Elizabeth Elliott by Betrothed Page B

consider me ruined as a result. I am in your keeping without a servant or tirewoman to vouchsafe my reputation.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It seemed a small price for freedom, indeed, for my very life.”
    He stared down at her, then slowly shook his head. “I cannot decide if you are the most cunning woman I have ever met or the most guileless.”
    She gave an impatient sigh. “Will you explain to your men that they are mistaken in their beliefs?”
    “I will tell Evard the truth of the matter,” he conceded,“but he is probably the only one who will believe there is not more to the tale. The story will spread faster than the truth. The more one denies gossip, the truer it becomes in many minds.”
    He was right. To insist upon the truth would only make the lie that much more believable. And the story would spread beyond Montague. She didn’t care what the English thought of her, but one opinion did matter. If Dante heard the gossip, he would be furious. She didn’t want to think about what he might do if he heard the lie before he heard the truth. “I worried that something like this might happen, and I tried to keep my gown covered for just that reason.” She stared at the ground. “I am sorry, Baron, but I am grateful you did not abandon me after all.”
    “Believe me, Claudia, a little gossip is the least of my concerns.” He tilted her chin up with one finger. “Did you really think I would leave you here?”
    She lowered her lashes. The gentleness of his touch felt almost like a caress, a temptation to move closer to his warmth into the sheltering safety of his arms. She took a deep breath to rid herself of those fanciful thoughts but caught his scent instead, the faint, masculine smell that she missed when they were apart. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized that she had missed him.
    “Claudia?”
    She took a shaky step backward and kept her gaze glued to the ground. “Aye, Baron. I know you despise me as much as you despise my family, and I myself suggested you abandon me. I thought you took that suggestion to heart.” She steeled herself to meet his gaze. It wasn’t so hard. His eyes were as warm and welcoming as his touch. She could stare at him for hours, remembered well enough what it felt like when she thought she would never see him again. “Rather than abandon me, you saved my life. I will prove myself worthy of the efforts you made on my behalf.”
    “Will you indeed?” His voice lacked any trace of sarcasm.He sounded curious. “And how do you intend to prove yourself?”
    “I will make certain you are free of me,” she said. “And—and I will do everything I can to see that you get Halford Hall for a fair price.”
    Both dark brows rose. “And how do you intend to accomplish that?”
    She had said too much and tried to retreat to safer ground. “I do not know yet, but I will do what I can.”
    “The men are ready to move out,” Evard said from behind her.
    She turned around and noticed that the other soldiers had joined them. She had been so intent on her conversation with Guy that she didn’t hear their approach.
    “Set a half dozen men to make a litter,” Guy ordered. “We shall dine on roast boar tomorrow. Have Stephen make room in a baggage cart for Lady Claudia. ’Tis too long a journey to burden his palfrey with two riders.” He turned and walked past her without another word.
    “I will see that you are made comfortable,” Evard said, scowling as he watched him go.
    “You are kind,” Claudia murmured. She knew the reason for his scowl, but decided it was not her place to interfere with Guy’s men. Evard would learn the truth soon enough from his overlord, then he would likely turn his scowls in her direction once more.
    Evard motioned toward a two-wheeled cart that had pulled up beside them. A squire sat atop the gray gelding, which eliminated the need for a driver.
    “There might be enough space near the quivers.” Evard pointed toward a stack of