‘Please don’t.’ Florence winced. ‘Not on my account.’
‘Yes, on your account. You’re a Claridge now and they had no right to treat you so rudely. Who do they think they are? You’re a marchioness!’
‘If I did what they think I did, it doesn’t matter who I am. I can understand their reaction.’ Florence dropped her gaze to her hands, her shoulders drooping. ‘Besides, to them, I’m still just their daughter’s companion.’
‘May I?’ Leo gestured to the opposite side of the window seat.
‘Mmm?’ She looked up, her eyes widening as if she was surprised by the request. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Thank you.’ He sat down beside her. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Honestly?’ She dug her teeth into her bottom lip. ‘No. I’ve known them since I was a child. Maybe I was tolerated rather than welcomed for Amabel’s sake, but it’s upsetting to think they hate me so much now. I thought they’d at least give me an audience.’
‘I’d like to givetheman audience!’
‘Cassie.’ Leo shot his sister a warning look. ‘You’re not helping.’
‘Because I’m furious! And not just about them not seeing her. Tell him what else they did!’
Leo tilted his head. ‘What else did they do?’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Yes, it does!’ Cassie put her hands on her hips. ‘Well, if you won’t tell him, I will! After their ball, they locked her in her bedroom like an animal, with only bread and water. She wasn’t allowed to see or speak to anyone until your wedding day.’
‘Is that true?’ He clamped his brows together.
Florence gave a jerky nod without looking at him. ‘So their butler told me.’
‘For the whole time?’
‘I think so, although I don’t know how long that was.’
‘Four days.’
‘Four?’ A look of hurt flashed across her face.
‘I’m afraid so.’ He ground his teeth at the admission. In his defence, obtaining a special licence had taken a little longer than he’d expected, but he hadn’t exactly been in a rush. He hadn’t made any attempt to visit her either. He’d spent most of the time brooding over a bottle of brandy, trying to think of some way to escape the marriage. And all the while she’d been trapped alone in a room with only bread and water for sustenance. It was a good thing it hadn’t been winter or Lady Wadlow would probably have deprived her of a fire too, although it would have been partly his fault if she had. A stab of guilt pierced him at the realisation.
‘Could you be a little more outraged?’ Cassie threw her hands up again. ‘You’re the Marquess of Rainton and those people mistreated your wife! And now they’ve insulted her! Aren’t you angry at all?’
‘Just because I’m not storming around the room doesn’t mean I’m not angry.’
‘Then do something!’
‘There’s no need.’ Florence shook her head. ‘Truly.’
‘Yes, there is.’ He waited for her to meet his gaze again before standing up and holding a hand out. ‘Cassie’s right. Come on.’
‘What do you mean?’ She looked at his outstretched fingers dubiously.
‘I mean that they may have refused to see you, but they won’t refuse to see me. If you want answers, let’s go and get them.’
‘Oh, good!’ Cassie gave a small bounce. ‘I’ll get my bonnet.’
‘Just Florence and I.’ He clarified. ‘This is between us and the Wadlows.’
‘But—’
