Sebastian looked at his fiancée and, for a moment, Henrietta saw a flash of anxiety on his face. She wondered if he was nervous and if Hartley hadn’t seemed quite as calm as he had said.
“Very well,” he said. “Let’s go—quickly. We mustn’t see anyone on our way.”
*
After taking a series of back stairwells and little-used corridors, Henrietta, Sebastian, and Cassandra reached the orangery. It had taken them five minutes—longer than it would have otherwise. Luckily, their route had worked and they hadn’t been seen by anyone.
“We’ll be right here,” Cassandra said to Henrietta, giving her hand a quick squeeze.
“I’ll be back soon.”
She picked up her skirts and entered the orangery.
Hartley was sitting at a small table, looking down at his hands. Henrietta exhaled a sigh of relief when she saw him. He didn’t look any different than he usually did.
Then, he raised his eyes and she watched him take her in. And she saw that she had been mistaken.
He looked deadened. Gone was the cheerful, boyish youth she had been fond of. She didn’t understand how her friend had turned into this hollow-cheeked, flat-eyed creature. She had always thought she and Justin understood each other, but now she didn’t recognize him.
“Jesus Christ,” he said, his voice raspy and hoarse, as if he hadn’t been using it recently. “You look beautiful.”
In that moment, it occurred to Henrietta that it was not, perhaps, the best idea for her to reason with the man who had once hoped to marry her while she was wearing a wedding dress. But what did he expect, showing up on the day of her nuptials?
“Hello, Justin.” He was seated but she was not about to dignify his behavior by sitting down herself.
They merely stared at one another for a moment.
“What are you doing here? I have been very clear on my feelings. I want to marry Lord Tremberley.”
He winced at this statement but kept his eyes on her face.
“I don’t believe that.”
“I thought we were friends. You were always a dear friend to me. I don’t understand what has happened.”
“Isn’t a husband a type of friend?” His voice was bleak. “Why would you want him, when you could have me? He never cared about you but I did.”
“I could never see you as my husband.” She was striving for gentle yet firm but it was difficult to not be cruel in such a scenario. “I have never wanted to marry you. If I had known you had those expectations, I would have never…done what we did together.”
“I thought once you gave me your virtue that you would grow more attached to me. That you would have to marry me.”
“That’s what you thought?” She had essentially surmised as much but she was horrified to hear his manipulation spoken aloud. “That was your plan?”
“It wasn’t an unreasonable expectation,” he spat out. “I love you, Henrietta. Tremberley—he can’t care for you. He is a rake!”
“Trem is not—”
“He is famous for getting into impossible situations! He saw what was happening with us and he couldn’t stay away. Sixty thousand pounds into the bargain didn’t hurt either, I’m sure. He had to humiliate me at the Worthington ball and then he sent his demented friends after me. Leith choked me.”
“I apologize for Leith,” Henrietta said, although right now she wanted to choke Justin herself. “But his actions are not Tremberley’s.”
“As good as,” he hissed.
Henrietta stepped back. Really, she had had enough.
“I am done, Justin. I won’t stand here and listen to you insult the man that I love. I want to marry him and I don’t want to marry you. It might not feel good to hear me say it, but it is the truth.”
As she articulated that last syllable, she saw the pistol.
