“I cannot marry you, my lord.”
He considered her a moment. “Have I offended you in some way?”
“Not at all. You’ve been most kind.” She raised her mask, suddenly weary.
“I know what happened was a shock, and you may have concerns over taking a husband because of a single kiss, but I assure you, I’ll do my best to make you happy. You’ll want for nothing.”
“Thank you,” her voice was husky. “But it wouldn’t be fair to you. My heart belongs to another.”
“I see.” His jaw tightened. “I didn’t realize. You’ve seemed happy with me whenever we’ve been together.”
Every moment with him had been easy and pleasant, but absolutely passionless.
“I have very much enjoyed the time we’ve spent in one another’s company, every moment, and I do so appreciate how you took me riding and to the races and...,” she trailed off as tears filled her eyes.
Kindly, he leaned forward and used his gloved finger to capture the first one that spilled down her cheek.
“I would never have spent a moment alone with you, and I certainly wouldn’t have kissed you had I known you loved your fiancé. For some reason, I got it into my thick head, you had not formed an attachment to him.”
“Lord Payton, I must confess—”
Before she could tell him it wasn’t her fiancé whom she loved, she saw the very man, Lord Aberavon, in the flesh, and leading him toward her was James.
Her mouth dropped open, and all the blood seemed to rush from her head. In front of everyone, even the queen, she would be denounced as a liar.
“You’ve gone pale,” Lord Payton began, then turned to see what had caught her eye. “I say Hargrove, I think Miss Talbot is ill.”
“I hope not,” James said. “I found her fiancé wandering around, and I’m thrilled to reunite the happy couple.”
He knew. By the wicked expression upon his handsome face, he knew.
“Miss Talbot, you do look pale indeed,” said Lord Aberavon by way of greeting.
He appeared as she remembered, a few inches taller than herself, yet appearing short between James and Lord Payton. He was perhaps a decade older than any one of them, with a welcoming countenance, a round head and a platter face that reminded her of nothing so much as a large turnip with sandy-colored hair.
“I fear I have had too much sun,” she said.
“But you weren’t outside today, were you?” James asked, enjoying her discomfit.
She glared at him, then softened her expression as she looked at Lord Aberavon again. “Then perhaps it was too much champagne”
“I think you’ve only had one glass,” Lord Payton said helpfully. “However, perhaps you should sit.” Without a by-your-leave, he directed her to the nearest stone bench, with James and her “fiancé” in tow.
Glynnis wished she would fall into one of those secret tunnels James had mentioned as being somewhere under the expansive lawn, but that would be far too fortunate for her. She must suffer utter mortification before the night was out.
Once she was seated, she closed her eyes. Mayhap they would all three disappear.
“Miss Talbot.” This came from Lord Payton. “Seeing your fiancé has obviously been a shock to you.”
“I bet it has,” muttered James so everyone could hear.
“Hush,” said Lord Payton. “Let us give them some time alone.”
“What!” exclaimed James. “I thought you were going to marry her.”
“I thoughtIwas supposed to marry her.”
When she heard those words from Lord Aberavon, she opened her eyes.
