His shirt dropped into Willis’ waiting hand before she could answer. Roslynn turned around so fast, Anthony nearly laughed aloud. At least the new subject was improving his temper, if not hers. And that she was reluctant to watch him undress was most interesting.
He sat down on the bed so Willis could tackle his boots, but he kept his eyes on his wife. She was wearing her hair differently tonight, more frivolously, with dainty curls dangling from a high-swept coiffure. Ithad been too long since his hands had been in those glorious red-gold tresses, too long since his lips had tasted the smooth skin along her neck. Her head was turned away, but her body was in profile, the sharp thrust of her breasts particularly drawing his attention.
Anthony was forced to look away before it became an embarrassment to both him and Willis to go any further in his undressing. “You know, my dear, it quite escapes me, the cause of your ill humor this morning.”
“You provoked me.”
He had to strain to hear her, since she wouldn’t face him. “Now how could I have done that when I was so exceedingly well behaved?”
“You called Frances my reinforcements!”
Thathe heard well enough. “I suppose it will be boorish of me to point this out, sweetheart, but you were in a sulk long before your friend was mentioned.”
“You’re right,” she hissed. “It’s boorish of you to be saying so.”
He stole another glance at her to see her fingers worrying at the arms of the chair. He had pushed her into a corner. That had not been his intention.
Even-toned, he said, “By the by, Roslynn, until I locate your cousin, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t leave the house without me.”
The abrupt change of subject floored her. At any other time she would have retorted that she had already concluded for herself that it was wisest to stay at home for a while. But at the moment she was too grateful that he had given up pressing her about this morning.
“Of course,” she agreed simply.
“Isthere any place you would like to go in the next few days?”
And be forced to endure his company the whole while? “No,” she assured him.
“Very well.” She sensed his shrug. “But if you change your mind, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
Did he have to be so bloody reasonable and accommodating? “Aren’t you finished yet?”
“As a matter of fact—”
“Malory!” The shout was muffled on the other side of the door, but then George Amherst burst into the room. “Tony! You’ll—”
Roslynn shot out of the chair, Amherst’s presence canceling Anthony’s threat in her mind. She didn’t wait to hear what he was so eager to impart to her husband, but rushed past him and out the door, offering up a little prayer that Anthony wouldn’t make another scene by trying to stop her.
She didn’t look back, either, as she ran down the stairs and straight into the parlor. She came to an abrupt halt on finding Frances still there, standing in front of the white marble fireplace with her back to the room. She turned, and Roslynn felt a lump of misery rise in her throat, seeing the great tears swimming in her friend’s eyes.
“Och, Frances, I’m so sorry,” Roslynn lamented as she swiftly closed the space between them, catching up Frances in her arms. “I’ll never forgive Anthony for interfering. He had no right—”
Frances stepped back to interrupt. “I’m getting married, Ros.”
Roslynn just stood there, rendered speechless. Not even the brilliant smile Frances gave her, a smile like one she hadn’t seen for years, could make herbelieve what she had just heard. The tears denied it. The tears…
“Then why are you crying?”
Frances laughed shakily. “I can’t seem to help it. I’ve been such a fool, Ros. George says he loves me, that he always has.”
“You—you believe him?”
“Yes.” And then with more force, “Yes!”
“But, Fran—”
“You’re not trying to change her mind, are you, Lady Malory?”
Roslynn started and turned to see the most unfriendly look she had ever received from a man on George Amherst’s handsome face as he sauntered forward. And his tone had been rife with menace too, the gray eyes positively frigid.
