Page 28 of Unmask Me My Love

Lady Celinda smiled and straightened the covers. “Yes, Horace Carpenter does exist. He is Hal’s manservant.” She laughed. “But not nearly as tall or handsome as Hal and quite a bit older.” Lady Celinda gazed at Gabriella and moistened her lips. “Hal would like to speak to you, Gabriella.”

“Oh, so he can tell me more lies?” Gabriella gathered the covers over her and shook her head. “Non. Please tell him I will not see him, my lady. I have no words for him.”

“Please call me Celinda. You are my guest here, so it’s only right.” She looked longingly at Gabriella. “I beg you to reconsider. Hal’s been sending notes every hour, it seems, asking if you’ve awakened, how you slept, if he may call upon you. He truly loves you, Gabriella.”

“He cannot love me if all his words are lies.” Her memories of him were tainted now—how could she distinguish the lies from the truth?

“Not everything has been a lie, you know.” Celinda sat on the bed at her feet. “He only said he was a valet because he wanted to talk to you without all the trappings of his title. He hates society parties, society ladies. He thought if you knew he was a marquess you might run away, or worse, see him only as a marquess.” Celinda shook her head. “Hal does odd or outrageous things sometimes. It’s in his nature, as much as being stubborn is in yours.”

“I am not—”

“I beg to differ, mademoiselle.” Her new friend held out her hand to stop her comment. “You are almost as stubborn as Hal, although not nearly as much as the Duke of Rother.” Celinda smiled and took her friend’s hands. “I wasn’t shocked that Hal pretended to be someone else. It’s part of Hal, who he is. He’s never liked the life of a society dandy and has done some rather eccentric things to keep from being part of it. Saying that he was his valet is quite tame in comparison to some of his antics.”

“It is not right, Celinda, for him to have lied to me.”

“Sauce for the goose, my dear.” She released her grip and sat back.

“Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire? What is this goose you speak of?”

Her companion laughed. “I mean, yes, he lied to you, but you did the same, did you not?” Celinda cocked her head, a devious smile on her lips. “You didn’t tell him the duke was your father until much later. Until he had already fallen in love with you.”

“He made me fall in love with someone who is not as he seems.” What if he changed his story again, after they married? How could she ever trust him?

“I think Hal is exactly as he has ever been, whether marquess or valet.” Celinda rose. “So let him come and speak for himself. You will see he is the very same man you fell in love with.” Celinda took her hand. “He will do anything within his power, Gabriella, to regain your affection and trust. But you must give him the chance.” She glanced at the tea tray. “Your tea is cold. I shall tell Ann to bring you another, with some warm scones and jam.” She smiled and patted Gabriella’s hand. “You must keep your strength up.” She paused at the door. “May I tell him you will receive him? He’s not going away until you tell him to go to his face.”

Gabriella sighed and cursed to herself. Celinda was likely right. Her Horace—not hers anymore—would not have taken no for an answer either. Better to get this unpleasantness over with so she could look forward to the future, bleak though it might be. “Oui, I will see him this afternoon if it is convenient for you.”

Celinda’s face lit up like a blazing log, and she clapped her hands. “Thank goodness! I believe one more refusal would have seen him camped out on the stoop.” Laughing, she closed the door, leaving Gabriella to brood over how painful it would be to say goodbye to the love she was going to lose.

* * * *

Gabriella sat in the Grantham’s drawing room, smoothing her skirt, rubbing her arms, doing anything she could to keep from thinking about the impending interview with Horace…no, Lord Halford. Dressed in her blue lutestring, she fingered the folds of the gown once more. Opening a modiste’s shop might not be a terrible idea. She hated sewing, but she’d also hated serving Lady Chalgrove, and she’d done that for months. Her own shop, however, might not be so bad. With Celinda’s patronage and that of her friends, she could make money against the day she could return to France and pour out the tale to her mother and grandfather.

The door opened, making Gabriella sit up straighter, every nerve on edge. Celinda entered, followed closely by Lord Halford, very elegantly attired in a dark brown jacket with white trousers and wearing a tall D’Orsay hat. Her heart pounded so hard her body shook.

“Gabriella.” Celinda motioned for her to rise. “Miss d’Aventure, may I present Lord Halford, a cousin of mine who has long desired to make your acquaintance.”

Lord Halford bowed, not taking his gaze off her. As though he’d never seen her before, he perused her head to toe, much as the duke had done. “Miss d’Aventure.” He smiled as he straightened.

The man would not charm her, no matter what. She set her jaw and steadied herself. He was just a man, and one she did not know. She rose and curtsied. “Lady Celinda, you should not indulge in such games,” she said, glaring at the marquess.

“I do not, Miss d’Aventure. You have never met the Marquess of Halford, am I correct?” Celinda’s face betrayed not a jot of levity. Rather, her mouth was pinched in annoyance.

“Non. We have not met officially.” She stared into his lordship’s smiling face. “Although he knows me much better than I know him.”

“Gabriella—” The marquess stepped forward, hands outstretched.

“Hal.” Celinda raised a warning finger at him. “I told you the rules for this meeting. She is Miss d’Aventure until she gives you leave to call her something else. You agreed.”

The anger in her tone made Gabriella’s ears perk up. Perhaps Celinda was still on her side.

“You may begin, Miss d’Aventure.” Celinda sat abruptly on the sofa, her lips in a thin, straight line.

Trying to buy time to think, Gabriella ambled toward the fireplace. What did she wish to say? Nothing. She wanted an accounting from the erstwhile Horace. “His Lordship requested this meeting. I will hear what he has to say.” Let him try to explain his behavior to her.

“Are you well, Miss d’Aventure?” Lord Halford ducked his head, though she could see the eagerness in his face.

“I am standing before you, monsieur.” Would he always be so irritating? “You see I am well.”