Jasper leaned in and read over her shoulder. “The Duke of Dewberry wed Lady Gardenia Hathaway, daughter of the Duke of Crossings, at a private ceremony in Crossings’ home—” His eyes skimmed the article. “The article suggests you married him the evening we left London.”
“But I did not!” Nia stared up at Goldie. “This is horrible! It’s a lie! I did not marry Dewberry!” Her father had lied, of course! Her father had made it so she could not marry Jasper.
“Father did you a favor, then,” Goldie said. “Because Dewberry was shot dead the following morning.” At this announcement, Jasper stilled and turned to Lord Standish.
“Perhaps we should have this discussion elsewhere,” he said.
Dewberry was dead? Picturing his eyes as they’d been the morning she’d left him at the altar, Nia felt…
Nothing.
“As a widow, you are free of Father,” Goldie explained while Nia grappled to comprehend what was happening. “And you no longer require Lord Westcott’s protection.”
Goldie’s words, delivered cheerfully, had the opposite of their intended effect.
Because a sudden and crushing disappointment landed on Nia. She looked to Jasper then, and his expression gave nothing of his feelings away.
Was this really to be the end of it?
And she should not be disappointed. Should she? This meant both she and Jasper had choices. They could either marry, or they could go their separate ways…
A roaring sounded in her head and her hands turned numb.
“Let’s all return to the inn.” Jasper was already steering Nia out of the blacksmith’s, and she had a sudden urge to stop him—to demand they go on with the wedding.
She had wanted to marry Jasper!
“What is happening?” she murmured to herself.
But, of course, she did not stop him. Instead, she allowed Jasper to escort her back to the chamber they’d shared the night before. She was only shaken out of her bewilderment when Jasper did not enter with her.
“I’ll leave you with your sister while I sort this out with Standish.” He held his hat in his hands, addressing her more formally than he had earlier.
“You’re leaving?”
“For now. This news comes as something of a shock. I’ll have tea sent up.” He held her gaze, looking as though he was going to say something more, but when Goldie shuffled in around him, he bowed and departed without another word.
Their marriage had been a foregone conclusion.
Or so she had believed.
But Goldie was here! Nia stared at her sister, whom she had not seen for nearly three months. Her sister who was now a married lady—a countess! And seeing one another when it had been possible that they’d never see each other again, both ladies fell into one another’s arms.
After a few happy tears, Nia leaned back.
Her sister, who was shorter than Nia, wore a lovely periwinkle gown that showed off her voluptuous figure, and her golden curls were tamed into an elegant style with a silver clip. But aside from her outer appearance, a wonderous light glowed from behind her eyes.
“You look beautiful, Goldie.” Nia squeezed Goldie’s hands in hers. “I’ve missed you so. Oh, but you are married! Are you happy?”
Goldie’s smile was her answer. “The only thing that kept me from true happiness was my worry for you. We returned from Cornwall the night of your wedding—”
“But I didn’t marry Dewberry.”
“Did you really run out of the church?” Goldie tugged Nia to sit beside her on the bed. “I was terribly worried. As soon as we heard the news, I sent Standish to find out where you’d gone. Lord Westcott’s butler said you’d been taken back to Father’s house. And the next morning, shortly after we read the article at breakfast, Malum sent for us.”
Nia released Goldie’s hands and rubbed her forehead. “I don’t understand. Why would the Gazette print something that wasn’t true?“
“Because Father sent an announcement to the Gazette. Malum believes Father was confident he would find you, and that he had every intention of turning you over to Dewberry the evening you escaped. It was part of some business deal involving a shipment. Your marriage was to solidify Father’s partnership with the duke.”
