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"Well, since I cannot have you, money will do.”
"You are a miserable liar. It pains me to know that I was stupid enough to fall for you.” Edwina did not realize that she had released the tears she had been restraining until she felt his hand on her cheek. She was about to jerk her face away when a voice froze her blood.
"What the devil is happening here?" Albert covered the doorway with his frame, his eyes cold and distant. Edwina moved away from John, quickly brushing her cheeks with her gloved hands.
"Your Grace," John gave a bow that could only be regarded as derisive. "It is interesting how fate keeps throwing us onto each other's paths."
Edwina wondered why he spoke to him with such familiarity, and then it dawned on her. Roxanne's mystery man from the conservatory. It was John. And could he be the lover she had betrayed Albert with?
She looked at Albert, not believing the anger she saw in his eyes. His body was rigid. Her heart broke because she thought she was nothing but a shadow of his past love. He was not even seeing her in that instant.
"What are you doing on my property?" Albert’s voice was menacingly low. He entered the room.
"I came to extend my felicitations to a dear friend. I am surprised Edwina did not tell you about our friendship.” John smiled, his eyes gleaming with ill intent.
"Edwina?" Albert turned to look at her. "You know each other?" That question was directed at no one in particular.
"Do we know each other, Edwina?" John asked her. Before she could respond, he answered. "We are old friends, and we wereveryintimate."
"Get out!" Albert barked, a vein pulsing at his temple. "The last time I saw you, I told you what would happen if you showed yourself before me again. Leave!"
"Be calm, Your Grace. I was just leaving,” John practically sang. At the door, he turned. “I shall see you soon, Edwina."
Without a word, Albert took her arm and led her out of the room, walking toward his study. "What were you doing with him? Do you know who that man is?" he demanded angrily once he had closed the study door behind them.
"Please be calm, Albert, we were only talking," Edwina implored.
"Talking?" he echoed. "He was touching you, Edwina! Is that called talking?"
"It was not what you saw!" she cried.
"I bloody know what I saw! Did you know he was coming tonight? Perhaps you even wore this for him?” He motioned at her attire.
"Albert, stop! I did not know he was coming. Before tonight, I thought he was dead."
"You do not have anything to say to me anymore." There was a finality in his tone. Without giving her a chance to say more, he stalked past her and out of the room.
Head throbbing and tears pricking her eyes, Edwina collected herself as best as she could and made her way back to the ballroom. She was the hostess and seeing the evening to a conclusion was necessary. She could not retreat even if it was what she wanted to do that the most.
She found Camilla to help her through the remainder of the night, making her husband's excuses to anyone who bothered to ask. It was the early hours of the morning when the festivities ended and the guests retired to their chambers or homes. Instead of going to their bedchamber, she went to her sitting room and huddled on the floor in a corner, the unfortunate events of the evening haunting her.
Prudence had left the room; the discomfort she had been in would not have allowed her to leave in the short time it had taken Edwina to get her water. Edwina did not want to make baseless assumptions, but she could not help the thought that Prudence was behind John's appearance tonight.
Then there was Albert’s accusations and lack of trust. That pained her more than anything. A sob escaped her lips, and she clenched her teeth, blinking away the tears in her eyes. Something furry nudged her arm, then Puppy burrowed into her arms, licking her face and whimpering as though in commiseration.
"I do not know what to do, Puppy. I think I have lost him," she said.
"Perhaps this might help," someone said. She looked up to see Elaine in the room with some tea. She had not heard her come in, and neither had she noticed when a tea service was brought in. "It has been quite the night.” She handed her one of the cups.
When she started to raise the cup to her lips, Elaine stayed her hand. She moved to a table and picked up a bottle before returning and splashing some liquor into both their cups. "It is always better with whiskey," Elaine said, taking a seat on the floor beside her.
"Such interesting interaction of flavors," Edwina said after taking a sip.
"My mother-in-law calls it her magic mixture," Elaine said. "I did not like it at first."
"I love it," Edwina said honestly.
Silence ensued until Elaine broke it with, "He will come back."
