“No!” she nearly shouted as she sprang out of her chair. “No! No… You mustn’t say that.” Her eyes had grown wide, and a flush tinged her cheeks now.
He didn’t appreciate the sting of rejection he felt at her adamant response. Damn his eyes, but this woman tied him up in knots. “Are you repulsed by me, then? Is that it?” He knew she was not.
Her eyes remained wide as she shook her head adamantly. “You don’t understand. You don’t know anything!” She held his jacket out for him to take.
But he knew she had some other secret. She loathed herself right now. And by God, he wanted to fix all of it and bring her into his bed. Into his life.
She attempted to turn away, but he caught her arm. “I’ll escort you to your chamber.” He’d not have her wandering the halls alone at this time of night. She ought to be safe here, but…
He opened the door and followed her inside.
“I’m to marry Blakely.” The words hit him from out of the darkness.
Had he heard correctly? “Blakely?”
Lord Blakely had shown her no favor since they’d arrived. He’d seemed inordinately distracted, as a matter of fact. Was she now lying to him? Was this an attempt on her part to repel his attention?
She held her head high, answering his question with a barely imperceptible nod.
Needing to retreat, to rethink his course of actions, Justin escorted her upstairs, deep in thought. He avoided watching the line of her back as she walked in front of him. He would not allow his gaze to linger on the sensual curve of her spine and derriere.
“This is my chamber, here.” She halted. She probably regretted telling him the truth about St. John.
“I’ve not heard anything about an engagement.” Disappointment warred with anger at himself for not moving more quickly. “Has there been an announcement yet?”
She fiddled with the door handle and bit her lip. After all of thirty seconds, she finally said, “It’s complicated.”
She opened the door and slipped inside.
Well, then.
New Arrivals
Rhoda wished she could simply enjoy the company of her closest friends. She wished she could tell them everything. Be carefree as she’d been in the past.
Just be herself.
Sophia had canceled the picnic she’d planned the following day upon the arrival of Cecily and her husband, Mr. Stephen Nottingham, a day early. Surprisingly enough, Cecily’s father had accompanied them as well. Apparently, he and Mr. Nottingham were merging their two companies, creating an importing and exporting business that would only be rivaled by the East India Company itself. Cecily apologized, not that he’d come along, but that he intended to iron out many of the details with Mr. Nottingham while here.
“Think nothing of it.” Sophia waved off the apology as the good friends settled into her favorite drawing room. The last time the four of them had come together had been for Sophia and Prescott’s wedding. And although they’d all come for the ceremony, the gathering had been brief. Nothing had been the same since Cecily married.
“Flavion is in London. Did you know that?” Cecily didn’t waste time with platitudes, instead making her announcement before Sophia could finish pouring hot water into the cups for tea.
Rhoda stiffened. Yes, she was aware the earl had returned to London.
“Can you believe you were actually married to the lout for nearly six months?” Emily tucked her feet beneath her and shook her head. “Thank heavens things turned out the way they did.”
“I was lucky, indeed,” Cecily agreed, a mysterious smile flitting over her mouth. “And I’ll freely admit that I far prefer his cousin.”
“You do seem happy now,” Sophia asked. “And we didn’t even need to kill him.”
At these words, a concerned frown replaced Cecily’s smile. “He’s up to his old tricks again, though.”
“Flavion?” Sophia confirmed.
“Yes.”
Emily became engrossed in her sewing while Sophia handed out plates for scones. The atmosphere had turned decidedly… uncomfortable.
