538098571a3644aa704a58895a4df069 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub

* * *

“How is Mother?” Elizabeth demanded as she burst through the front door of her parents’ Albany home.

Connors, the butler who had been serving their family since before she was born, raised his eyebrows at her. “Quite well. She is in the drawing room.”

“The drawing room? She’s not in bed, then? Has she taken a turn for the better?” Without waiting to be announced, she rushed into the drawing room—and then stopped cold.

Mother sat on the settee, her face round and healthy, and a beautiful gown of green silk draping her figure. Jackson, dressed in a suit, lounged in a chair opposite Mother. And Father stood by the fireplace, deep in conversation with...

No. Anyone but him... Her body trembled as her eyes latched on to the

“dinner companion” leaning against the mantel.

“Good evening, Elizabeth.” Mother smiled brightly.

She should excuse herself, rush from the house and never step foot in it again. And she would, if her tongue didn’t weigh like lead in her mouth and her stomach didn’t lurch until it threatened to heave its contents. Instead she stood planted to the floor, staring at the one man she forever wanted to blot from her memory.

He turned slowly. “Ah, Elizabeth, darling. How kind of you to join us. A bit late though, aren’t you? And...”

The eyes of her former fiancé skimmed down her. She didn’t need to follow his gaze to know what he saw: a plain white shirtwaist and serviceable blue skirt. Both probably dusted with a mixture of chalk from a calculus lesson and stage powder. And her hair...she shoved some of the loose strands hanging about her face behind her ears.

All while Mother sat there, wearing soft silk and a hopeful smile.

“...a bit underdressed, perhaps,” David finished.

“Mr. DeVander.” Scanning the room again, she raised her chin. “We seem to be missing your wife this evening. Is she not joining us?”

Surprise lit his deceptively handsome face. “She passed away. A carriage accident over the summer. I assumed you’d heard.” His voice sounded like coffee, rich and deep and entirely too smooth.

“I’m sure you were devastated,” she snapped.

“Elizabeth, that was uncalled for.” Mother fanned her face. “Do forgive my daughter, David. Sometimes her tongue gets the better of her.”

“I was, actually. Quite devastated.” David glanced at his feet, as though truly pained.

Elizabeth sighed. Perhaps she was being unfair. He may well have loved his wife. Simply because he hadn’t loved Elizabeth when they’d been engaged didn’t make him incapable of loving anyone else. “I’m sorry for your loss then. Truly.”

“Thank you.” He flicked his gaze over her once again, lines of disapproval wrinkling his forehead and mouth. “You’ll want to clean up for dinner, I’m sure. We’ll wait for you before we adjourn to the dining room.”

The controlling snake. He was a guest here, yet he had no scruples at hinting she wasn’t good enough to dine as she was. He may have lost his wife, may have even been upset by the death, but the man hadn’t changed.

“Mother, I’d like a word with you.

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