Richard looked at Theodosia, suspicion darkening his expression. “You claimed not to know who Mr. Smith was.”
“I… I don’t. Not really,” Theodosia said weakly, knowing how hollow it sounded.
His jaw tightened. “So you have lied to me. All this time.”
Pain lanced through her chest. She hadn’t meant to deceive him—not truly. But how could she explain something she herself didn’t understand?
“I need to speak with Mr. Smith,” she said, her voice trembling.
Richard’s voice was low and tight. “You have five minutes. Then I speak to ‘Mr. Smith.’” He turned on his heel and strode away, his disappointment palpable.
Theodosia faced her sister. “What is going on, Lucinda?”
Lucinda motioned towards the drawing room. “Come. I’ll explain.”
Once they arrived, the door closed behind them with a soft thud.
“You’d best start from the beginning,” Theodosia said, arms crossed.
Lucinda exhaled, adjusting her waistcoat. “It started as a misunderstanding. I wanted to attend a lecture restricted to men. I dressed the part, and no one questioned it. It was… liberating. So I continued.”
“And somehow this led to marrying a marquess’s daughter?” Theodosia asked incredulously.
Lucinda grimaced. “It was an accident. I met Lady Olivia at the circulating library. She looked so forlorn. I offered her conversation… then comfort… and when I jested about marriage, she didn’t laugh. She agreed.”
“You knew who she was. And you went through with it? Why?”
“She had a dowry of twenty thousand pounds,” Lucinda said, matter-of-factly. “It was a solution. For both of us.”
“You tricked her!” Theodosia gasped. “You married her under false pretenses!”
Lucinda shrugged. “But now I take off these clothes and Mr. Smith disappears. No one is the wiser.”
“And what of Olivia?” Theodosia demanded. “The scandal… the deception… you’ve ruined her.”
Walking over to the window, Lucinda unfastened the latch. “I have a coach waiting. We can leave tonight,” she said.
“You can’t be serious,” Theodosia stated. “Lord Wilton intends to challenge you to a duel for abandoning his sister.”
“Then we must go since I don’t intend to die in a duel.”
“You could tell Lord Wilton the truth,” Theodosia offered desperately. “He might understand.”
Lucinda scoffed. “Understand? He’ll have me arrested. Is that what you want?”
“No, but you broke the law?—”
“I came to rescue you,” Lucinda snapped, “and this is the thanks I get.”
Her brows lifted. “Rescue me?” she asked. “I do not need rescuing.”
Lucinda reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “This letter says otherwise. It says that I will never see you again if I don’t come to retrieve you personally.”
Theodosia retrieved the letter and read the contents, confirming it was true.
Lucinda gave her a pointed look. “Lord Wilton is not so kind anymore, is he?” she mocked.
“There must be a misunderstanding,” Theodosia said, her head reeling. “I am Lady Olivia’s companion. He asked me to come. He promised me his protection.”
