edward turned on her, gray eyes blazing with rage. “So help me, Phoebe, I warned you about consorting with that man.” Her brother stabbed a finger toward James. “Do you know what he is?”

“I know perfectly well who he is,” Phoebe began. “He—”

“He is a gambler and a thief and a drunken womanizer.”

James flinched as each word struck the air. The truth of defeat in his eyes sliced clear through Phoebe. Her heart trembled.

“The magistrate sent word of the murder you reported last night. Are you responsible for that as well?”

“No,” James growled.

Edward stalked forward once more. “You low down, scou—”

“Enough.” James raised a commanding hand, and Phoebe’s heart swelled. He was going to stand up to her brother! “I’ll go,” he said, turning to the door, dashing her hopes completely. James quartered back, meeting her gaze and her spirit hiccupped one last time. “Forgive me any inconvenience, Lady Phoebe. I came only to bid you farewell.”

Farewell? Her heart shattered. “James,” she cried, running to the door.

Edward grabbed her arm, halting her flight. “Phoebe, no. I forbid you to follow him.”

“Let me go!” She wrenched from his grasp, and rushed through the door. She sprinted down the stone steps, desperate for answers and the uncertain state of her future. “James!”

He stood in the drive, gathering the long leather reigns of his mount.

“Don’t go, please.”

Shoulders tense, he turned, resignation writ all over his face.

She slowed and drew a ragged breath, reaching for him. “Please, James, I—”

He waved her off. “Don’t, Phoebe.”

“But…”

“Your brother is right. About everything.” He sighed heavily. “It’s what I came here to tell you, Phoebe. There is no future for us.”

“No future, but…? What of yesterday?” She gulped as her throat tightened. “I—I… gave myself to you,” she whispered.

“And it was wonderful.” He stepped forward abruptly, grasping her upper arms, brown eyes softening just enough to reveal the man she’d been with yesterday. “But no one has to know. Find a good man, Phoebe. Marry.” He tipped her chin and flashed that roguish half smile that never failed to melt her insides. “Think of me fondly from time to time.”

“Don’t do this, James. You are a good man. You—”

“No,” he said firmly. “I’m not. I am good at soldiering and disappointing people. Nothing more.” He backed away, swinging lithely onto his horse. “Goodbye, my lady.” He tipped his hat and rode away without a backward glance.

Heart broken, Phoebe hugged her arms around herself, unable to stem the onslaught of tears streaming down her face. She should have suspected yesterday when James had grown so distant that he had every intention of walking away from her when he returned to war. Who was she to believe she could reform the most notorious rake in all England? James had merely taken what she’d freely offered. She’d asked for nothing in return… given him no ultimatums or expectations. She’d been a fool and now she must face Edward’s wrath.

*          *          *

“Goddamn it, Phoebe, I warned you what would happen if you continued consorting with the Witherspoons.” Edward paced the length of his study, vibrating with rage. “Do you heed nothing I say?”

“Edward—”

“I will hear none of your excuses. You defied me, Phoebe. Openly and blatantly. I cannot believe you were encouraging his attentions.” He wiped a palm over his face. “If word that you carried on a friendship with James Witherspoon got back to London you could be ruined. Thank God we live in the country.”

Phoebe gulped. Little did her brother know, she was well and truly ruined. James’s voice rumbled in her mind, No one has to know… Was that true? Could she go on as though she’d not foolishly given her innocence to a rake?

“You will not leave this house without my express permission or escort until we leave for London next month.” Edward’s dictate sparked her from her thoughts. “You will receive visitors only with my approval, and this season you will marry. If you do not select a suitable husband by summers end, I will choose one for you.”

Phoebe had no energy to form an argument. She simply nodded and left her brother’s study for the safety of her room.