Page 13 of The Rogue’s Offer

“Mr. Gilchrist.”

Her sister’s voice rose in pitch as she squeaked out Mathias’s name in a squeal of excitement. Ophelia met Lizzie’s gaze in the mirror and winced at the sly contemplation reflected on her sister’s face. Quickly twisting around on the dressing table stool to face her sister, Ophelia eyed the younger woman in a scolding manner.

“It is simply one invitation. I felt obligated to accept since Mr. Gilchrist made such a concerted effort to deliver the deed to Marymont this morning.”

“Of course, you did,” Lizzie said with a knowing smile.

“Do not read more into it than there is, Elizabeth Sheffield.”

“But it’s romantic.”

“It’s nothing of the sort,” Ophelia retorted.

“Yes it is, and I think it’s wonderful that you finally have a suitor.”

“Good heavens. Mr. Gilchrist is not a suitor.” Ophelia held up her pearls in a silent demand that Lizzie help to secure them around her neck. Her sister quickly hurried forward to fasten the necklace around Ophelia’s neck. When she‘d finished, Lizzie placed her hands on Ophelia’s shoulders and met her gaze in the mirror.

“You deserve to be happy, Ophelia,” her sister said softly. Patting Lizzie’s hand, she smiled.

“I am happy. Marymont’s been returned to us, and I believe Mr. Nickens is quite taken with you. Both of those things make me very happy.”

“No. I mean truly happy. You should be married with children.”

“You are a hopeless romantic, Lizzie Sheffield.” She smiled gently at her sister. The one thing Ophelia was certain of was that the happiness her sister described would never be hers.

“Perhaps, but I know I’m right,” her sister replied with a confidence that demonstrated a maturity Ophelia hadn’t seen before now. The front doorbell clanged softly in the corridor, and Lizzie turned her head toward the sound. “I’m certain that’s Lady Alice. It’s not even the top of the hour, but her aunt insists on punctuality. I must go. Have a lovely time this evening, Ophelia.”

With a quick kiss to Ophelia’s cheek, Lizzie hurried from the room. Left alone with only her reflection, she stared at the woman in front of her. Large brown eyes in an oval shaped face, there were traces of pink in her cheeks, and her mouth was a dark pink color. Her outward appearance was one of cool composure, and she looked every bit the ice maiden George had accused her of being. A woman incapable of feeling passion or stirring it in a man.

Ophelia closed her eyes at the thought. Was it possible Mathias was correct? Did she really possess a fire and passion buried deep inside her? She sniffed a sound of disgust. The agreement they had would prove her right and him wrong. Resigned to her fate, sighed softly. Tonight was an unknown quantity, and she was uncertain as whether she should be excited or nervous.

The jangle of the front door bell echoed softly in the corridor, and Ophelia quickly gathered her things then proceeded downstairs. As she reached the foot of the stairs, she heard male voices in the parlor. Squire Sheffield’s voice sounded slightly slurred, and Ophelia’s heart sank.

Her father had been drinking again, which meant he was apt to be indiscreet. If he inquired about Marymont, Mathias might reveal he’d returned the property to her. Although her father was fond of drink, he wasn’t a fool. He would most likely assume, as Lizzie had, that she’d made an agreement with Mathias in exchange for the return of Marymont.

The squire would not be as easy to put off as Lizzie had been. She’d already decided to tell her father she’d taken some of her investments to purchase their home back from the earl. It was a plausible explanation, and she was confident her father would believe it of her. But she would need Mathias’s help in convincing her father should he question her explanation.

“So…do you know if Thornbury intends to sell the property?” Horrified by her father’s question, Ophelia hurried forward.

The moment she stepped through the doorway, her gaze immediately fell on Mathias who looked splendid in evening dress. His angular profile was sharply defined, and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. A split second later, it began to race wildly as her blood flowed hot through her veins. It had been a mistake to agree to his proposal. She had Marymont back, and that was all that mattered.

A second later, Mathias turned his head toward her, and a delicious tension spiraled through her in the form of anticipation. Once more she realized she should never have accepted his challenge. Mathias Gilchrist was a wolf who could easily devour her before she even realized what was happening. A small shiver skated down her spine as he smiled at her. It was as if he could tell precisely what she was thinking. Oh, she was definitely mad.