“You’re wrong.” He’d pulled his arm back and had both feet on the ground now.
“I almost didn’t believe it myself.”
The earl suddenly burst off the bench and began pacing back and forth.
“It’s not as though you’re responsible for it,” Caroline reassured him.
But he was beyond her comforting words. Should she apologize? But she had nothing to apologize for.
Head down, he strode from the lilacs to a cluster of prize roses, and then back to the lilacs.
And then he stopped, turned, and offered a hand to assist her off the bench. “If you don’t mind, I’ll escort you back inside now.”
Apparently, she’d taken her criticism too far. This elegant gentleman, a man who had made an effort to befriend her, had heard enough of her opinions.
Caroline ignored his hand. “I’m fine. You needn’t bother.” Her fists tightened around her reticule. “I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
She was.
In fact, she didn’t need any of these people. She would tell her mother she was tired. And in the future, she’d do everything possible to avoid events such as this.
It was time her family accepted that she was never going to fit into society.
Josephine and Melanie’s images flashed in her mind followed by familial guilt.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He offered his arm.
It was obvious the earl’s thoughts were on something else now. Perhaps he had a mistress awaiting him across town. He acted as though he couldn’t wait to rid himself of her company.
“I’m fine,” she brazened. “In fact, I’m going to sit out here a little longer. Good evening, my lord.” She leaned back and stared up at the sky again.
A few stars might appear if she waited long enough.
Lord Helton remained standing before her, his hand extended.
“Don’t be foolish.” He wiggled his fingers, and when she ignored that gesture, he dropped his voice. “I’ll carry you if necessary.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I would.” He cocked a brow.
It was one thing to wander in the garden by oneself—quite another to be carried kicking and screaming into a ballroom.
How had she imagined kindness in this man? He was just like the other ones—arrogant, pompous and… pig-headed.
“Very well,” she conceded.
A SCHEME
“There you are.” Caroline’s sister-in-law peered around the thick plant with curious eyes. Caroline had not been able to convince her mother to leave early, so she’d done the next best thing and found a decorative shrub to sit behind. The supper dance felt like it had happened hours ago. Surely, the ball would end soon!
“Is it over yet?”
But Goldie didn’t answer, having mysteriously disappeared. Caroline looked around, briefly baffled. She could have hugged the younger woman, however, when she returned a moment later dragging a footstool.
“My feet are killing me,” the sweet blonde woman announced before making herself comfortable.
“This is a waste of time, Goldie.” Caroline would never be accepted, and furthermore, she didn’t like most of these people anyway. Why on earth would she want to marry one of them?
