“No, not at all. I refused, of course.”
Frances’ mouth dropped open again. “You did?”
“Yes, and went on to Silverley.” Frances didn’t need to know this had happened the next morning. “But as you can see, I changed my mind. He was offering me a solution, and I decided to treat it as a business arrangement. I still haven’t figured out why he did it, but there you have it, the whole story.” Less the parts Roslynn couldn’t bring herself to mention.
Frances sat back, herself again. “Well, I just hope you don’t come to regret it. For your sake, I’ll pray for a miracle, that Sir Anthony might somehow turn out to be another Nicholas Eden.”
“Good God, bite your tongue, madam,” Anthony said as he casually sauntered into the room. “I can barely tolerate the fellow.”
Poor Frances turned beet red. Roslynn glared furiously at her husband. “Taken to eavesdropping, my lord?”
“Not at all.” He smiled at her, belying the denial. “So the reinforcements have arrived, eh?”
He had Roslynn blushing now as he looked pointedly at Frances with that question. She was remembering that all day yesterday, every time he had tried to talk to her, she had moved off to speak with a member of his family, all of whom had stayed for dinner and much later, giving her excuses to avoid him the whole day. Now they still weren’t alone, only this time the visitor was firmly in her camp. His use of the word “reinforcements” was apt, though Frances didn’t know what he was referring to.
“You’re on your way out?” Roslynn asked hopefully.
“Actually, I’m off to continue the hunt for your dear cousin.”
“Oh? And another detour?” She jabbed for blood. “Then I’ll see you—when I see you, I suppose.”
Anthony braced his hands on the table across from her, leaning forward, his eyes dark with meaning as they locked with hers. “You willseeme this evening, my dear. You may depend upon it.” And then he straightened, his smile tight. “Good day, ladies. You may continue raking me over the coals now.”
He turned on his heel and sauntered out as nonchalantly as he had entered, leaving Roslynn bristling and Frances uncomfortably aware that much more had just transpired than was said. But as quietly as he had left the room, he slammed out of the house.
Roslynn grimaced, hearing the noise. Frances raised a questioning brow. “He’s displeased about something?”
“You could say that.”
“So are you?”
“Frances, I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“That bad, eh? Well, all I can say is you agreed to this marriage, knowing what he was like. I don’t imagine he’ll be an easy man to live with, but you must make the best of it. Just don’t expect too much.”
That was laughable. She hadn’t expected a thing, until Anthony had deluded her into thinking he could change. And not twenty-four hours’ married and he proved he couldn’t. She could have understood a month later, or even a week, but the very next day after he swore he wanted no one but her? The trouble was, she couldn’t seem to break through the anger to get back to her original reconcilement to take him as he was.
Anthony’s thoughts were simmering along the same lines as he threw himself into the waiting carriage outside. He had every right to be furious and he was,immeasurably so. A business arrangement! He’d like to know what the bloody hell he was to get out of this “business arrangement” as it stood now.
Stubborn, unreasonable, vexing woman. And illogical, for God’s sake. If she’d just use some common sense, she’d see how absurd her accusations were. But no, she wouldn’t even talk to him about it. Every time he had tried yesterday, she had bestowed her false smile on him and flitted away, using his own family as a barrier against him. And they loved her. And why not? She was charming, intelligent—except in some matters—and beautiful, and they looked on her as his salvation. More likely she was the devil’s advocate, sent to drive him mad.
Well, he’d be doubly damned if he’d lose another night’s sleep over the contrariness of his wife. She belonged in his bed, not nursing her foolish grudges across the hall. Tonight they’d talk, by God, and without interruption.
Now, how to word a message to James, to suggest he take himself and Jeremy off for the evening, without telling him why?
Chapter Twenty-eight
Awhile after Frances left, Jeremy came in with a stack of newspapers and a jaunty smile, telling Roslynn the notice would run for two weeks. She found it in each paper, the announcement of her marriage, but she had to admit that Anthony was right in this matter. There was no guarantee that Geordie would see it. So she couldn’t help feeling grateful that, even though Anthony was annoyed with her, he was still making an effort to find Geordie to warn him off.
She might be safely married, but if Geordie didn’t know it, then how safe was she really? He could at this very moment be working on a new scheme to snatch her and drag her to the altar. He knew where she was—at least he knew that her clothes had come to this address. And if he succeeded in abducting her again, and she had to be the one to tell him he was too late, well, there was no telling what he might do to her in his anger at being thwarted.
Because of that, she elected to stay close to home for a while. Any remodeling she was planning could be done by having the tradesmen come to her, rather than her going to them. And she did plan extensive redecorating of Anthony’s house. Nor was she going to bother to tell him about it. And when he saw the damage to his purse, because she had changed her mind about paying for it herself and intended to use only his money, well, he might think twicebefore getting in her bad graces again with more lies.
A wee voice whispered that she was being wickedly spiteful. Roslynn didn’t listen to it. She was going to spend Anthony’s money as if he were made of it. She might even insist he build her a new house, a mansion in the country perhaps, but after she had redecorated this one, of course. After all, the town house wasn’t that large. It didn’t even have a ballroom. How was she expected to entertain?
She could even pauperize the wretched man if she were of a mind to. Yes, there was an idea worth considering. A picture of Anthony humbled and having to come to her for an allowance was delightful indeed, and no more than he deserved for disillusioning her.
But Roslynn didn’t devote too much time to vengeful thoughts today, not with Anthony’s implied threat hanging over her head that there would be a confrontation between them tonight. She couldn’t deny that worried her no small amount. And her nervousness increased during the afternoon, so much so that when James informed her during dinner that he and Jeremy were off to Vauxhall Gardens for the evening, she almost asked to join them. Why tonight of all nights did they both have to go out, never mind that this was the norm rather than the exception? Even though Anthony wasn’t home yet, she didn’t doubt for a minute that he would show up eventually.
