Chase finished chewing before answering. “Do I appear to be laughing at you?”
“No.” She bit her lip. “Maybe.”
“Not at all. It’s clever,” he said, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with his napkin. “A technique to distract yourself from whatever is bothering you at that time.” He held up one hand. “T-r-i-s-t-o-n. Seven letters. A good sign, wouldn’t you think?”
Her breath caught but she nodded.Of course,she knew his name consisted of seven letters.
“C-a-r-r-o-t-s. Seven. Chicken, as well. Does the rule apply to food?”
She tilted her head.
“Do you prefer foods that consist of seven letters?”
“No. that would be silly.” She dropped her fork and stared at him. “But why is it that scandal is seven and disgrace is eight?” It bothered her and yet it made no sense at all. She’d longed for Chase to notice her for such a long time, but she never would have trapped him. From what Tabetha had said, she feared she would be judged for doing it just the same.
He furrowed his brows and frowned. Rather than reassure her, his confusion fueled her distress. Surely, he’d wondered! If the rest of the world assumed it why wouldn’t he?
“Don’t you resent all of this?” He must! “Aren’t you angry that you’ve had to sacrifice your freedom over one small thing?” She hadn’t meant to give in to this panic and temper but how could he sit here with her as though this was something he’d wanted? Did he pity her so much? Was he afraid she couldn’t handle knowing how he really felt?
When he only stared at her, looking puzzled, she continued, “I didn’t do it on purpose! You have to believe me!”
“Do what on purpose? And what reason would I have to resent you? I’m the idiot who threw you across my lap.”
“I didn’t go out there in hopes that…” She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. “My sister and my mother think I did it on purpose. Everyone is going to think I did it on purpose. But I did not. Surely, you can’t help but wonder. And that is why you must resent me. It’s likely why your mother didn’t want to join us for dinner… But I didn’t… I went outside towarnyou.”
“You came outside to warn me. From whom?”
She was shaking her head. Having gone this far, she couldn’t stop. “It wouldn’t be right for me to tell you. I’m already ruined and Tabetha too. If others find out who set it up, then she, as well as her sis—others in her family will suffer as well. And it’s my fault… Already I’ve ruined too many lives.” The words poured out of her. She’d tried to keep them locked inside but he was being so nice…
He was acting like this was a real marriage. And it was not!
Unable to contain them a second longer, she burst into tears.
“Forgive me.” She attempted to push her chair back, but it wouldn’t move. Drat and fiddlesticks, she couldn’t even make a proper escape.
She threw all of her weight backward.
Unfortunately, gravity, physics, or some such natural law was not going to cooperate with her either. The feet of the chair caught on the carpet and before she could catch herself, it tipped backward.No. No. No. No. No.
Time slowed and then practically stood still as the wall slid away and the ceiling came into focus.
A sickening thump and a flash of pain in her head, and everything went black.
“Bethany?”Chase crouched down beside her, his heart in his throat. The calm, sturdy, dependable Bethany Fitzwilliam he’d always known, it seemed, had finally discovered her temper.
The moment her chair began moving backward, he’d known precisely what was to come but had been unable to get to her in time. Not an auspicious beginning.
He touched her forehead, his fingers in her hair and his thumb stroking her skin. “Bethany?”
Both Collins and Bradford, the two footmen who’d been serving their meal, hovered over them.
“Is she all right?” Collins asked, sounding as guilty as Chase felt. Collins had been standing behind her until just before she’d attempted to flee.
“Call for the doctor.” Her head had missed catching the sideboard by inches but then it had slammed onto the wooden floor.
“Wake up, sweetheart.” The tears she’d begun to shed glistened along her lashes and on her cheek. Even this close, her complexion was flawless. Pale, like a perfect English rose. “Come back sleepy-head.”
A cracking feeling ebbed around the vicinity of his heart. What had he gotten himself into?
