Her grandmother was sitting on a sofa with her favorite whippet panting by her side. Her other guests were soon shooed away, and they were alone. Lisbeth’s heart hammered as if she was standing before a judge.
Lady Fortesque looked her up and down.
Lisbeth held her gaze. She would not let her see any weakness.
Her grandmother’s eyes narrowed. “So, it is true. You have returned. I have to say I’m surprised.”
“I can’t see why. It has been two years.”
“Yes, two years. One would think you have been mourning your husband, but we both know that would be untrue.”
“One might think many things whether they are true or not.”
“Indeed.”
“Why did you summon me?”
“I wanted to see for myself if the rumors are true.”
“To which particular rumor do you refer?”
“Yes, there are so many to choose from, are there not? Your presence here answers one of them. The other, I see, is standing by the statue of Venus, pretending not to listen. You may call him over now.”
“No! He is not to be brought into this,” Lisbeth said.
“And why not? Is he not part of this little game you are playing?”
“There is no game.”
Ignoring Lisbeth’s request, Lady Fortesque pointed at Bellamy calling him over with a bend of her finger. Lisbeth looked over her shoulder to see Bellamy making awho-me?gesture to her grandmother’s imperious finger pointing.
Lisbeth wondered briefly if Bellamy would try to charm the woman he referred to as the battle-axe or simply act the idiot. He took his time sauntering over, like he had all the time in the world. He oozed confidence, nonchalance written across his handsome face. Her grandmother huffed behind her, and Lisbeth could not help but let the corners of her mouth lift a little.
“And this is Bellamy, I suppose?” her grandmother asked of Lisbeth but looked at Bellamy.
“He is.”
“I am.” He bowed. “Your servant, Lady Fortesque.”
“Have you taken my granddaughter as your mistress?”
Lisbeth held up her hand to stop Bellamy from answering. “Lord Bellamy has kindly offered to be my escort for the season. That is all,” Lisbeth explained.
Oliver stood beside Lisbeth and watched the two women stare at each other like commanders of opposing armies. It waslike a military standoff where neither side wanted to concede defeat by giving even an inch of territory. A battle of the fiery stares. He would have enjoyed it more but for Lisbeth’s comment.
That is all?
Was he nothing but a means to an end to her?
To be fair, she had never given him any indication other than he was an annoyance at best. So, why did her comment burn? He was confused by his feelings. This may be due to how much he had wanted to kiss her only minutes before when she had looked more miserable than a child told there was no more pudding left. He could have sworn that she had wanted to kiss him too.
His protective instincts had come to the fore when he had seen how she was about to collapse. He didn’t know why but he wanted to protect her from the wagging tongues of the guests.
“Bah!” her grandmother said, dismissing her explanation of their relationship. “It is not what I have been told. You do realize that he is winning wagers off you. That his intentions are for the purposes of gaining money from your reputation?” She said this to Lisbeth but focused on him.
Ah, now we come to the crux of the matter, he thought.
“I am aware of the wagers,” Lisbeth replied, her voice flat and composed.
