The gown was not like anything she would normally choose. She’d only purchased it at the request of Rose, who had spent last spring acting as Margaret’s companion and insisted that Margaret wore far too many subdued colors.
An hour later, when all eyes swung toward her as she entered the drawing room, she wished she had chosen differently.
“Happy Birthday!” the group shouted in unison. She had known it was planned, but she had not expected that Penelope would go tosomuch fuss. And it was embarrassing. Her birthday had not been celebrated since she had turned six and ten, the year before she’d made her official come out.
Birthday celebrations were for heirs, and kings and the birth of a son. Not for thirty-year-old widows. Penelope had tied ribbons to some of the chairs and additional flowers were set around the room.
A handful of wrapped gifts set upon the table.
Margaret gritted her teeth and smiled. She must be grateful. Oh, Penelope!
George rose and crossed the room to greet her and Margaret was happy not to have to enter alone.
“I missed you today—“
“What on earth did you do to your face?” he hissed beneath his breath, ducking just enough so that she was the only person to hear. He sounded angry, and yet, when she drew back to look at him, his expression was all affability.
“Too much sun.” She smiled back at him. “I forgot my hat.”
“You must be more careful, my dear. It was very foolish of you.”
His criticism fanned the flame of unease already flickering inside of her. She must withdraw her consent. At the very least, tell him that she needed more time. She had rushed, and she didn’t know him well enough.
She must put off her dream.
It ought not to have been the startling revelation that it was. And yet, he’d caused her to feel vulnerable—exposed—as she stood in her scarlet gown with a roomful of eyes staring at her expectantly.
“Thank you. Oh, but everyone. This is too much.”
“We have a great deal to celebrate,” George announced in a booming voice beside her. And then he looked down at her with a loving expression in his gaze, confusing her again. “I know that you thought we ought to wait, but with the permission of your brother, I am too impatient to share the wonderful news of our betrothal. I am the luckiest of men and can’t bear to keep it to myself.” He reached into his jacket and removed something.
A ring.
“My nephew was considerate enough to travel all this way with this very valuable family heirloom, at my express request. He has encouraged me heartily for years now, insisting I am too old to remain a bachelor.” George winked at a person across the room.
Sebastian.
“I could not wait to share our joy and, as it is your birthday, I deemed it the perfect occasion to present you, my future bride, with this valuable token of our betrothal.”
Oohs and ahs rolled through the room.
Stunned, Margaret stared down at the ring as George slipped it onto her finger. It stuck on her knuckle, but George was not to be dissuaded and persisted until it circled her finger tightly at the base.
It doesn’t fit.
“But, George—“
“Congratulations, Kirkley.” Lord Riverton stepped forward with an outreached hand. “Felicitations to you both.”
“Oh, Lady Asherton! You didn’t give away a thing! We were all in the dark!” This from Mrs. Spencer, and then Mrs. Drake and her daughter. Abigail met her eyes from across the room and just before a smile stretched her lips, concern seemed to flicker for an instant.
“What wonderful news, my dear!” Lady Riverton’s voice demanded her attention. Suddenly swarmed with congratulations, Margaret put forth her best effort to smile and thank everyone.
Inside, she burned with silent rage. At George. At Hugh. And at Lord Rockingham, who she’d thought was her friend. He had brought the ring to George? He’d had a hand in all of this? Had he known that his uncle was going to ambush her tonight?You cannot marry him, he’d said! Had it all been a joke?
She twisted the cool metal band on her finger and experienced more than a twinge of discomfort. It didn’t fit.
The stone was red, garish. After tonight, she would hate the color red forever.
