He was about to excuse himself when he saw Paul Curzon go out the same side door that Sunny had used. Justin’s face stiffened as a horrible suspicionseizedhim.
Seeing his expression, the minister said earnestly, “I swear, your grace, the scheme is perfectly sound. If you wish, I’ll show you thefigures.”
Justin realized that he couldn’t even remember what the damned bill was about. Brusquely he said, “Send me the information and I’ll give you my decision inaweek.”
Hoping desperately that he was wrong, he brushed aside the minister’s thanks and made his way after his wife and the man whom she mightstilllove.
* * *
Sunny chosethe conservatory for her refuge. It was at the opposite end of the house from the ball, and as she had hoped, she had it toherself.
Cottenham was noted for its magnificent indoor garden, and scattered gaslights illuminated banks of flowers and lush tropical shrubbery. Though rain drummed on the glass panels far above her head, inside the air was balmy and richlyscented.
She took a deep breath, then set out along one of the winding brick paths. It had been foolish to become upset at the sight of Paul Curzon, for she had known that inevitably they would meet. But she had not expected it to be tonight. If she had been mentally prepared, she would have been able to accept his presence withequanimity.
Yet honesty compelled her to admit that in the first instant, she had felt some of the excitement she had known in the days when she had loved him. In the days when shethoughtshe loved him, before she had discovered hisbaseness.
As always, nature helped her regain her composure. If she hadn’t been dressed in a ball gown, she would have looked for some plants to repot. Instead, she picked a gardenia blossom and inhaled the delicateperfume.
As she did, a familiar voice said huskily, “The conservatory was a perfect choice, darling. No one will seeushere.”
“Paul!” The shock was as great as when she had first seen him, and spasmodically she crushed the gardenia blossom in her palm. After a fierce struggle for control, she turned and said evenly, “I didn’t come here to meet you, Paul, but to get away from you. We have nothing to say to eachother.”
Unfortunately the way out lay past him. As she tried to slip by without her broad skirts touching him, he caught her hand. “Sunny, don’t go yet,” he begged. “I’m sorry if I misunderstood why you came here, but I wanted so much to see you that hope warped my judgment. I made the worst mistake of my life with you! At least give me a chance toapologize.”
Reluctantly she stopped, as much because of the narrow aisle as because of his words. “I’m not interested in your apologies.” As she spoke, she looked into his face, which was a mistake. He didn’t look base; he looked sincere, and sinfullyhandsome.
“If you won’t let me apologize, then let me say how much I love you.” A tremor sounded in his voice. “I truly didn’t know how much until Ilostyou.”
Reminding herself that he had looked equally honest before he had broken her heart, she tried to free her hand, saying tartly, “Perhaps you think that you love me because you lost me. Isn’t that how people like you playatlove?”
His grip tightened. “This is different! The fact that you were willing to marry me is the greatest honor I’ve ever known. But I let myself be blinded by worldly considerations, and now I’m paying for my folly. Both ofusare.”
“There’s no point in talking like this! The past can’t be changed, and I’m a marriedwomannow.”
“Perhaps the past can’t be changed, but the future can be.” He put his hand under her chin and turned her face to his. “Love is too precious tothrowaway.”
His gaze holding hers, he pressed his heated lips to her gloved fingers. “You are so beautiful, Sunny. I have never loved a woman as much as Iloveyou.”
She knew that she should break away, for she didn’t love him, didn’t trust his protestations of devotion. Yet her parched heart yearned for warmth, for words of love, even ones that might befalse.
Her inner struggle held her paralyzed as he put his arms around her and bent his head for a kiss. In a moment, she would push him away and leave. Yet even though it was wrong, for just an instant she would let himholdher....
* * *
The conservatory seemedlike the most likely spot for dalliance, but Justin had only been there once, and he lost precious time with a wrong turn. His heart was pounding with fear when he finally reached his destination and threw openthedoor.
He paused on the threshold and scanned the shadowy garden, praying that he was wrong. But through the dense vegetation, he saw a shimmering patch of blue the shade of Sunny’s gown. Down a brick path, around a bend... and he found his wife in PaulCurzon’sarms.
The pain was worse than anything Justin had ever known. For a moment he stood stock-still as nausea pulsed through him. Then came rage. Stalking forward, he snarled, “If you expect me to be a complaisant husband, you’re bothfools.”
The two broke apart instantly, and Sunny whirled to him, her face white. Justin grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from Curzon. Then he looked his rival in the eye and said with lethal precision, “If you ever come near my wife again, I willdestroyyou.”
“No need to carry on so, old man,” Curzon said hastily. “It was merely a friendly kiss betweenacquaintances.”
Justin’s free hand knotted into a fist. “I willdestroyyou!”
As Curzon paled, Justin turned and swept his wife away, heedless of the difficulty that she had keeping up in her high-heeled kid slippers. When she stumbled, his grip tightened to keep her from falling, but he did notslowdown.
