Her father’s concern had had merit. For he had shortly after become very ill with a cancer. He’d died that year on Boxing Day, one day after Christmas. By insisting upon her marriage to the baron, her father had secured a home for both Lilly and her mother with Lord Beauchamp.
“You haven’t yet married?” Lilly asked, even though she was sure she would have heard something if he had.
Nearly a full minute passed before Michael responded. “I am to marry in June.”
It made no sense, but it seemed as though a part of her heart died all over again upon hearing his words.
She recovered quickly. “Ah, then, felicitations are in order.” She sipped at her watered-down wine and then set the glass back down. Her hand shook slightly.
“Tell me about her.” She would not spare herself these details.Let me put this part of my heart to death once and for all.
“She is Lady Natalie Spencer, daughter of the Earl of Ravensdale,” he stated baldly.
Lilly waited for him to embellish upon his announcement, but he did not. “I remember the Countess of Ravensdale as a charming woman. She was a good friend of my aunt’s.” Lilly searched her memory. “I know they have several sons, but I don’t believe I ever met any daughters.”
“There is just the one. She came out last spring.”
“She must be very special.” Lilly felt as though the words would choke her. Oh, God, the girl must be close to Glenda’s age.
Michael grimaced and then covered it with a wry smile. “Oh, she is.” His voice sounded tinged with…irony? Perhaps he’d rather not discuss Lady Natalie with Lilly.
But Lilly could not let it go. “How did you meet?” she persisted.
Michael’s eyes narrowed. “The usual. Last season at a ball…” He lifted his chin. “The Willoughby Ball, in fact.”
“Oh.” Lilly wasn’t sure how she ought to respond to such information. That broken part of her heart now felt as though the heel of a boot was grinding it into the ground. Lilly pinched her lips together and stared at the top button of his jacket. It was a burnished gold. The backs of her eyes burned. Had he intended to strike out at her?
He smiled a bit vindictively at Lilly’s apparent loss for words. “Both ironic, and yet fitting, don’t you think?” he said.
Ironic and yet fitting?Gathering her composure, she responded, “Whyever would you say that?” And then she met his eyes with a hard stare of her own. She had been harboring the notion that they would not address the past this evening.
Was he really going to do this?
If so, he’d have to do better than that. Her eyes challenged him. If his eyes could be ice, then hers could be fire.
Michael crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, his cold gaze fixed upon her. “I believe,” he said chillingly, “that was where I’d thought I’d found my future wife once before.”
Blinding fury exploded within her. How dare he! How dare he! Standing up, Lilly pushed her chair back abruptly, not caring when it fell over. “I certainly hope you act with more honor this time then,Your Grace, as you failed to follow through with your promise on that first occasion!” She did herbest to keep the tears in her eyes from overflowing. His words had been brutal. She should hate him!
Instead, confusion and shame threatened to engulf her. Knowing now, something of the ordeal he’d experienced with his brother and father, she second-guessed herself.
Had their separation been a betrayal on her part? Hadher immaturity,and not his lack of honor, brought about the end of their courtship? Hadhesuffered as well?
Her conscience berated her for impugning his honor, but his cruelly delivered comment had hurt. She would not relinquish her anger yet. Before losing her composure completely by bursting into tears, Lilly walked to the door, spun around quickly, made a hasty curtsy, and said, “Good night,” in a wobbly voice. There must have been a strong draft in the corridor, however, for the door slammed closed violently behind her.
THE COURTSHIP
1815
True to his word, Captain Redmond arrived at the stately townhouse on Curzon Street the next afternoon. He carried with him three separate bouquets of flowers.
Lilly knew the moment he entered the room, for her heart seemed to skip a beat.
The very atmosphere changed with his presence.
He appeared confident and unconcerned by the other suitors surrounding Lilly. No military uniform today. Instead he wore tan breeches, a brown waistcoat, and a black jacket. His neck cloth was tied in a simple knot, and his jacket hung loosely upon him.
His boots were, however, buffed to a high shine.
