A Pretend Betrothal by Lana Williams

Author:Lana Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: victorian romance, historical romance
Publisher: Lana Williams
Published: 2023-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

May I take you for a ride in Hyde Park this afternoon? If so, wave from the drawing room window.

M

Tibby smiled, her mood lifting at Michael’s invitation. The message arrived soon after she’d finished breakfast and made her feel as if perhaps all was right with the world. That was a welcome sensation.

Surely, she’d worried for no reason after her conversation with his mother. If Lady Trafford suspected the betrothal was anything but real, wouldn’t she have said something? The lady was unfailingly kind but often direct. Tibby’s guilt had been what made her think his mother was suspicious.

As for her own mother, Tibby feared she wouldn’t be able to convince her to step out of the house despite her best efforts. She wasn’t ready to give up by any means but didn’t know what more she could do.

The concern could wait for another day, she decided, as she left her bedroom and hurried to the drawing room. A glance out the window showed Michael near the garden fence, looking directly up at her.

Her heart somersaulted at the sight of him. Oh dear. She was in serious trouble. Yet how could she guard her heart against falling in love when he was so appealing? He was handsome, confident, attentive, and the way he looked at her made her feel wanted. The list could go on. Not to mention the passion in their last kiss.

She was torn between wanting another and hoping there weren’t anymore. She squeezed her eyes shut briefly. Who was she kidding? Of course, she wanted another.

Tibby waggled her fingers at him, and he returned the gesture and smiled. With a brief bow, he turned and strode back to his house. She watched him go, wondering not for the first time if it was habit that had him walking so quickly everywhere he went.

She turned away from the window with a sigh, already wishing the afternoon was here. Any time with Michael would be wonderful but a ride in Hyde Park, something a normal betrothed couple might do, sounded particularly appealing.

“Lady Tabitha?”

She looked up to see Alice standing in the doorway, concern on her face. The look filled Tibby with trepidation. “Yes?”

“Lady Dunford doesn’t seem to be feeling well.”

Tibby frowned. That wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

“She seems to be running a fever,” Alice continued.

“Truly?” Surprise gripped Tibby. During her mother’s numerous claims to be unwell, never had she had a fever. Her symptoms were never measurable or visible.

“She’s awake if you’d like to see for yourself.” Alice frowned, clearly worried. “I wouldn’t have noticed anything unusual except her cheeks are flushed and her eyes look a bit glassy.”

Regret weighed on Tibby’s heart. Had what she’d said the previous day contributed to her mother feeling poorly? She gave herself a mental shake at the ridiculous notion and followed Alice to her mother’s bedroom.

Her mother’s eyes were closed though she was propped up against the pillows, a plain cotton nightcap pulled over her hair. Her cheeks were indeed flushed.

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