Page 88 of A Devious Secret

As the butler went to respond, Hugh spoke first. “I suspect my cousin is in the drawing room,” he said. “I’m not going to let her dismiss you so easily.”

Stephen followed Hugh into the drawing room, and he saw the window that led out to the gardens was open.

Lady Montfort was sitting on the settee with needlework in her hand. “You just missed Gemma,” she informed them as she pulled the needle through the thread. “When she heard Mr. Wycomb’s voice, she decided to leave by way of the window.”

Stephen approached the window and asked, “Do you mind, my lady?”

“That depends,” Lady Montfort said, bringing her gaze up. “Are you an honorable man, Mr. Wycomb?”

“I strive to be,” Stephen responded honestly.

Lady Montfort lowered the needlework to her lap and considered him for a moment. “You may go speak to my niece, but we shall be watching you from the drawing room.”

“I would expect nothing less,” Stephen said before he stepped through the window.

As he came to stand in the plant bed, his eyes roamed the lush landscape and he saw no sign of Gemma. He stepped on the path and slowly made his way towards the rear of the gardens.

He practically breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Gemma. She was sitting on the center of a bench and her gaze was downcast.

Not wanting to startle her, Stephen kept his voice low and he said, “Gemma.”

Her eyes slowly came up and he could see that she had been crying.

Stephen came to a stop a short distance from the bench. “Why did you try to run from me?”

“I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“The truth,” she replied softly.

He took a step closer to her. “I can explain everything, Gemma.”

“There is no need,” Gemma said. “You lived your life, and I lived mine.”

“Yes, but I now want to live them together.”

Gemma’s lips tightened into a flat line. “Is that an offer?”

“It is, if you are willing,” Stephen replied.

Gemma shook her head. “I’m afraid I must decline,” she said. “I want to believe the best in you, but I am scared. I am scared that you are not the man I thought you were; the man I have grown to care greatly about.”

“I am that man!” he exclaimed. “Just give me a chance to prove it.”

“Were you in a duel?” Gemma asked.

“I was, but—”

Gemma spoke over him. “And did you recently frequent a gambling hell?”

“I did, but I am no gambler.”

“Your behavior suggests otherwise,” Gemma said, rising. “I’m sorry but I cannot enter a relationship with a man that gambles. I have seen the destruction that it causes to a family firsthand.”

As Gemma went to walk past him, he gently reached for her arm, stilling her. “I was in a duel, but I did it only because no one else cared what happened to this young woman. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. My conscience wouldn’t have allowed that,” he asserted. “But I assure you that nothing untoward happened between us.”

She met his gaze. “You risked your career, your reputation, for this young woman.”