It wasn’t possible. He was still a mandarin destined for someone more than a foreign shop girl. She knew it, and it tore her apart from the inside.
When he left that morning, later than ever before, she kissed him as she had every morning—with distraction and adorationmixed together. She begged him to stay in bed even knowing that he would not.
And then she let him go.
Chapter Forty-Four
“You can’t beserious.”
Max winced at his mother’s strident voice as she burst into the library. She was resplendent in her velvet gown, every inch of her declaring her status as a duchess. She wore forest green and gold with rubies dripping from her ears and across her chest. And yet the magnificent effect was spoiled by her disgusted expression.
“Put those away,” she commanded. “Save them for the woman you will actually marry.” She gestured with disdain at the ancient emerald jewelry set he’d spread out on his desk.
He bristled at the words. “Yihui is my fiancée. These are the gemstones appropriately worn by my bride.”
“Exactly! Your bride!” She picked up one of the earbobs and carefully cleaned the stone. “I thought these were safely locked away at the Cornish estate.”
“They were. I got them the moment I realized she would be presented at court.” Indeed, he’d left the morning after he’d first graced her bed. It had been a long trip, but well worth the effort. He couldn’t wait to see Yihui wearing them.
“But if she wears them, then everyone will think she’s been accepted as your bride. I thought she was to throw you over.”
He folded them up in their case. He had to carefully modulate his tone. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the plan anymore. “She can’t throw me over if I don’t appear to embracethe wedding as Prinny commanded.” He looked up at her. “You’re the one who decided she should wear green and gold.”
“Because they’re our family colors and we dressed her,” the lady huffed. “That doesn’t mean she should wear jewelry.” She huffed out a breath. “Think, Max. People need to see a reason for her to throw you over. If we give her the minimum of support—just enough to not be embarrassed by her—then it will make sense when she declares you don’t suit. After all, who wants to marry into a family that despises you? But if we give her all the trappings of a future duchess…” She pointed at the gemstones. “Then whyever would she refuse you? No sane woman throws away such an opportunity.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “That is convoluted logic, even for you.”
“It is the truth of theton, and you men never understand it.”
“Because it’s nonsense!” This time he made no effort to moderate his angry tone. “Yihuideservesa great deal more than these stones. From the beginning, she has acted for our benefit, not hers. She agreed to this ridiculous charade. She could have gone back to China if she’d wanted. Instead, she has worked tirelessly to act as you decree, to learn what you dictate, and to bring honor to this family. And what does she get out of it? Your scorn. And that, mother, is beneath you.”
“Have you taken leave of your senses? She killed a man upstairs! I wish she had gone back to China, but she doesn’t want to. Instead, you are paying for her shop and bedecking her in emeralds. If you ask me, she has gotten far more out of this charade than any of us.”
Max felt his blood settle into a frost that chilled him from head to toe. It was a shock—but not a surprise—to realize that after all this time, his mother did not see Yihui’s character. She didn’t recognize Yihui’s resilience, patience, or her medical skill. Neither did she see Yihui’s kindness to the servants and hismother. Damn it, Yihui had even learned English history, not to mention a new language.
All his mother saw was a foreigner, and that, apparently trumped everything else.
“You are blind, mother,” he finally said. “I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself until such time as you can see people for who they truly are.”
His mother sputtered in outrage, but Max ignored her. He was already heading to Yihui’s bedroom where Millie and Emmaline were helping with her toilette.
He paused outside her door to smooth his clothing before knocking. He wanted to calm his emotions before seeing Yihiu. Placing these jewels upon her body was important, and he had no wish to taint the moment because he was cross with his mother.
He was just about to knock when he heard a burst of feminine laughter. Not raucous, of course, but filled with excited delight. Such a delicious sound, and not just from Millie. He heard Emma’s chuckle as well. Thanks to the new butler he’d hired, her daily responsibilities had dwindled. He’d thought she’d come out into the world more, but instead, she’d locked herself in the attic painting.
It was grief, he knew. Every day that passed with no word from Christopher led him to believe that his best friend was dead. He’d gone to a dangerous area of London to confront a dangerous man. It was foolishly noble of him and had likely gotten him killed.
Pain tore through Max whenever he thought of it, but it was nothing compared to how wrecked Emmaline had seemed. And yet, listening at the door, he was sure he’d heard her laugh and that gave him such joy that he felt suffused by it. His sister had giggled like a schoolgirl again and his wife was the cause of it. Or the center of it. Or simply there in the midst of such joy.
He didn’t want to interrupt it. And yet, he equally wanted to be part of it. So he rapped twice on the door and waited in gleeful anticipation for his first sight of Yihui in her gown.
The laughter quickly muted and a moment later, Millie opened the door. She curtsied to him as did Olivia from her place near the dressing table.
“Max! Don’t you look handsome,” Emmaline said.
He didn’t answer. His gaze was on Yihui alone.
She was dressed in his family colors, rich green silk with gold accents. Her hair was pulled up in an elegant sweep of ebony strands accented by gold filigree. But it was her face that caught him. He realized now how often her face had been obscured from him. He recalled the beads that had blocked his view of her the first time they met. Other times, her face had been dirty from work or with her hair always across her cheek or dipping low across her brow.
