Her mother smirked at her. “My point, Clara, is you idolize your husband, but he is nothing more than a social climber using our problems against us. Why else would he have sought you out at Adderly’s house party or put you in a situation where he had to marry you?”
“He saved me from Dolan.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Dolan has an impeccable reputation. Don’t you think you overreacted?”
Clara stood, furious. “Your friend chased me down in a garden.”
Her mother sighed. “Such dramatics. When did you start embracing this quality? My point, my dear, is if this weren’t about him making himself look better, he would release us from our obligation. Instead, he dangles it over our head. Why do you think that is?”
Clara had no words. Sensing her distress, Diana rose and said, “Come, Henry. I think we should show Clara the changes in the garden.”
Their mother sighed. “That is best, Diana. Your sister looks like she is becoming emotional.” Then she turned her gaze back to Clara. “Your husband is a scoundrel and eventually we will be rid of him. You should think about where that will leave you.”
Diana and Henry were already at the door to the terrace. Clara rose and made her way to them, doing her best to hide the tears that were close to falling. Blast it! She never cried.
Diana shut the door behind them, and Clara breathed in the outside air, trying her best to calm herself.
“Do not take it the way Mother said. She twists everything.”
Clara nodded, still unable to speak. Had Sam really coerced her parents into accepting them?
“I like your husband,” Henry piped up.
She smiled down at him. She would deal with her mother’s news later. Right now, she wanted to focus on Henry, but the fury she felt for her husband sat in her stomach as they walked around, distracting her.
Chapter 26
Clara sat at the dinner table waiting for Sam’s return. He had left earlier today and not been home since. She sat up straighter and picked at the first course silently. Tears swam in her eyes as she thought about her mother’s accusation. She didn’t believe Sam would go behind her back. He just wouldn’t. So why did she let her mother fill her with doubt?
The dining-room door opened, and Sam stepped into the room. Her pulse quickened at the sight of him. He looked tired, but he was still the handsomest man she knew. His blond hair was disheveled, and his broad shoulders caused his jacket to stretch across his chest. Her eyes flicked down the length of him. She jerked her gaze back up to his face. He stared at her questioningly. She focused her attention back on her food, not saying anything.
He sat. Tension hung in the room. Clara set her fork down and looked at him. “Good evening.”
“Hello, Clara. How was your day?”
She felt a stab of fury. “Not good, actually.”
He lifted a silky blond brow.
“My mother informed me that you hold their debt.”
He said nothing. She stared at his beautiful face and noticed his jaw tighten. Her eyes slid down to his fingers that were now clenched. It was true. Her heart hammered. She didn’t know if she was angrier that he withheld what he was doing from her or that he would use such nefarious means to get his way.
“I do,” he said slowly.
“Is that all you have to say?” she asked in a whisper.
“I thought it would be a way to encourage them to accept you.”
Clara threw her napkin on the table and stood. “You let me believe this whole time they wanted to welcome me back. How foolish you must have thought I was?”
“Not foolish. I was trying to make you happy.”
She laughed bitterly. “Is that what it was?”
He stood and asked bluntly, “What else would it be?”
Clara looked around and realized the staff was quickly making their way out of the room. They stood separated by the enormous mahogany table that could seat at least twenty people. Still, Clara could feel the strain between them.
