“It will pass. You just caught me at a bad time. We parted ways yesterday. I’m sure I’ll be better by tomorrow.”
“I know what we shall do! We will get you a whole new wardrobe, and don’t quibble about the cost,” her sister warned when she opened her mouth. “Thanks to my husband’s progressive ideas, I have more than enough money to spend.”
“I wasn’t going to complain about the cost, my dear. I was just going to say that I already have quite a few new gowns. The marquess gave them to me. They are beautiful, too.”
“Oh, he really went to great lengths for you, didn’t he? Do you mind my asking why you two ended the affair?”
Thalia looked down. The memory of the argument clouding her eyes with pain. “He found out about the caricatures I draw and...took exception to it. You see, the press maligned him in much the same manner, and he’s sensitive to the subject.”
“Oh, I see. But didn’t you explain what we do?”
“I tried. He wouldn’t let me. He gave me an ultimatum. Either I stop sketching or we were finished. I didn’t give in,” Thalia finished with a small shrug.
“Oh, Tally. Are you sure? You don’t need to draw those caricatures. We can do something else, find some other method to expose those bastards.”
Thalia glared at her sister. “No. You know that because of my reduced financial circumstances, I can’t contribute monetarily as much as the other ladies. My main contribution is my talent for drawing. What I do may seem insignificant, but it gives me purpose. Besides, I can’t let him dictate to me or give me ultimatums without even listening to my side.”
“I understand, dear,” her sister said, giving her hand a little squeeze. “In my opinion, I think he might come around.” I only hope he doesn’t take too long to do it.”
Thalia shook her head. “He won’t. If you had seen the fury in his eyes... No. Besides, he never wanted anything permanent with me. The faster I accept it’s over, the better I’ll be.”
“In that case, he is being a complete and unmitigated fool. Tell you what. Let me see these new gowns of yours. We are going to a ball tonight.”
“Mimi, I really don’t feel—”
“Of course you don’t. But that’s exactly why you should do it. You can’t sit here at home moping about for him.” So saying, Artemis threw open her wardrobe and gasped at the gowns inside. “Tally, these gowns are beautiful! You’ll don one of these tonight, we’ll attend a ball, and you’ll have every man in attendance fawning over you. We’ll make the marquess regret the moment he let you go.”
Thalia doubted that a change of gown would suddenly have men flocking to her, or that Liam would care. But if nothing else, attending a ball might distract her from crying her eyes out.
CHAPTER 23
“YOU ARE BEING AN IDIOT.”
“Shut up, Drew.”
His brother had taken it upon himself to invade his study, his one refuge from the world, to pester him.
As if he needed his brother’s constant harassment to add to his misery. It had been a week since he had parted ways with Thalia, and in all that time, he had not stopped thinking about her for even one minute. She had become an obsession in his blood. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t work, couldn’t breathe with the need for her.
Every morning, he would come to his study, telling himself he would either work on the damned sculpture, or he would destroy what he had created and begin anew. And every day he could do neither. So he ended up staring at the clay mold he had made, grabbing the chisel, pressing it to the marble block, and then not moving. He just stared at the stone as if it could come to life and give him the comfort he needed.
There was no point in finishing the sculpture now. He had lost the motivation now that he had lost his muse. But neither could he destroy it, nor abandon it. So he was stuck. His work was in the same state as his feelings. Unable to let her go, but unable to forgive her.
“If you don’t snap out of your doldrums soon, you’ll lose her forever.”
As an answer, he glowered at his brother. “How’s your search for a home going?” he asked, hoping to distract his brother.
Andrew and his new wife had been living in a hotel since their return from their honeymoon.
“We found a townhouse that Artemis likes not far from here. We hope to finalize the purchase soon. But don’t change the subject. My affairs are not the issue here. Yours are.”
“My affairs are none of your concern.”
“Oh, but they are. You see, it pains me to see you so miserable. And her sister’s heartache likewise affects my wife. So your affairs are impacting my happiness, whether you want it or not.”
“You are acting as if I was at fault here. She is the one who engaged in inappropriate activities. And refused to give them up when I gave her the chance. She chose those loathsome caricatures over me.”
His voice rose with his temper, kindled by the pain of her betrayal. He hated the display of vulnerability. The evidence that her behavior affected him. After the shame his wife caused him, he had vowed never to be a fool for a woman again. Yet here he was. Would he never learn?
