Lovell studied Samuel’s expression. “I have a theory about your troubles. Would you like to hear it?”
“Have I anyother choice?”
“None whatsoever. It’s my considered opinion you’ve fallen madly in love with a certain lady, but are too stubborn to admit it.” Lovell shook his head, as if Samuel were being very tiresome, indeed. “Shall I tell you which lady I think has captured your heart?”
Samuel turned a dark scowl on his cousin. “No.”
He knew which name was about to fall from his cousin’s lips, and he was desperate not to hear it spoken aloud, as if even a whisper would conjure the lady herself—that she’d appear in the drawing room, and break his heartall over again.
Lovell of course, ignored him. “Lady Emma Crosby.”
Samuel flinched. Damn it, he’d spent the past day doing whatever he could to forget that name, and the lady attached to it, only to have Lovell blurt it out. “NotCrosby, Lovell,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “Notladyeither, as far as we know.”
She’d lied about everything else. Why not that as well? And who’d said a single word about love? Nothim. How could he be madly in love with a lady when he didn’t evenknow her name?
Lovell regarded him calmly. “Her title doesn’t make a shred of difference, and you know it. Lady Emma, or just Emma, you love her either way.”
Yes, Samuel loved her, but he didn’twantto love her. That was why he’d told her he didn’t wish to ever lay eyes on her again. He could no longer tell whether that had been very wise of him, or very, very foolish, so he confined his answer to a third irritable grunt.
“The question, Lymington, is what you intend to do about it.”
“Do? Not a damned thing. For God’s sake, Lovell, have you forgotten she believed you to be a debaucher, kidnapper,and murderer?”
Meanwhile the real debaucher, kidnapper, and murderer was still running loose, and Samueldidintend todo something about that. He wouldn’t rest until he discovered who the scoundrel was, and saw him held accountable for his crimes. The trouble was, he had no ideawhere to start.
“I’m not likely to forget that, Lymington. I confess it’s a trifle uncomfortable, Lady Emma’s trying to see me hanged, but you’d do well to listen to her explanation, even so. Not forhersake, but for yours. This business with her will never be over until you know the truth.”
“Iaskedher to explain herself, Lovell! She refused.” Samuel dragged his hand down his face. Even if hecouldforgive her for what she’d done, he didn’t think he could ever trust her again. “She lied to me.”
She’d lied about everything, and her betrayal was lodged in the tissue of his heart like a sliver, leaving a small but painful tear where the point had pierced thetender flesh.
“She did, yes, but it’s not her lies youcan’t forgive.”
“No?” Samuel’s laugh was grim. “What is it, then?”
Lovell’s gaze was steady. “You can’t forgive her because you believe she was only pretending tocare for you.”
“Shewaspretending, Lovell.” Emma might expel every breath in her body denying it, but every time Samuel looked into her face, heard the slightest tremor in her voice, wouldn’t he always suspect she was lying to him?
All at once, Samuel felt weary to his bones. “None of thismakes any dif—”
“Samuel?” Lady Lymington appeared at the drawing room door. “Oh, and Lancelot. Here you both are. Supper is served. Shall we go to the dining room?”
Samuel didn’t have any appetite at all, but he managed a half-hearted smile for his mother, and offered her his arm. She didn’t take it, but hung back, motioning to Lovell to precede them.
Samuel frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing at all, only…you will do your best to be gracious to our gueststhis evening?”
Dear God. Had he really made himself so unbearable his mother felt the need to remind him to behave like a gentleman? “Of course, unless…is there some reason I might be tempted tobe ungracious?”
Lady Lymington avoided his gaze. “No, no, I just…well, keep in mind that everything I do, Samuel, I do foryour own good.”
His own good? Nothing pleasant ever followedthatsort of observation.
God in heaven, now what? “That sounds ominous.”
“Nonsense. All is well.” Lady Lymington gave a brisk laugh, but she was agitated as she urged Samuel toward the dining room.
