Turning, he hurried toward the townhouse, not wishing to waste another moment of his time with the lady. He walked past the maid, who had her head bowed. However, Edward could still see the pink of her cheeks, and he gritted his teeth as anger welled within him.
Did she know? Had she been aware of what her mistress had been about to do to him this whole time? If she had been, he could not blame her for not warning him, but the fact that he appeared to be the last one to know about Miss Cressida’s change of heart grated on his nerves.
As he made his way inside and through the townhouse without breaking stride, he thought perhaps he ought to thank Miss Cressida for what she had done. She had taught him a valuable lesson about the fickle nature of women, and it was not a lesson he would soon forget.
***
“Edward, you know I am not one to deny a man his need for a drink, but do you not think you are taking things a bit too far?”
Edward glared at his closet friend, Fritz Fletcher, who sat across from him at the small table they occupied in the corner of the pub Edward had dragged him to. Usually, they would visit White’s or one of the other clubs in town, but Edward did not want to risk encountering Andrew anywhere. Not when his pride was still stinging from Miss Cressida’s cold rejection, and his heart was broken in two.
“Your opinion was not asked for, nor is it wanted,” Edward replied, his words slurring. “I would like to see how you handle it when some blue-eyed siren breaks your heart and leaves you humiliated and alone.”
Fritz raised his dark brows and regarded Edward with a bemused expression. “Now you just sound ridiculous. Did you really fancy yourself in love with the lady?”
“Of course,” Edward shrugged. “Why would I put so much effort into courting her if I did not love her?”
“That is a rather unromantic perspective, do you not think?” Fritz scoffed.
“I do not know what you mean,” Edward snapped. “I loved her. How is that unromantic?”
“You speak as though love is some transaction or business arrangement,” Fritz explained. “If you truly love someone, you do not court her because you feel obligated, but because you wish to simply be around her.”
Edward rolled his eyes. “You are overly sentimental.”
“Perhaps, but at least I am not drunk and making a fool of myself.”
Snarling under his breath, Edward lifted his tankard of ale and took a long drink just to spite his friend.
Putting the heavy cup back down, he declared, “Well, whatever the case may be, I am done with the whole aggravating business.”
Fritz furrowed his brow, his confusion clear. “What aggravating business?”
“Women,” Edward spat. “Marriage. All of it. What is the point of any of it?”
“Now, now,” Fritz cautioned. “Do not be hasty, my friend. Miss Cressida is just one of many. A single disappointment should not deter you from….”
“No,” Edward snapped, cutting Fritz off. “I was naïve before, but now I see very well that women cannot be trusted. I will not fall victim to their games and schemes again.”
“Edward, be reasonable….”
“I am being reasonable,” Edward insisted. Meeting Fritz’s gaze, Edward leaned closer to his friend and hissed, “I swear this to you here and now, my friend. I will never let another woman make such a fool of me again. No woman shall ever get close enough to my heart to do so.”
Chapter 2
Versailles, France - One Year Later – Victoria
The flames were beginning to die down in the fireplace. With a sigh, Victoria Clifford stood from her chair and made her way to the stack of firewood in the corner of the small sitting room in her family’s home. She paused when she reached the pile and noted how small it was getting.
We will have to get more,she thought with a sigh.But can we afford it?
“Do not worry, Victoria,” her mother suddenly said from where she sat on the other side of the room. “I know what you are thinking, but you should put it from your mind. We will figure it out one way or another.”
Victoria rolled her eyes before turning to face her mother.
“We cannot always rely on sheer luck to see us through,” she said. “We have to have some sort of plan to earn money, mother.”
Her mother, Rose, kept her eyes locked on her needlework and acted as though she had not heard Victoria. Turning, Victoria took a piece of wood from the pile and placed it in the fire. She had not intended to bring the matter up that day, but she decided there was little point in putting it off any longer.
