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Eight
Callie rushed past the guests mingling at the picnic and went inside the house. Lady Merrifield had set up a room for the ladies if they needed respite. After her altercation with Lord Goodland, Callie wanted to hide until it was time to depart.
Her hand shook as she pushed open the door to enter the house. The ladies’ retiring room wasn’t far down the hallway from the door. She wished she had someplace else to go. If she could she’d avoid everyone. There was a chance that the room was already occupied and she wouldn’t get the reprieve she truly craved. Callie slipped into the room and then closed the door behind her. She leaned against it for a moment and took several deep breaths to calm the anxiety that crushed her.
“Are you all right?” a woman asked.
She lifted her gaze and met hers. This was the one woman she would have liked to avoid for the rest of her life. She’d been the one that Lord Goodland had chosen to spend his night with. He’d takenherto the garden for an interlude. Then he’d dared to kiss Callie as if he hadn’t betrayed any chance they might have had. “I’m all right,” she managed to force out. Her voice hadn’t shaken as her hand had earlier. For that she was grateful. She didn’t want to display any weakness before this woman. “I just needed…”
“An escape?” Lady Dryden lifted her brow. “Who are you running from?” Then she laughed. It was rich throaty laughter that echoed around her. “I bet I can guess.”
Lady Dryden tilted her head to the side and studied her. Was she dissecting Callie or was she reading far too much into the lady’s gaze. “I’d rather not discuss what I may or may not be doing in this room.” Even if she deigned to speak of her feelings Lady Dryden would never be the woman she chose to have any frank conversation with.
“You can stay silent,” Lady Dryden said in a nonchalant tone. “The truth will remain the same regardless.” She sashayed over to her. “Because of you I suffered a great disappointment a couple weeks ago. I finally convinced that delicious viscount to walk with me in the garden. He was supposed to give me pleasure beyond my wildest dreams.” She sighed.
Callie nearly gagged. Why was she still talking? Lady Dryden was a horrible woman. Didn’t she realize that her words were breaking what was left of Callie’s fragile heart?” “So sorry your night didn’t go as planned.” She hated the woman.
“As you should be,” Lady Dryden told her. “But I forgive you.”
“What?” Why would she think Callie needed her forgiveness? The woman was a little mad. Instead of saying that aloud she decided to take a different tact. “How kind of you. I trust your night improved after I departed.”
Lady Dryden snorted. “In that you would be wrong. Lord Goodland wants you dear, and since I’m not you, I didn’t do anything for him.”
“You’re wrong,” Callie said. “He has told me several times he doesn’t.”
“When a man protests that much he is fighting his own feelings.” The woman smoothed her hands over her skirts. “Trust me on this. If you want him you can bring him up to scratch. It wouldn’t take much on your part. Just bat your eyelashes at him and it will be all the encouragement he needs.”
Callie didn’t trust the woman, but the conversation had given her pause. Did Lord Goodland have feelings for her? She believed he did desire her and he had offered to protect her. That didn’t mean he wanted anything more than a brief tryst and he’d forget her. After he kissed her earlier… She shook those images away. The kiss had been wonderful and everything she’d hoped it would be. It had taken a lot of will to not only walk away from him but also give him the dressing down he deserved.
But what if he did love her?
Would she give him another chance? Could she trust him with her heart? Callie didn’t know what she should do and Lady Dryden wasn’t the person she wanted to ask. “It won’t be as easy as you think.”
“No?” She shrugged. “That’s not really my dilemma to solve now is it? I’ve already lost my prey. He’s yours to trap now.”
She really was awful. Had she hoped to trap the viscount into marriage? She was a widow and maybe she wished to marry again. Callie didn’t much care either way. The merry widow could stay far away from her and that would make Callie happy. “I would never do that to him.” Callie wanted him to love her. A man trapped would be miserable, and Callie hoped to have a happy marriage. Not one based on lies and obligations.
“I suppose that’s your perogative.” Lady Dryden moved closer. “Your sanctimonious approach won’t get you what you truly desire, and we both know you want that man.” She smiled, but it wasn’t sweet or even congenial. There was something menacing and wicked there. “Take a leap of faith for once. Is your virtuous reputation worth that much to you?” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Now let me pass. I’m quite done in here.”
Callie moved away from the door so Lady Dryden could pass. The woman, awful as she was, had given Callie much to consider. If she were telling the truth, and she had no reason to believe Lady Dryden had lied to her, then the viscount hadn’t actually had a romantic tryst with her. That didn’t negate the fact that he’d considered it. The betrayal wasn’t as horrid as she’d first imagined.
He hadn’t made any promises to her. Callie knew that and yet the pain had still settled inside of her. The thought of him with another woman had hurt. It wasn’t a true betrayal as no formal or informal agreements had been made between them. There had only been the possibility of something more.
She should at least contemplate forgiving him. Shouldn’t she?
Jonah couldn’t find Callie.He had searched the entire crowd gathered for the picnic. Where could she have disappeared to? He was growing more and more desperate as he failed to locate her. He ran his hands through his hair again. He had to look like a rumpled mess.
“Aren’t you dashing?” a woman said from behind him. “Almost as if you just rolled out of bed.”
Jonah groaned. He didn’t want to see her. She was one of the reasons Callie refused to speak with him. He turned around and met her gaze. Her gray eyes were filled with mischief and her midnight locks were pulled back in a perfect chignon. She wore a dress of soft yellow embellished with tiny seed pearls along the bodice. The young widow was as beautiful as he remembered, and he felt nothing for her. “Lady Dryden,” he said in an agitated tone. “I trust you’re enjoying this gathering.” He didn’t care one wit if she did or not. Politeness was ingrained in him though.
“I am indeed,” she replied. “You appear to be looking for someone. Did your little pigeon fly away and leave you lost?”
What the blazes was she talking about? “I’m far from lost.” He was, however, desperate.
“Perhaps,” she said. “Would you take a little direction if I were to give it?”
“That would depend on where you are sending me.” He wanted this conversation over with. He didn’t fully trust her not to mislead him. “Say your piece.” He would decide afterward if her advice was worth considering.
