Page 91 of Broken

When the housekeeper nodded, Lilly leaned in close. “He is a good man. After dinner tonight, why don’t you go find him and talk? I’m sure if you give him the slightest encouragement, he will find a way to take advantage of it.”

“He doesn’t think of me that way, Miss Winter. He doesn’t even realize I’m around unless I bungle something.”

“Oh, I think you will find that he notices much more than that,” Lilly laughed. “He watches you. Now you only have to catch him.”

“What if I can’t?” Mrs. Osprey whispered. “I don’t think I could bear the shame.”

“Then he doesn’t deserve you,” Lilly told her firmly as she stood, ready for her meeting with the magistrate at last.

Lilly’s interview did not take long, since she was the last to be spoken to. Her father sat beside her and held her hand throughout, as she recounted her experiences of last night and spoke of events that had happened so long ago.

The magistrate frowned through it all, but concluded that Lord Carrington had acted correctly to save their lives from a madman. He closed his notebook, hailed Lord Carrington as the hero, and hurried off to arrange the burial.

* * *

Lilly slipped into the library and pushed the door closed behind her. Giles had formally asked for an interview too and she was so nervous her hands were damp with stress. Given that she’d been anxious since Dithers had delivered the invitation on his little silver tray, eyes sparkling with glee, she should be used to the sensation.

After hours of waiting to speak to Giles alone, she was particularly nervous.

Pain lanced down her back as she stepped farther into the room. Pain was good. It distracted her from the choice that was in Giles’ best interests.

He would be better off without her slowing him down. He was full of energy and had great passion. He deserved more for his future, more than a fragile woman for a wife.

Lilly sank onto the chaise, fiddling with the ribbon of her borrowed gown.

“I am going to have to make a decision soon.” Lilly glanced up to find Giles leaning against the door. “It is much too important a matter to put off.”

Lilly inched forward on the chaise. “About what?”

“What color do you think should my study be repainted?” He grinned.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I thought perhaps you might have a favorite color. I should like to paint my study to suit your taste.” He crossed the room to sit opposite Lilly while she tried to gather her wits. That question wasn’t even close to what she expected them to talk about.

“I don’t understand. I thought…” She let her words trail off.

“You thought I was going to ask you to marry me properly, didn’t you?”

Heat flooded her face.

He shook his head, and her mortification grew. “I already know what your answer will be. I overheard your discussion with your father in the garden yesterday. You wish to live in Wales rather than marry me and I can understand why you would,” he said softly. “I’d probably make a terribly improper husband.”

Lilly stared at him. He was upset with her and trying hard to hide it. She looked down at her gown to hide her dismay at having the power to hurt him.

“What is your favorite color, Ghost?”

“Primrose,” she answered, bewildered by his insistence on knowing the color.

“Thank you. Now, about Atticus. I anticipate he will not be happy to be separated from you. He seems to be more your dog than mine. He never listens to me half as well,” Giles frowned. “He should be wherever you are.”

Lilly recoiled in shock. “I cannot take your dog.”

“Of course you will. You don’t want to leave him behind and have him suffering. The poor beast will never understand why he cannot be with the one he loves, will he?” Giles tilted his head and Lilly squirmed as his gaze pierced her calm. “He cannot go to parties and pretend he is happy. He cannot eat a meal alone and understand why it has to be that way. I know I have erred beyond forgiveness, Lilly, but I should not like to see him suffer, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I can understand that you want nothing further to do with me.” When she went to protest, he shushed her with his outstretched hand and stood to look down at her, eyes dull with pain. “I refuse to trap you into marriage too so this is farewell.”