Page 81 of Broken

“A little.”

“The Wexham’s are an oddity in society. Always have been, too. They don’t marry until they must, and once they do, they pledge constancy to their wives. Decidedly unpopular stance to take in this day and age. I used to tease Daventry about it when I was young.”

“You disapprove?”

Carrington shrugged. “My friends have all made love matches, not matches designed for dynastic greatness. As far as I can see, they remain besotted with their choices of wives, and their connections and dowries, or lack of, held little sway in the decisions. I didn’t understand the appeal before I became engaged.”

“And do you understand now?”

Carrington nodded and turned his face to the window. In profile, she could see why most women liked the look of him. He was handsome, could hold a compelling conversation, but he was nothing like Giles Wexham. Could Giles pledge eternity to one woman?

“What does Carrington understand?”

Watching Giles stalk across the room set her heart to pounding again. He dropped to the cushion beside her, leaned over, cupped one hand about her face, and kissed her soundly.

Lilly pushed him away. “Please.”

She glanced around, but her father hadn’t followed Giles and Carrington had stepped out of the room taking the maid with him.

“Suddenly shy?” Giles dipped his head and his lips caressed her ear. Gooseflesh rose along her skin in waves. “You were not so restrained last night.”

Lilly licked her lips, struggling not to think about sharing Giles’ bed. Her body hummed in anticipation. “Papa sounded angry earlier. I don’t want to upset him.”

He caught her earlobe in his teeth, and she vibrated with pleasure. He let go and kissed the skin behind her ear. “Your father and I have come to an understanding at last.”

Lilly set her hand upon Giles’ arm, intending to push him away, but her fingers curled around his limb and pulled him closer. “And that was?”

Giles’ breath was harsh. “I get to marry you as quickly as I can arrange it. If I thought you could bear a trip to the border, we would be on our way already.”

Lilly frowned. That had not been what they had been arguing about.

“Is it safe to return?” Carrington asked, a plaintive whine in his tone.

She sat up straight and fought a blush. “Please do.”

Carrington settled himself in an opposite chair, long legs crossing until he had just the right pose. “The two of you will be besieged with invitations once the announcements are made.”

“I’m sure Giles will enjoy the attention.”

Giles settled his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “We will both enjoy the outings until you grow weary and then we will go home together. I can have no reason to attend balls without you by my side.”

Lilly bit her lip, appalled that he would give up so much so quickly. She feared it would be a decision he would regret all too soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

It wasn’t entirely necessary to marry simply because you’d foolishly fallen in love. Lilly squinted into the early morning light, admiring, with half her mind, the garden wreathed in thick tendrils of swirling fog. It had been a long time since she had seen a morning such as this, and she hurried to lose herself in the swirling white wisps.

The gravel path crunched beneath her slippered feet and made her wish for sturdier boots. Unfortunately, nothing like that resided in Katarina’s wardrobe.

She pulled Katarina’s heaviest shawl tight around her chest as the damp air stroked her face and lungs. Fog was one of her favorite things. In the pearly whiteness, she made out the dark shape of the central pond and wondered what the little fishes would think about her situation.

She was afraid.

Of marrying Giles, of leaving her father, of the eventual return of pain when Giles grew bored with caring for a fragile woman.

Her thoughts swirled round and round, going nowhere, like those poor creatures in the pond. They had done that from the moment she’d woken.

She loved him, but that did not mean he had to marry a broken woman. Now that she knew what was required to keep the pain at bay, Giles had no real need to marry her and limit his enjoyment of life.