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“Please have a tea tray prepared, Bevels,” Emily said, falling into the role of hostess with natural adeptness despite her unease.
With a nod, the butler departed.
“Good morning.” Marlow-Westbrook didn’t seem the least taken aback to find Tobias and San Sebastian also present.
The men exchanged perfunctory greetings.
“Please do have a seat, Mr. Marlow-Westbrook,” Emily said, withdrawing her hand from Tobias’s.
Marlow-Westbrook sank onto the opposite settee. “I hope you are quite recovered from your headache, Mrs. Grenville.”
His gaze was a trifle too keen for mere politesse.
“I am.” Emily folded her hands in her lap, clenching them tightly.
Such a brave darling.
“Last night, you inquired about my late husband, Mr. Marlow-Westbrook.”
Angling his dark head in the affirmative, Marlow-Westbrook said, “I did. My mother has several Grenville cousins. You mentioned you didn’t meet in England.”
“We did not. My brother was a diplomat until his passing. It was he who introduced me to Lieutenant Clement Grenville.”
Tobias waited for Marlow-Westbrook’s reaction.
It took all of two heartbeats.
Disbelief whisked across the young man’s features as he stiffened and his jaw tightened. No doubt the severity of Emily’s accusations hit the target straight on. “But…Clement Grenville had a wife and family in Essex.”
“So I learned when he abandoned me.” With estimable poise and composure, Emily repeated the unsavory tale she’d told Tobias a fortnight ago.
San Sebastian’s expression grew ever more flint-like and enraged, while Marlow-Westbrook’s remained rigid, his face impassive.
“So there you have it in all of its tawdry truth,” Emily said.
“What tawdry truth?” The Duchess of San Sebastian glided into the drawing room, Avery at her heels.
Emily winced but, to her credit, notched her rounded chin up an inch.
Never had Tobias known such a courageous woman, and his love for her threatened to explode his heart.
With an eye on Avery, Emily chose her words with care. “I have just shared with Mr. Marlow-Westbrook how I came to be Mrs. Clement Grenville.”
At once, the duchess’s welcoming smile vanished, and she went to stand behind her aunt. Placing a hand on Emily’s shoulder in a protective gesture, she narrowed her eyes. “And pray tell, why would you need to know that, Mr. Marlow-Westbrook?”
“He was second or third cousin to my mother,” he responded stiffly. “I thought Mrs. Grenville might like to become acquainted with the rest of the family.”
“Hardly,” her grace scoffed with such contempt, Marlow-Westbrook flushed.
Completely befuddled but sensing something was amiss, Avery looked between the other four adults in the room.
Marlow-Westbrook skimmed his avid gaze over Avery, and she offered him a demure smile.
Definitely sparks between those two, but Tobias wasn’t as keen to welcome the man’s suit after this interlude. Might never be, depending on the outcome today, truth be told.
With what might have been remorse, Marlow-Westbrook pointed his attention to Emily.
“Mrs. Grenville, I sincerely regret any upset my visit has caused you.” Marlow-Westbrook stood, and something very near consternation shadowed his features. “I think it is best for all if this matter is never discussed again.”
