“Will you ever tell me what happened to you?” she asked.
He gripped her hand and nodded. Somehow, he felt that she was right. If he told her everything, it might help to alleviate the bad memories and lay them to rest. “I will, yes.”
He stood up from the ground, helping her do the same. “But first, I would like to get out of the rain and have a glass of brandy. Would you join me?”
Lily smiled in answer, taking his hand.
Lady Castledon clucked her tongue at the pair of them when they returned inside. “I cannot believe this weather. Ruining everything, isn’t it? Now then, let’s get you both something hot to drink, and you will want to sit by the fire.”
“Actually, I would like to change my riding habit first,” Lily said. “But I know Lord Arnsbury wished for brandy.”
“In a moment, dear, in a moment,” the countess reassured them. “Come into the library. There’s a warm blaze going, and I’ll bring the brandy.”
Lily rather felt like she was being tossed back into a storm, for Lady Castledon took her hand and led her down a narrow corridor, followed by Matthew. It was a longer walk than she’d imagined, and the library was nowhere near the main rooms of the house. Instead, it was tucked away in the west wing, in its own corner.
Inside, she found it to be much nicer than she’d imagined. As the countess had promised, there was a bright fire in the hearth, as well as a chaise longue with comfortable pillows. Lady Castledon poured them each a glass of brandy, though Lily would have preferred hot tea.
“Now, if you’ll sit here and relax, I’ll see to it that you have some food.” Lady Castledon smiled warmly and walked back to the door.
“I’m really not that hungry,” Lily protested.
“Nonsense. I will send a footman with food. Wait here.” And with that, the countess left the room, closing the door behind her. She had an air of triumph, and Lily could not imagine why.
“Is it me, or do you feel like she’s up to something?” Lily walked back toward the door, wondering what was happening. She opened it, not wanting to start gossip by being alone in the library with Matthew. It was quite possible that Lady Castledon was trying to win her bet by causing a scandal.
“If it’s Cousin Amelia, you can be sure she’s always up to something.” Matthew sipped at his brandy and leaned against the fireplace mantel.
Lily tried not to stare, but she was transfixed by the handsome planes of his face. The rain had darkened his hair, and she felt the sudden urge to touch it.
“I should probably go,” she murmured, as she reached for her own glass. Though she normally didn’t indulge in spirits, she was rather shaken by Matthew’s troubled interlude earlier. She drank a small sip of the brandy and it burned down her throat, warming her from the inside. “I’ll see if Lady Castledon has some dry clothes I can borrow.”
There came a knock at the library door, and a footman entered, carrying two large baskets. “These are from Lady Castledon, with her very best wishes.”
Lily’s suspicions heightened, for it was too soon for a servant to return with food, given the distance to the kitchen. “Isn’t the countess going to join us?”
“She must attend to her other guests. But she bade me give you this note.” The footman held out an envelope and departed, closing the door behind him. Lily thought she heard an odd click, but it must have been her imagination.
“I don’t like this, Matthew. She’s matchmaking again—I’m sure of it. I heard her making a wager with my grandmother about us.” She held up the note, which was sealed with wax. “She would not have had time to write this or to assemble the baskets.”
“It certainly seems that way.” He walked toward her and said, “Why don’t you read her note, and we’ll find out what Cousin Amelia is up to?”
Lily broke the seal and began reading.
Dearest Cousin Matthew and Lily,
Please do forgive me for interfering, but I could not stand by and allow two people so deeply in love to walk away from a life together. Lily, I know how Matthew cares for you,and Matthew, I know how long Lily waited for your return. Perhaps my methods might be rather scandalous, but I hope you might see this for what it truly is—a chance to be together.
Yours,
Amelia
“I’m almost afraid to open those baskets,” Lily said. “And what does she mean, she doesn’t want us to walk away from a life together?”
“I told her that you have not yet accepted my marriage proposal.” Matthew moved to the door of the library and turned the knob. With a grim expression, he turned back to her. “It’s locked.”
“Oh, good Lord.” Lily lifted her gaze to the ceiling, feeling exasperated by the situation. “I cannot believe she would do this.” She had expected Lady Castledon to meddle and try to match them up together. But this was going too far.
Matthew rolled his eyes. “And of course, she chose a room far away from the rest of the house. We would have to shout to the rafters for anyone to hear us. I imagine Amelia has given the servants orders to ignore us.” He let go of the handle and studied her. “What do you want to do?”
