Knew what?Thalia held her tongue and nodded her permission to the other woman, as curious to hear what she had to say as Henry clearly was.
“Henry, for four years Thalia has been facing the ton alone, fending off those awful gossips by herself,” Frances replied, her hands balling into tight fists. “I cannot deny that she has done a remarkable job of subduing them and diverting them, but they are tireless, and I have no doubt that your wife—my dear, dear friend—is tired of fighting them singlehandedly.
“If you are finally there to accompany her, to stand with her, to take your place as her husband, her position in society will be so much simpler, so much easier for her,” Frances continued, some of that exuberance returning. “Heavens, how satisfying it will be to shut those gossips up, once and for all! I shallrelishtheir disappointed faces as I would relish an entire tray of sweetmeats!”
Having decided that she very much liked this woman, Thalia put her hand to her mouth to hide the chuckle that bubbled up. Evenshewas eager to see the dismay upon the faces of those gossips, and she did not even know who they were; Frances’ giddy vengeance was a contagious thing.
Yet, the restrained merriment did not last long. Thalia’s amnesia made certain of that, as her mind began to whisper:What are they saying about me? What is the nature of their gossip? What has Henry done to make them murmur behind my back? Am I some manner of fool to them?
Her stomach roiled as she thought of the usual reasons for cruel society gossip: husbands brazenly parading their paramours around, husbands taking mistresses indiscreetly, oblivious wivescrowing about their marriages while the gossips whispered the truth among the ton.
Thalia’s attention snapped toward her husband, startled to find that he was staring right back at her.Is that it? An indiscretion?Manyindiscretions? Was that our arrangement?
Frustration fizzed in her veins that shestillcould not recall a single thing about the past four years.
“You may consider this an acceptance of that invitation, cousin,” Henry said, his gaze unwavering though he was talking to Frances. “I cannot have thetonbesmirching my good name, so consider this a remedy for their inane gossip. I will put an end to it.”
Frances made a strange sound, halfway between a yelp and a cheer. “This is wonderful news indeed! About time, good cousin. Yes, about time!”
Of course you would not think of how it has affected me,Thalia mused, simmering in silence as she held her husband’s gaze.Of course you would only act in your interests. Not mine.
She wondered what her remembering self would make of this. Would that duchess be equally annoyed by Henry’s selfish intervention? Or would her traitorous heart start racing, her tongue too tied up in flustered knots to say a word?
“Now, Frances, you have taken up quite enough of my wife’s time,” Henry said coolly. “She must rest if she is to be well enough for this ball. I suggest you depart. In haste.”
Frances pulled a face. “Do you see why I so hate to be called ‘Frances’?” She glanced at Thalia. “It always makes me feel as if I am in trouble. Nevertheless, I shall go.”
She hurried up to Thalia and took her by the hands, blue eyes alight with that contagious excitement. “And you, my dearest friend, must rest and rest and rest, so you are able to accompany me.”
“I will try,” Thalia promised with a smile, as she squeezed Frances’ hands, feeling innately as if she had done that same thing a hundred times.
Frances dipped her head to kiss Thalia on the cheek and, with another odd yelp of giddiness, the merry blonde woman took off with a flurry of ‘goodbyes.’
Only when the front door of the manor slammed did Thalia exhale, aware that she was all alone with her husband once more.
Still possessing the instinct of a debutante, still nineteen in her mind, she could not shake the sense of impropriety, half-wondering where Mrs. Fisher had gone. Surely, Thalia needed a chaperone for such an… intimate meeting.
After last night, she did not trust herself to be alone with him ever again.
CHAPTER 10
That could have been much worse. I suspect disaster was averted just now.
Tension gripped every muscle in Henry’s body as he remained just inside the doorway of the drawing room, his gaze wandering over the figure of his wife as she sat back down on the settee.
He had not expected there to be an intrusion of this sort so soon, but he supposed he should have known to be more cautious. Thalia was a popular woman, at least among her carefully curated group of friends. Naturally, they would see no harm or discourtesy in simply dropping by unannounced.
I should not have left the manor.
Still, there was some relief in knowing it had only been his cousin, Frances. Of all the people whomighthave visited, she was one of the ones who could be trusted to keep her mouth shut if Thalia had revealed the truth of her amnesia.
“How much did you tell her?” Henry asked abruptly, just to be sure.
Thalia leaned forward to retrieve her cup of tea and took a pointed sip before answering. “I told her I was unwell. Why? Am I not allowed to tell people what happened to me?” Her tone was laced with accusation. “Should that not be my decision?”
“I would urge you to be wary,” he replied in what he hoped was an even voice. “If word reaches society, there are some who will try to use it to their advantage. You are wealthy, Thalia. There are crooked people in the world who would see the combination of amnesia and a grand fortune as a rare opportunity.”
Her brow furrowed, creating the little line between her eyebrows and the slight crinkle on the bridge of her nose that he had often admired. From afar, of course, and always when she was not looking.
