The Earls lie or a scoundrels promise

A proposition & a wager or three

Chapter 4 - A proposition and a wager or three

Elizabeth woke the next morning, later than usual after catching barely a couple hours of sleep through the night, but this time, it wasn't for fear of her past but fears of her dreams for the future.

She dragged herself from her bed to look out her window, it was dull, grey and trying to rain, she thought it reflected her mood perfectly.

Her impromptu proposition to Blake hadn't gone...well. Unsurprisingly.

She could still picture his face now.

He had frozen, didn't move or take a breath. She realised because he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

His face was unreadable, she knew she should wish she could take back her words, but she couldn't, not when it might bring her the freedom she desired.

He hadn't spoken immediately and she watched his face harden and those golden eyes turn almost black.
Ofcourse having actually sounded them out loud she realised how mad her request was.

His last and only words to her rang in her ears sending a shiver down her spine, she felt it painfully slow, as if each words sent that shiver deeper and further.

'Do not tempt me'

Then he had taken her straight home without another word.

****

Blake had been up early as sleep had eluded him, how could she ask him such a thing.

He replayed the conversation in his mind. Shocked and slightly vexed that she had thought that of him, that she could just ask him to freely ruin her and he would oblige.
She was so desperate, desperate not to be forced into marriage. Desperate enough to ask a renowned rake to compromise her and ruin her reputation for all others. To think he had thought about marriage to her, as fleeting as the thought was.

She thought no better of him than a womaniser and a scoundrel, but why should she? It was the character he portrayed to the world, and no doubt, after yesterday she whole heartedly believed it. Did she even realise what she was asking him to do? What happened between man and woman...beyond the kiss they had shared in that moment.

He hadn't known what to say, he'd processed her words and almost felt insulted, especially after the passionate embrace they had shared...or so he had thought it to be, but perhaps to her it was all the proof she needed, proof that he might be possible of such a thing.

He laughed to himself, in her eyes, had he just proved himself the scoundrel she thought him to be? On a kiss he himself was still reeling about.

He could only laugh at the situation he found himself in. Had put himself in, the moment he walked into her path at that ball.

The reputation he'd put out to the world, was now the one thing between him and..

Damn fool.

He thought of only her, only the ticking of the watch in his pocket broke the silence.
Her beauty, her passion for life, her determination for her freedom to be able to live her own life, the strength she portrays despite the hurt in her eyes.

Something or someone had hurt her. He couldn't just dismiss her from his life, which of course is ridiculous, she had barely been in it two minutes and already the thought of her absence...

What would it mean, what if she was foolish enough to ask another the same request. Would she?

She wouldn't...