Page 71 of The Rogue’s Offer

She closed her eyes as her mind flitted back to that night in the library, and the terrible moments following their wild moment of passion. Mathias’s tension had been an almost tangible sensation when she’d stared at his back immediately afterwards. His brutal, icy demeanor had been in direct conflict with the emotional intensity she’d experienced with him during their lovemaking.

But there had been one emotion flowing out of him she’d been unable to define until now. There had been a desperate despondency to everything he’d said and done leading up to the cruel words that had crushed her. Mathias said a man was capable of doing and saying terrible things when he was faced with the prospect of losing the woman he loved. She understood that now.

What she’d thought had been a dismissive cruelty on his part had been something completely different. His confession only a short time ago had made her realize his words that night had been born out of pain. Humans were no different from any other animal when they were in pain or cornered. They lashed out. It was a defense mechanism, and she was no less susceptible to it either.

Her angry rejection of Mathias today illustrated that. Love and joy had engulfed her when she’d turned to see him standing in front of her. A split second later, fear had swallowed up those happy emotions. Instinct had reminded her how easily he could destroy her. Instead of listening, she’d greeted his pleas for love and forgiveness with scathing words and rejection.

Tears pushed at the back of Ophelia’s eyelids, and she dragged in a deep breath. None of it mattered now. All hope of happiness had vanished the moment she’d walked away from Mathias. With the heel of her palm, she wiped the moisture away from the corners of her eyes. She had no desire to provoke any concern on Taggert’s or Mrs. Barstow’s part.

She made her way through the back of the house and hurried past the kitchen door where she heard Mrs. Barstow gently chiding the kitchen maid for some small error. Taggert’s voice echoed from the back stairwell, and she darted along the hall toward the empty foyer. One foot on the first step of the main staircase, she froze at the sound of her father’s voice behind her.

“Ophelia, my dear, might I have a word?” At the question, she slowly turned to face the baron.

“Of course, Father,” she murmured politely as he gestured toward the small library doorway behind him. In silence, she moved past her father and entered the small room. Although things were still strained between them, her father had been making a visible effort to improve his behavior ever since they'd returned to Marymont. He restricted himself to wine at dinner and a glass of port in the evening.

His only form of entertainment was the chess games he enjoyed with the vicar several nights a week. She didn’t know whether returning to Marymont was the reason for the sudden change, but she was grateful for it. Ophelia crossed the floor to one of the room’s tall arched windows to stare out at the bleak weather. The sound of her father clearing his throat made her turn to face him. There a guilty look on his face, and her heart sank.

“I’m afraid I’ve a confession to make, my dear.”

“Who do you owe money to this time, Father?” At her question, the baron sighed.

“I deserve that. I have not been the best of men since you’re mother died. You and Lizzie have suffered as a result.”

“Simply tell me who you owe money to, Father.” She didn’t bother to hide her angry disappointment.

“I have no debts that need to be paid. It’s something else entirely. I’ve interfered in a matter that perhaps I shouldn’t have.”

“What matter?” she asked as tension slid through her. An image of Vicar Dobson’s face filled her head. Dear God, had the two men been discussing her lack of a husband.

“My only defense is my desire for your happiness.”

“Oh Father, please tell me you’ve not been discussing my lack of a husband with the vicar.”

“Dobson?” Baron Sheffield eyes widen for a moment before he shook his head. “Heavens no, the man is quite pleasant, but I know your heart lies elsewhere.”

“Elsewhere?”

“Actually, I believe directly across the hall in the drawing room.” Confused by his words, Ophelia frowned. Had Gideon come to visit already? Her father had expressed he was in favor of her marrying the earl. While Gideon had promised to visit, it surprised her that he’d not sent word he was coming. The Baron’s discomfort became more pronounced as a dark flush of color filled his face. “He was adamant you wanted nothing to do with him, but I managed to convince him—”

“Mathias,” she barely breathed the word, but her father heard her.

“Yes.”

The baron winced in obvious preparation for Ophelia to berate him for his interference. She stared at him for a brief heartbeat then ran toward the door. Her father said something, but she didn’t pause to listen. Ophelia slipped slightly on the foyer’s marble floor as she raced toward the drawing room. She darted through the open doorway and her gaze swept the room.

It was empty. Her heart twisted painfully in her chest. Mathias had simply waited for her father to leave him alone before quietly leaving the house. Ophelia whirled around and raced back into the hall toward the front door. As she flung the door open wide, she didn’t see Mathias. Dear God, she’d not been in time to stop him.

Her heart in her mouth, she ran down the steps to stop on the pebbled driveway. Frantically, she looked in every direction in search of his tall figure astride Titan. A light rain was beginning to fall, and she wasn’t sure whether her cheeks were wet from her tears or raindrops.

Desperation sent her running down the drive in hopes of catching him. As she passed the corner of the house she glanced toward the orchard and saw Mathias riding in the direction of Melton Park.

“Mathias,” she cried out as she ran after him. When he didn’t stop, she screamed his name as loudly as she could. “Mathias.”

For a brief second, she thought he’d paused, but when he didn’t turn in his saddle, she lifted her skirts to race after him calling out his name over and over again as loudly as she could. Her vision quickly became blurred as tears flowed down her cheeks. Her heart pounding with fear that he wouldn’t hear her, she shrieked his name again.

Unable to see clearly, Ophelia tried to wipe the tears from her eyes as she ran, and almost fell as she stumbled over an uneven spot on the ground. Her eyesight somewhat clearer, she ignored how her chest burned as she raced after Mathias. She tripped over another rough spot on the ground and screamed for him as she fell.

Staggering to her feet, she looked up to see he’d turned around. The moment he urged Titan forward in her direction she ran toward him. In seconds, Mathias closed the distance between them. He dismounted and strode forward to catch her as she flung herself into his arms.