“Your Grace. I thought that was you.”
Up alongside him rode the viscount, his brother-in-law. Dominic’s grip tightened on his steed but this time his horse merely slowed down.
“Cassian,” he said with a nod. “How do you do?”
Glancing about and behind them, Cassian replied, “Well enough. I merely wished to see how you fare.”
“Me? Or your sister?” Dominic invited him to correct. “Or your secrets?”
A tense expression crossed the viscount. He frowned, pursing his lips like he’d eaten something bitter. “I thought we might put aside our differences now that we are family.”
“The differences will remain, but I suppose that is what binds us, is it not?” Dominic suggested politely.
There might have been a part of him glad to have married Verity of all people. But the way they’d been forced together was not something he would ever be grateful for. It had been a dirty ploy by Cassian, and the lord deserved nothing for it.
“I suppose.” Cassian fell quiet for a few minutes until they reached the next block. “How fares my sister?”
“Well. You should visit her; I am certain she would appreciate the visit. She writes often to her sisters, I believe, and she might be willing to write to you as well,” Dominic added.
Cassian rolled his eyes. “My sisters have no need to write to one another. The youngest two are too busy with the season to read anything by family, anyways. But perhaps I will visit her. Good day, Your Grace.”
He left as quickly as he had appeared.
Grunting, Dominic wondered in annoyance what he was going to do about his brother-in-law. Was this how the rest of their conversations would go for the rest of the days? How would they behave at dinner parties? Holidays? He couldn’t imagine keeping Verity separate from her family but Cassian’s moody ways had him tempted.
I know what he is capable of, and I don’t like it. Perhaps I should have said something when I had the chance… But alas, it is too late. I had best focus on what I do have. A wife, for example. A wife I am already thinking about too much…
CHAPTER 18
While Verity had always thus managed to avoid attending her printer during daylight, for once it was absolutely necessary.
She simply had to have a journal printed this week and knew it would be her only chance. This was very important to her. But this fact didn’t make it any easier.
The appointment with Mrs. Wendel had been fast and efficient. Money and paper had been traded. Now, she simply needed to get herself home or to a more appropriate shopping lane for a duchess before anyone recognized her.
Why does this feel so impossible? I feel too open out here. Too vulnerable.
“Oh!” Lucy jumped behind her when Verity paused and glanced across the street, causing her maid to bump into her. “YourGrace, please. No one is watching us. Or they weren’t until we stopped on the busy street.”
“I can’t help it.” She fumbled with her reticule. “I don’t like it. It’s so crowded today.”
“You have never minded the crowds before.”
“Because I felt safe being in public. Now… someone might see.”
“But they won’t know.”
Her maid gave her a pointed look as though to tell her how she must have lost her mind. It was a fair assessment. Most of the time, it was Lucy all anxious and fretting about being found out. She didn’t like traveling late at night or keeping secrets. Though she didn’t particularly have a loose tongue, she claimed it was too much effort to keep something to herself most of the time.
Just because she’s sworn to secrecy, and paid extremely well, cannot guarantee my secret is safe forever. Someday it could be found out. And what then? What will I do? Who will I be when that happens?
Forcing herself to shake her head, praying some of the nerves might loosen up under her skin, Verity said, “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
“Certainly I am.”
“I shan’t be nervous. It isn’t as though anyone knows where we are going.” She gave herself a nod before she resumed walking. Hurried footsteps followed right at her shoulder as Lucy caught up to her. The sound was comforting. “And we certainly won’t be talking to anyone––”
Her mouth snapped shut at the sight of Dominic.
