“Was I involved in any of them?”
“No,” she admitted. “But how am I to know what you were about behind closed doors?”
“I might also remind you that you were present at that same house party for days,” he snapped, growing weary of her unfounded accusations. “To say nothing of what you have already?—”
A sudden knock at the door interrupted his words.
He stopped himself and scrubbed a hand over his jaw, exhaling harshly. “Who is it?”
“It is only me,” Verity’s voice called from the hall. “The carriage is waiting.”
“Her Grace will join you shortly,” he called back, feeling cold finality wash over him.
He had been wrong to think there could ever be more between them. Sybil didn’t love him, and she never would.
“I will await her there,” Verity said, concern in her voice.
Damn his sister for meddling again. She meant well, he knew, but her interruption had been deuced untimely.
He waited a moment until he heard footsteps receding down the hall beyond before gentling his voice. “So. You are to return to Riverdale Abbey, madam. And from there, what? I must warn you that I’ll not be made a cuckold.”
Was it his imagination, or was there hurt shining in the depths of her eyes, mingling with the glistening of tears? Sheshook her head, and it was gone. Perhaps he’d only been seeing what he wanted to see.
“I do not yet know what I shall do. I only know that I am not happy here, and I cannot bear to remain in misery. I was much more contented at Riverdale Abbey.”
No doubt because of its proximity to her lover.
His lip curled at the thought. “Go, then. I’ll not hold you here.”
Wary surprise crossed her features, as if she had expected him to wage more of a fight. But he was weary to the bone. He was tired of fighting for her, fighting to win her, fighting to keep her.
Mayhap the best thing for them was to lead separate lives. He couldn’t bear to share a bed with her, knowing there was another man in her thoughts, in her heart.
“I am not certain if my mother will accompany me,” Sybil said hesitantly.
He knew what she was asking.
“Your mother is welcome to remain. I’ll not throw an old invalid woman into the streets.”
Perhaps that was what she thought of him, that he was heartless. Maybe doing so made it easier for her to sleep at night.
“Thank you,” she said, nodding. Her fingers clasped her skirts, digging into the silk. “I suppose I should join Lady Verity, then.”
“Yes,” he said bitingly. “You should.”
“Goodbye,” she said.
He held her gaze unflinchingly, his face a mask of stone, for he refused to show her even the slightest hint of his inner torment. “Goodbye, Sybil.”
CHAPTER 18
“Ido wish I could dissuade you from returning to Riverdale Abbey,” Lady Verity said quietly as their carriage approached the Children’s Foundling Hospital that afternoon.
Following her wretched interview with Everett, Sybil had waited until they were underway before she shared her news. She hadn’t, of course, relayed the full extent of her row with Everett, nor the cause. And she kept her humiliating love for him to herself. Her pride could not bear much more.
Still, her sister-in-law had been openly dismayed by her announcement. Sybil reminded herself of the necessity that she leave. Everett himself had proved it in his study.
Goodbye, Sybil, he had said calmly, as if she meant less than nothing to him. And then he had allowed her to walk out the door. Her heart had been heavier than a stone as she had gone.
