As far as logic went, that was rather watertight. Reed made a nod and small bow of acknowledgment. Lucy stood and took the arm he offered. They stepped away from her family, looking for all the world as though they were taking an unexceptional turn about the room. Inside, however, Lucy was tangled mess of emotions.
She had missed him, missed him to the point of misery. But he didn’t seem to have suffered at all in her absence. She didn’t want to spend the remainder of her Season without him, but neither did she wish to dig up this old argument every summer, having to beg and plead for every outing. She didn’t want them to bicker in public the way Amelia and Robert were, or secretly conspiring against each other the way her parents were.
She held more tightly to Reed’s arm, grateful for his presence even in her uncertainty. He set his hand on top of hers. That light touch took her back a year to their courtship when that was all they were permitted. Her heart pounded at the feel of his hand on hers. Lucy settled herself into that fleeting connection, finding a wonderfully welcome helping of peace by having him at her side again.
He broke the silence between them. “We are having very fine—”
“Don’t you dare speak of the weather, Reed Andrew Stanthorpe.”
He abruptly stopped. His eyes pulled wide and his mouth hung the tiniest bit open. She didn’t apologize for her vehemence, didn’t take back her words. An entire week they’d been apart, not seeing each other, not speaking. She would not endure a stilted and insincere conversation on topics neither of them cared the least about.
He seemed to fumble about for the right thing to say. “Weather is a commonplace topic between two people.”
She pulled her arm free, shaking her head in frustration. “We’ve not seen each other in a full week, yet you have nothing to say to me beyond ‘commonplace topics between two people’?”
“Lucy—”
“Either you are wounding me on purpose, or you really are utterly indifferent to me.” The thought brought a fresh threat of tears. “I had thought you were as miserable as I was, that you missed me as much as I missed you. But Mother was right. You didn’t. Not at all.”
“Lu—”
She couldn’t bear more empty words. Not caring that she was likely making something of a scene, Lucy hurried away toward the doors. The Barringtons lived but a few doors from Lucy’s parents’ home, and therefore, she could return there withoutwaiting for the carriage to be summoned. The Barringtons’ butler insisted on sending a footman to accompany her. Lucy didn’t object, but neither did she wait.
The footman caught up to her a moment later. He accompanied her in appropriate silence, leaving her thoughts ample opportunity to turn and twist about. Her parents’ butler opened the door to let her in and sent the Barringtons’ footman off. Lucy was grateful the butler didn’t inquire after her early return. She had no desire to explain.
She rushed up the stairs and to her bedchamber. Tears flowed by the time she dropped, exhausted, onto her bed.
Their plan had seemed so ingenious at first: some time away would show Reed how much he really enjoyed their time together. He would appreciate her company enough to be willing to take her to all the Society events she’d longed to attend. Though she knew she would miss him, she’d thought he would come to his senses quickly, that they wouldn’t be apart for long.
And he doesn’t even care. He hasn’t missed me at all.
Chapter Six
By the time Reed reached the front of the Barringtons’ home, Lucy was gone. He stood looking out into the dark night, worry tying his insides into knots. How had things come to this?
“The scales have tipped decidedly in our favor.” Mr. Harris slapped a companionable hand on Reed’s shoulder. “We’ll have the ladies agreeing to let us stay at home every night of the week soon enough.”
Robert and Charles had come as well, both looking pleased as could be.
“Another evening or two, and we can declare this a decisive victory for the gentlemen,” Robert declared.
“No.” Reed snapped out the word.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Robert smiled, even laughingly elbowing Charles. They all thought this a great joke.
“I mean there will be no more evenings like this. No more.” Reed stepped back into the entryway. “My hat and outercoat,” he instructed the butler. “And send for my carriage.”
A moment later, the items were in his possession and he was waiting in the vestibule for his equipage.
His in-laws closed in on him. “You are quitting the field?” Robert asked in a tone of surprise. “But we are winning.”
Reed eyed them each in turn. “Gentlemen, this has gone too far. I saw tears in my wife’s eyes tonight, and that is something I will never abide. Not ever. This ends now.”
They looked at him as though he had lost his mind. “If you give in now, Lucy will be leading you about by the nose the rest of your life.”
“So be it.”
His carriage pulled up, and Reed was grateful for the escape. He preferred staying on friendly terms with his wife’s family, but if they continued insisting he treat her with less kindness than she deserved, he would be hard pressed not to call each and every one of them out.
