* * *
“Miss Vail, wait,”Sir Orwen called.
She wasn’t waiting. She wanted to be home and blessedly free of Somerton.
“The pain in your heart is great, Miss Vail, but you must allow it to heal,” Sir Gilbert insisted.
Diana snorted. It was healed, or she’d once thought it was.
As she reached the main path, she first looked back toward the gardens and knew she couldn’t return to the gathering. She didn’t have the strength to pretend to be happy and force enjoyment of the festivities. Besides, Somerton would return, and she didn’t want to chance encountering him again. Worse, that he’d want to further discuss what had happened. She would never, ever discuss what pained her the most. Not only wasn’t it proper to do so, but such a conversation would bring further mortification and she’d had quite enough already.
Having grown up in the area, Diana knew all the paths to and from Keyvnor Castle and took the one most secluded to return home to Hollybrook Park.
“He loves you,” Sir Gilbert insisted.
Diana snorted. “He loves no one but himself, and perhaps his nieces.”
“No. He loves you,” Sir Gilbert continued.
The knight was a romantic, nauseatingly so, and would see love in the eyes of a snake. Given the fact that Sir Orwen, the more pragmatic of the two, remained silent, she was assured that no love for her lingered in Somerton’s heart.
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss or assume,” Sir Orwen said thoughtfully.
Diana rolled her eyes. “Not you too.”
“There is something most definitely there.”
“Desire and passion perhaps, but certainlynotlove.”
To think she’d allowed his kisses and caresses. And even though Somerton never spoke of an affection, he’d courted her almost from the beginning of the Season. They danced at every ball, took drives, and so many things that courting couples did that she’d assumed…
Hot tears stung her eyes. That was what she got for assuming anything.
He may not have ruined her, though it was a close thing, Somerton had ruined her heart for anyone else. Not that she didn’t have the capacity to love, Diana just wasn’t certain she’d ever trust enough to love again.
“Do not leave!” Sir Gilbert cried as she neared the border between Keyvnor and Hollybrook. “I am certain something can be worked out.”
Diana was just as certain it would be impossible.
“Let her go,” Sir Orwen said. “Give Miss Vail a bit of peace and a chance to recover. We’ll work on matters here.”
Diana had no idea what he meant, but there was nothing to work on and she wasn’t even certain if she would be returning to Keyvnor. At least not while Somerton was a guest.
Chapter 5
“You are coming with me,”Faye announced as she marched into the sitting room, pulling on her gloves.
James blinked at his younger sister. He had no intention of going anywhere. “The Hamblys have entertainments planned for this afternoon.”
“Which is hours away,” Faye reminded him. “I need an escort into the village. Mother said I couldn’t go unless you accompanied me.”
“Me?” he objected. “What of Benedict?” His younger brother was better suited for a jaunt into Bocka Morrow.
“Benedict isn’t the one who needs a distraction,” Faye announced. “You’ve been hiding and brooding since yesterday afternoon. You behave as if you’ve lost your best friend.”
In truth, that is exactly how he felt. It hurt when Diana broke from him before, but after a time, James had managed, for the most part, to push the pain aside and went so far as to convince himself that it had only been desire that ruled his heart.
“James?” Faye questioned.
