“When did you receive this? Did you have this when we met last night?” She could hardly believe Sophia had the audacity to take such matters into her own hands. Sophia didn’t need to answer. Rhoda could read the answer merely by the look on her face.
“You must get dressed. Come into your dressing room, and I’ll assist you.” Sophia turned to open the door, but Rhoda grabbed her arm.
“I can’t see him. I can’t be the one to tell him.”
But Sophia was shaking her head. “Well, I cannot tell him! What kind of a hostess would I be if he found out I’d sent his intended away to elope with another gentleman?” Her blue eyes looked mortified at such a thought. “If your mother found out, she’d tell everybody!”
“Why don’t we tell him the truth? Or some version of it anyhow? But wait! Just because I didn’t show, what makes you think Emily is eloping with Blakely?” No answer. “Oh, good Lord, Sophia! What else have you done?”
“I might have ordered the coachmen not to stop until he absolutely had to. But she got into the carriage. I think it’s something she wanted all along.”
Rhoda wanted to pound her forehead against the wall. This!Thiswas what lying and manipulations led to! No wonder Justin hated her now. “I will go to him. I will tell him.”
“Not everything? Not my part in all of this?” Sophia pleaded.
“I will tell him… I will tell him that…” More lies? Must she lie to him some more? And furthermore, did she betray Sophia, or did she betray Emily?
“Simply tell him Emily left. If he happens to learn that Blakely’s gone as well, then he can surmise his own opinion from that.” Sophia led them through the chamber to a small dressing room and then pulled out one of Rhoda’s favorite day dresses. “Hurry now, he’s already waiting.”
Rhoda still hadn’t decided exactly what she would tell Justin by the time Sophia led her to Prescott’s study. She paused, intending to knock, but Sophia simply opened the door and pushed her from behind.
Sophia would pay for this! But Rhoda loved her. They would get through this somehow. God only knew how, but they would.
He looked even more angelic today, staring out the window, the early morning sunlight glinting off his golden hair. He turned to glance over his shoulder when the door clicked shut. Upon seeing her, confusion showed on his handsome features.
And then his mouth twisted in derision. “Is this another joke? I was under the impression I’d be offering for Miss Goodnight.”
She hated that he looked at her that way. As though he despised her.
I’ve given Justin White reason to feel hatred for another human being!
She swallowed hard and blinked away the burning sensation behind her eyes. “No more scheming. I’m simply a messenger.” Taking a few hesitant steps, she moved farther into the room. He was not going to make this easy.
He’d turned to gaze out the window again, his feet shoulder-width apart, hands clasped behind his back.
And then she knew what she must do. “Emily has left with Blakely for Gretna Green. It was supposed to be me. I was supposed to meet Blakely early this morning, but I never got the message. I was… I was with… you.”
He didn’t move at first. He didn’t even blink. After what felt like a lifetime, he finally shook his head. “Miss Goodnight and Blakely?” At last, he turned to face her. Although his expression still revealed contempt, Rhoda spied a trace of something else. Was it surprise? Disappointment? Pleasure? She couldn’t tell. It was as though he’d turned off his emotions.
He no longer trusted her.
Rightfully so.
Rhoda nodded and then shrugged. “To be perfectly honest, I don’t understand it myself. But Sophia asked me to tell you. And we… I… wish to apologize for the trouble we’ve put you through. The duchess and Prescott knew nothing about it.” Ah, so she would lie. “It was mostly me and Emily. I’m sorry.” She didn’t know what else she could say.Please don’t hate me?He’d come to be one of the few people in the world whose opinion of her truly mattered. She cared what he thought of her.
He ran a hand through that beautiful hair of his and then turned to stare out the window again. “So, what will you do then?” he asked with his back to her, as though he’d rather not ask such a question.
Rhoda dropped into the nearest chair. Whatwasshe going to do? Without the specter of Dudley Scofield hanging over her, she faced the horror of her situation clearly for the first time. The wager. The blasted bet would ruin her forever.
And she was not the only person who would be affected.
Coleus would be. As would Hollyhock. She raised trembling fingers to her lips and shook her head. Had she been hoping the reality of the wager would simply disappear?
No, she’d been imagining herself hanging from the gallows. She’d imagined herself in hell for all of eternity.
“I… I… don’t know,” she answered honestly.
Upon returning to London, it wouldn’t be long before her mother found out about it. She needn’t worry about her father.
