“What then?” He laughed nervously. “Margot, you’re scaring me. Do not tell me…” More nervous laughter. “You have changed your mind already? I had hoped we would at least make it through breakfast.”
“No,” she said. “Of course, I have not. This is not –” She caught her tongue, forcing herself to meet her husband’s eyes. She let the pain show in them, needing him to understand that this wasn’t about him. “There is something I need to tell you.”
“Alright…”
“That man I saw you with earlier.” She swallowed, again unable to look directly at Sebastian. “He told you his name was Lord Livingston?”
“That’s right…” he spoke slowly, unease lacing his tone. “What of him?”
“And the business you had with him. To what nature… what did he want?”
“Margot.” He laughed again, the nerves growing. “I am sorry, but that is hardly your concern.”
“You said it was a loan.” She spoke into her chest, her body shaking. “And did you… Did you complete the loan?”
“Such matters are not –”
“Please!” She snapped her head up and stared at him, her eyes pleading. “Tell me. Did you loan him money?”
There must have been something about the way she was looking at him that forced the issue. She saw a spike of unease flash behind his eyes, and he leaned back, his neck turning red. “I did. But it is perfectly legitimate. He owns land in the north that I plan on buying off him. The loan was a downpayment – a mere fraction of what I will be paying him once the paperwork is completed. Why does it matter? What is going on?”
She groaned.I am too late. Although, as I said, this is likely just the beginning.“He is not who he says,” she spoke softly, her chin quivering and her words becoming lost in her throat.
“What?” he blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I should have told you – I was going to tell you. But I was scared. Surprised. And then you came to me and confessed everything, and I… I…” She could feel the tears welling, and she let them build, because she felt she needed the pity. “I should have told you. I know that. Please, forgive me.”
“Forgive you for what? Margot…” He went to her now, ignoring the way she leaned back, taking her hands and squeezing them.“You are shaking. Margot…” He kissed the back of her hands. “What is going on? What do you mean, he is not who he says?”
“That man…” She looked down, focusing on his hands. “His name is not Lord Livingston. He is Lord Ashcombe, the man to whom I was once engaged.”
She felt the change take him immediately. The way his body stiffened. The way his grip on her hands lessened. She tried to meet his eyes, but gasped when she saw the confusion in them…no, not confusion. That is anger.
“Lord Ashcombe,” he repeated. “You are certain?”
“It is him,” she said. “I have no doubt. I do not know why he lied to you. I do not know what he wants. But that he is here, that he knows who you are…” She forced her eyes up, pleading with him to believe her. “He is using you, Sebastian. He is using me, too.”
His brow was furrowed. “And… and you did not think this was information I could have usedbeforeI met with him – before I loaned him a small fortune?”
She winced. “I wanted to tell you. I meant to tell you!”
“Why didn’t you?” She could see him growing angry as he tried to reason through what he was hearing.
“I… I told you why. I meant to – I was about to. But then you came to me, and you told me –”
“No,” he cut through her, his voice sharp. “That was after. You saw him with me in my office, and you said nothing. Why?”
“I…” She could feel the panic rising inside of her.He is not upset with me. Just the situation. That is all.“I was scared. Confused. When I saw him, I did not think – I thought that you… that you…”
“That I what?” he growled. “That I knew who he was and invited him into my home? You thought I would do such a thing, after what he did to you?”
She winced again. “I do not know. I guess… no, I… I am not sure. Please, Sebastian!” In a moment of desperation, needing him to understand, she rushed for him, meaning to take his hands, pull him into her, hold him so he might forgive her. But he took a step back, holding up a hand to stop her. That single action hurt more than anything.
“I am going to ask you one more thing, Margot. And please do not lie to me.”
She swallowed. Braced herself for whatever the question was.
“Was that the first time you have seen him since he left you three years ago? Since you and I married?”
