“Please stop talking.”
Lavinia flung her arms around Edith and hugged her so tightly that Edith couldn’t catch a breath for a moment.
“It’s marvelous you are marrying the handsome Scot. My sister has nothing but praise for his character. I believe he’ll make you a good husband.”
When Lavinia released her, Edith laced her fingers together on her lap. “I cannot bear the thought of abandoning you after all you have done for me. If you need me in London, I’m certain Mr. McTaggart would understand.”
“What have I done for you that you haven’t done for me in return?”
Edith pursed her lips. “You haven’t forgotten you saved my life. Your false modesty only makes me feel worse.”
Lavinia sighed and sank to the floor at Edith’s feet.
“You shouldn’t be sitting on the floor in your condition,” Edith scolded.
Her friend ignored her. “I didn’t realize we were keeping tally. How many marks does saving one’s life earn? Ten? Twenty?” Lavinia flicked her hand. “It doesn’t matter. We’d have an equal number of marks. You saved my life as well.”
“No,” Edith murmured. “I was dying. I wouldn’t have survived another night if you hadn’t taken me in and cared for me.”
“I was dying too. Inside. One more night, and I would have drowned in my despair. I’d lost everything—everyone I loved. It was too much to bear.”
Lavinia reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Then you came along and gave me a reason to hope. You became my family, Edith. I had someone to care about other than myself. I had a purpose again. We were going to make it out of the brothel together, and nothing would stop me from making a better life for us.”
Nothing would have stopped Lavinia? Not even if it meant following a path she didn’t want?
Edith’s stomach churned with uncertainty. She had never considered that Lavinia’s reluctance to marry St. Ambrose might stem from not loving him.
Lavinia would be bound to the marquess forever once she had his child. Edith didn’t know how she could be happy with Mr. McTaggart if Lavinia was miserable.
“D-did you make St. Ambrose fall in love with you so we could have a better life?”
Lavinia’s spine stiffened. “How could you ask me such a question? August is not a puppet. I was aware of his attraction to me, but it was mutual. I must admit, when the other girls told me of his wealth, I hoped he would offer his protection. But what power do I have to bend a man to my—?” Her hand fluttered to her mouth, her eyes filling with horror. “Oh, Edith. Have I misused him? Did I manipulate him by encouraging his attentions?”
Edith scooted to the edge of the chair, but Lavinia wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Of course not. I’ve spoken out of turn.”
“But my intentions were selfish in the beginning,” Lavinia said. “I have doomed our relationship, haven't I? Everyone will believe as you. They will say I’ve bedeviled him. Why else would he want someone like me?”
“No, that isn’t true. You and Lord St. Ambrose are not doomed. You love each other. I’ve known it for a long time. I should never have been so reckless with my words.”
“August is so very easy to love.” Lavinia pressed her lips together, struggling to keep her composure as tears welled in her eyes. “I do not think I can bear to lose him.”
“Then you should marry the man.” Edith grabbed her friend’s shoulders, wishing a good shake would open Lavinia’s eyes to what Lord St. Ambrose could give her. “The marquess has kept it no secret he intends to have you for his wife. Why are you fighting him?”
“You don’t understand.” Lavinia swiped at her eyes with shaky fingers. “Once others begin to scorn him, he’ll wish he had never set eyes on me. What if he sends me away... forgets about me? I don’t want to be left alone in one of his remote country houses. Even my child could be taken from me.”
“St. Ambrose would never treat you so cruelly.”
“How can I be sure?” Lavinia’s voice was hoarse, raw with emotion. “My own father sold his flesh and blood to pay his gambling debts. Before he lost everything, he wasn’t a cruel man.”
“He isn’t your father,” Edith said fiercely.
“I know, but how can I be certain August won’t change? A man’s honor is crucial to his influence with other men. Without alliances, he has no power.”
Edith knew very few gentlemen, but she was sophisticated enough to understand that Lavinia spoke the truth. Nevertheless, she refused to believe Lord St. Ambrose hadn’t considered the risks of marrying his mistress or taken steps to ensure his survival. While he was tenderhearted and loving with Lavinia, he had a hard edge that would make any man hesitate to cross him.
“I think you’re underestimating him,” Edith said.
Silent, Lavinia picked at a loose seam on the arm of the chair, saying nothing. After a while, Edith gave up on her speaking again and huffed in frustration.
