“Why not?” his grandmother asked. “If it helps me…”
“And I can assist you with it,” Bridget continued. “I am quite good at decorating. We can decide on what to change, little by little.”
“You sound as though you intend on spending more time here,” Lewis said. “Our visits are only an hour or so. You cannot possibly accomplish all that in such a short time.”
“And?” Bridget shrugged. “I do not mind visiting Evelyn more frequently, as long as she is not vexed by me.”
“I will not be,” his grandmother said. “I have become quite accustomed to your presence over the short period of time that we have known one another.”
Lewis frowned. His grandmother had never been so comfortable with a new person entering her life. Bridget had just swooped in and was making changes, and his grandmother seemed to humor them well enough.
Lewis cleared his throat. “Speaking of visits, we have usually left by now.”
“Oh, yes,” his grandmother said. “Bridget, we shall have to talk more when I see you next.”
“Certainly,” Bridget said, rising.
Neither woman seemed to realize that the routine had changed. Lewis stared at his grandmother, waiting for her to panic, butshe did not. Instead, she rose and offered Bridget a heartfelt embrace.
“It is so good to see the both of you,” his grandmother said.
“The pleasure is all ours,” Bridget responded.
“Indeed,” Lewis agreed.
He owed his wife so many rewards for making his grandmother happy. For healing her. And how had Bridget even accomplished that? The woman was evidently capable of performing miracles.
Or was she? A tremor of doubt swept over him. What if this seeming good behavior was another one of Bridget’s schemes? Lewis clenched his jaw. He would never forgive Bridget if she manipulated his fragile grandmother to some selfish end.
As they entered the carriage, Lewis gave his wife a long, searching look. Her guileless face revealed nothing amiss, but he knew that she was capable of crafting truly impressive schemes.
“You did not seem particularly happy at the thought of me staying longer and speaking to Evelyn,” Bridget said.
Lewis inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring. “What gave you that impression?”
“Your tone.”
The carriage jolted into motion, and Bridget’s green eyes narrowed. “Why are you unhappy?”
Did he really not trust her around his grandmother? While Bridget had proven herself to be selfish on several occasions, she had not yet done anything to harm another person. It would be unprecedented for her to involve his grandmother.
“I know I am right,” she continued. “If I was wrong, you would have protested.”
“You could run away.”
She blinked. “Run away?”
“Yes,” he said. “Or—or you might use my grandmother.”
Bridget’s eyes widened, and her lips parted. For a heartbeat, she looked utterly appalled. Then, her face reddened with poorly concealed anger. “Why would I ever use your grandmother?”
“To humiliate me,” he said through clenched teeth. “To prove something about my character, some flaw, so you can embarrass me before thetonor have our marriage annulled.”
“I see.” Bridget’s voice was frigid. “I did not realize that you thought so poorly of me. Tell me. How long do you imagine I have been concocting this detestable scheme?”
Is she upset because I think poorly of her or because I have realized her deception?Lewis wondered.
Bridget’s hands curled into fists. “How can you even suggest that I would manipulate your grandmother like that?”
