Page 49 of Desperately Seeking Seduction

“What accident, Win?”

Win turned away suddenly and walked to the windows, hand over her mouth. “No. You are mistaken.”

“Come now, Win. You look too much like my old friend to be a mere coincidence. You are Aston’s child, and I will tell everyone who matters in these things that he should be made to support you.”

“Don’t do that!” Winston snapped. “I want nothing I haven’t earned from my own labors.”

“He’s a rich man,” Stratford murmured. “Not without influence in certain circles. You could do far better in life than you ever dare imagine with his financial support. My brother can make him do the right thing. We can confront him together.” He drew close to her again and put his fingers lightly on her shoulder. “But Win, what accident were you talking about?”

Win turned on him then, eyes wild, breathing rushed.

“I’ve never heard of Mrs. Aston being involved in any accident,” he said gently.

She wet her lips and turned her head to stare at the door to his room. “Is she here? Mrs. Aston.”

“No. Your parents quarrel bitterly, and they live separate lives. Even her false son wants nothing to do with her, I’ve heard.”

Winston started to nod but then rushed away from him, snatched up the chamber pot and cast up her accounts into it. Stratford winced, following to offer his assistance, but she pushed him away and propped herself up against a doorway, face pale and sweaty and visibly shaken by all he’d told her.

Slowly she slid down the wall. When she hugged her knees and laid her head down on them, Stratford took the opportunity to take the chamber pot from her, open a window, and throw the contents outside. He left the windows wide open to let in some fresh air and then sat himself down cross-legged opposite her and waited.

Win finally looked up at him. It was clear she was devastated. Her defenses lowered. The fight gone from her.

He winced. “You thought she was dead.”

Win nodded quickly.

“Tell me what happened. You were in a boat?”

“No,” she promised, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “Mama bundled me into a carriage late one night. I don’t remember where we were supposed to be going. We were speeding away from Father, he was angry…and then we were in the river. I heard her scream for help and then she stopped. I assumed she was lost, pulled under by the weight of her skirts. But she’s alive—and I should be dead.”

Stratford inched closer. “Don’t you want to stop running? Wouldn’t you like to see your mama again?”

She looked up at him, eyes huge. “No. I never want to see her again.”

Stratford was taken aback by the venom in her words. She sounded like she hated her mother. Had her mother betrayed her too? He reached for her hand and attempted to clasp it in his. “My mistake.”

“Yes.” She laid her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. “One of many, I’m afraid, my lord.”

“Then correct me where I’m wrong. It is you,” he whispered. “The boy who hated me.”

“You always were a persistent devil,” she complained. “Forever nagging me to play your games.”

He grinned then, so utterly relieved to know he was right about her. “Games are fun, and you could learn a lot from me.”

Win sat up straighter and met his gaze. “And you wonder why we never got along as children. You always have to have the last word.”

“It annoys my brothers, too.” He nodded quickly. “Tell me how this happened to you.”

“How what happened?”

“How you came to this point in your life. Go back to when we met and tell me everything that happened after,” he suggested. When her lips pursed tightly, he added, “You can trust me.”

“No one who says that is trustworthy,” she replied, a tight smile on her lips.

“Then look in your heart, Win. Am I worthy of your friendship?”

Her smile grew strained. “It’s impossible but…”