Lady Tabitha’s brow furrowed slightly. She tilted her head as if she had never before considered the notion that Hudson would be as loyal to her as he was to his employer. Or had ever realized that Hudson found their arranged match just as distasteful as he suspected Lady Tabitha herself felt.
“Your first loyalty is to my betrothed,” she said slowly.
“As will yours soon be,” he agreed. “However, that does not mean either one of us ceases to be a whole person with our own lives and wishes.”
“Very true.” She was now staring at him openly, as though seeing him for the first time.
It was not the first time they had stood in each other’s sights. Possibly not even the three-hundredth time.
Hudson had come to work for the viscount eight years ago, at the age of twenty. Two years would need to pass before Lady Tabitha turned sixteen and had her official come-out. But because of Lord Oldfield’s ties to the Marquess of Brigsby, the viscount—and by extension, his omnipresent man of business—were frequent fixtures at the Brigsby household. Hudson had glimpsed Lady Tabitha for the first time within a month of his employment to the viscount.
It was not love at first glance. She would barely look anyone in the eyes, so shy was she in those days. Coltish limbs, too-large features she would later grow into. A father with enough money to grant her every wish… but without a heart big enough to.
“You don’t want to marry him,” Hudson observed quietly.
Lady Tabitha’s eyes flashed with anger. “I am a dutiful daughter.”
“An excellent side-step, and perhaps the answer to my question.” He leaned back against the squab and folded his arms over his chest.
She glared at him. “Aren’t you at least going to tell me I’m overreacting, and that I shall no doubt be quite happy as Viscountess Oldfield?”
Hudson arched an idle brow. “Are you? Will you?”
“No and no,” muttered Mary Frances.
Lady Tabitha dug an elbow into her maid’s ribs, then turned back to Hudson. “Shouldn’t you at least pretend to try and convince me?”
“Why would I? You have eyes and ears and at least a modicum of sense. You’re old enough to make your own decisions. And I’m not paid to lie to you.”
She blinked. “It’s rude to… confirm my impending misery.”
“I am sorry you’ll have to face it.”
“So ‘sorry’ that you’ll consign me to my fate anyway, by force if necessary, because that is what you’re paid to do.”
Hudson inclined his head. “I do have my orders. Don’t you?”
Chapter 3
A tortured look crossed Lady Tabitha’s face. She blinked rapidly and turned to the window, as if pretending Hudson hadn’t spoken.
He could have done the same. He watched her from beneath his lashes instead. When she was this near, he never could tear his gaze away. Hell, not even if she were on the opposite side of a crowded ballroom.
No, it had not been love at first sight. All things took time. Hudson couldn’t really say when the change had occurred. One day, his employer’s betrothed was a gangly, timid adolescent, and the next she was… Lady Tabitha, extraordinary beauty. Fully grown woman.
Shyness had given way to stoicism. She had indeed always been a dutiful daughter. Lady Tabitha was also a rose of polite society. Pleasant, elegant, always proper. He’d heard any number of people say she would make any lucky lord the perfect wife.
Unfortunately for her, the only lord she had to choose from was Viscount Oldfield.
Hudson couldn’t blame any man for wishing to marry her. Not even the viscount. Lady Tabitha was sweet and clever and kind and biddable.
If Hudson could change just one thing about her, it would be that last one. To the devil with duty and subservience! In her boots, Hudson would drown himself in a bucket of tea before he’d voluntarily deliver himself to Lord Oldfield’s bed. God save her, the viscount’s wedding gift to his bride was bound to be a raging case of syphilis.
“Will you continue to visit Marrywell in future years?” Hudson asked.
Lady Tabitha arched a thin black eyebrow. “Attend a matchmaking festival after I’m married?”
“Both of you have attended multiple times, despite already being betrothed to each other,” he pointed out.
