Yet somehow, she appeared terrified at his actions, frozen with fear.
“Lily,” he said quietly. “It’s all right. He won’t harm you.”
But when she took a step back, he realized that she had not been afraid of her attacker—she’d been afraid ofhim.
“I should go,” she said. And before he could reassure her that he’d been fully in command of his senses, she had disappeared into the house. He could have pursued her, but he didn’t want her to feel threatened in any way.
No, she hadn’t understood what had truly happened this night, but for him, it marked another step forward. He was not trapped within a world of harsh visions and torture—instead, he had begun to move on.
And it felt good to be whole once again.
London
Lily sat by the fireplace, books scattered on the floor all around her. She had been reading about how to concoct an infusion of chamomile. A knock sounded at the door, but before she could rise from the hearth to answer it, the door to her bedroom swung open. Her grandmother never bothered to wait on a reply before she entered.
“Lily, why are you on the floor? Ladies do not sit before the hearth unless they are scullery maids.”
“Hello, Grandmother.” She stood and kissed Lady Wolcroft on the cheek. “I did not expect you to come calling.”
“I live here from time to time, if you have forgotten.” The older matron chose a chair and sat down. “Now then. I have accepted an invitation for you to attend Lady Falsham’s supper party. It will be an intimate gathering, and she has promised to invite several eligible gentlemen.”
Lily sighed and laid the glove down upon a table. “Grandmother, I am not going to be married.” She had made up her mind not to wed again.
“Nonsense. Of course you will. We simply have to find the right man for you to manage. Someone handsome, of course. And wealthy. A marquess or a duke, perhaps. I still believe Lord Davonshire would make an excellent match.”
“After Father died, he wasn’t so eager to wed,” she pointed out.
“Only because he was a young man who wasn’t ready yet. But he may have changed his mind.”
She couldn’t quite bring herself to agree with her grandmother. The thought of being courted by any other man troubled her. Lily stood by the glowing coals of the hearth. “I need time to get over Matthew.”
Mildred shrugged. “He’s no longer suitable for you, and you know it.”
“I suppose you heard about the fight that broke out at Rose’s wedding.” Undoubtedly that was one of many reasons why her grandmother did not approve.
But to her surprise, Mildred laughed. “It was indeed entertaining. I will grant Lord Arnsbury that—he did defend your honor from that drunken lout.”
“I had never seen him fight like that before. I was afraid he would kill the man.”
“Oh fiddlesticks. He knew precisely what he was doing.” Her grandmother straightened in her chair. “No one else bothered you after that, did they?”
“I wouldn’t know. I left the celebration and went back to my room.”
“Oh, yes. You didn’t hear about all the Irish women swooning over Lord Arnsbury.” Was her grandmother actually…defending Matthew? She had no reason for it, especially given her desire to match Lily up with someone else.
“Half of the ladies were throwing themselves at him,” Mildred finished. “Offering to kiss his bruises and all that nonsense.”
A strange ripple of jealousy took hold. “And what did he do about it?”
“Why should you care? He’s not your concern anymore. You’re going to find a man who is dull and terribly wealthy. Who would want the excitement of a man brawling over you?”
Was it her imagination or was her grandmother’s tone somewhat ironic? Lady Wolcroft smiled serenely. “Now then.You will attend the supper party and find someone else. Believe me when I say it is for the best.”
“I intend to be a spinster, Grandmother. I will be perfectly content, wedded to my books.”
“Not if I have aught to do with it.” Lady Wolcroft stood and regarded her. “You have a romantic heart, Lily. You were never meant to be unmarried, and well you know it.”
She could give no answer to that. But she sensed that her grandmother had set forth a strategy to do battle.
