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Pippa thought of William’s soft embraces, of the way he held her in the dark, his lips hovering near her ear, and she swallowed hard. “He’s given me similar cause.”
A stricken look passed over Lily’s face. “I cannot believe it of him.”
“Neither can I.” And it was the truth. Pippa considered how genuine William’s words felt, how deeply they’d resonated within her. Only a cunning man could lead two women to believe he was falling in love with both of them at the same time—and a man capable of such deceit would surely lie about it. When Pippa had asked him about Lily and he’d denied flirting with her, she’d believed him.
She scoffed at her own naiveté. “He is truly a wolf, is he not? He’s fooled us both.” Pippa should have worn her scarlet cloak today, for it was a fitting representation of how deeply she had been duped. “He is coming to dine at Camden Court tonight. What shall I say?”
“You could accidentally pour your glass of wine over his waistcoat,” Lily offered. “Are you having fish? You ought to spill your dinner on his lap.”
“I suppose I could concoct something,” Pippa said. She tried to smile but her heart wasn’t in the jest. She should have felt more justified in Lily’s plot of revenge, but instead, her chest surged in pain. How could she have allowed herself to believe William’s flirtations? She knew from the beginning that he’d resembled the wolf in The Little Red Riding Hood, yet she’d allowed her heart to be swindled, allowed him to take root in her soul.
And even worse, she’d flirted back.
Pippa allowed Lily to pull her in for a hug, righteous indignation undoubtedly covering the hurt Lily too must have felt.
“Will you cook for them tomorrow?” Pippa asked.
Lily lifted her shoulder. “Yes. What choice do I have? I may drop some extra salt in the stew, though.”
Pippa bade her farewell and went to climb into the wagon behind Mabel. She watched the empty lane as they passed the turnoff toward Ravenwood Cottage, and her mind churned. She would see him again in a few short hours, and she didn’t know how she was going to react to being in his presence again.
But one thing was for certain: she would not allow him to swindle her any further.
As they continued on toward their house, frustration bubbled and simmered in Pippa’s chest like a pot of stew above a fire until she could no longer sit still. She needed to run, to climb...anything but sit like a docile lamb. She needed to get out of this wagon.
The cove came into view, and Pippa’s gaze was drawn to the rock formation protruding near the peak in the cove.
“Wait,” Pippa called.
Mac glanced at her over his shoulder, and she put her hand up to stop him. “Let me out here.”
“Are you mad, Pip?” Mabel said, confusion clouding her brow. “We have guests coming. You cannot go down to the beach now.”
“I won’t be long,” Pippa said, already making her way toward the edge of the wagon as Mac slowed the horse. She gripped the rough edges of the wagon and jumped down, her feet sinking into the marshy, water-laden ground.
“I really don’t think you—”
“I’ll be quick, I promise,” Pippa called. “I’ll be home before the guests arrive.”
She didn’t wait to see if Mabel believed her or give ample time for her niece and nephew to beg to accompany her. She couldn’t have children along for what she wanted to do.
No, she needed to be alone. She was going to climb the rock.
