Despite how little he knew of her, this woman made up his entire world.
“Your husband?” Mrs. Farley squawked, adjusting her spectacles as if inspecting him anew. “But you areMiss Montgomery, not Mrs. Williamson, and you’ve never mentioned him—not even a word. How can this be?”
Had she kept his existence a secret?
“He—Alastair has been away,” Daisy said, stepping forwardand winding her hand firmly around his arm. “I wasn’t sure when he would return… or if he would. And it was simply easier this way.”
With admirable dramatics, she lifted her chin and sniffed loudly.
“But where have you been, young man?” Mrs. Farley’s sharp gaze cut back to him. “Are you a military man?”
Curious to hear the answer, he remained silent.
“Not the military,” Daisy said quickly. “But he worked on a ship—er—importing and exporting and… whatnot.”
He arched a brow. Whatnot?
“It was attacked by pirates,” she added solemnly.
Pirates.
Alastair pressed his lips together, willing himself not to react.
Daisy clutched his arm tighter, sending him a subtle warning squeeze.
“I hadn’t heard from dearest Alastair for nearly a decade,” she continued with feeling, “but now he’s returned, a little battered, but he is safe now. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Mrs. Farley narrowed her eyes, visibly sifting through the details.
Alastair exhaled slowly. Good God.
She was making this up. He didn’t know how he knew, but heknewher. And she was lying.
Why, though? And just how much of this tale was falsehood, and how much was truth?
Were they… not husband and wife? Or was she only lying because she was ashamed of the real reason he’d been gone?
The two of them would definitely have a much-needed conversation after this.
Mrs. Farley’s eyes remained suspicious, but perhaps a smidge less so. “Why didn’t your aunt mention this when I encouraged her to find you a husband?”
“Out of respect for my sensibilities,” Daisy answered solemnly. “Alastair is, in fact, the very reason she resisted your suggestions.” Daisy swiped the back of her hand across her eyes as though holding back tears. Alastair noticed that her brother was looking almost as fascinated with his sister’s tale as himself. “Aunt Thea knew how devastated I was at his disappearance.”
“Hmm, a decade you said? You must have married awfully young, then. What were you, all of six and ten?”
“Seven and ten, actually. And I was old enough to fall in love,” Daisy returned.
Alastair glanced down at her. Of all the announcements she’d made this morning, this particular one rang true. And although her cheeks were pink, her eyes blazed like blue fire.
He inhaled a sharp breath, and the sweet scent of honeysuckle filled his senses.
Was she telling the truth? Had he fallen in love with this woman ten years before? But he couldn’t get any reliable answers as long as they had an audience.
“So, you see,” Alastair said. “Everything is quite above-board.” Or was it?
Mrs. Farley studied each of them but then finally dipped her chin in approval.
“I’ll come for tea this week,” Daisy said. “I promise.” All along his side, Alastair could feel Daisy relax beside him, a near-silent sigh of relief escaping her.
