The Wallflower, the Rake, and the Masquerade by Alanna Lucas

Author:Alanna Lucas [Lucas, Alanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Titus had enjoyed a casual dinner with his aunt and cousin, although all through the meal, he could not escape the suspicion that his aunt was holding her tongue. When they retired to the parlor, he discovered the full extent of how much she was holding back.

No sooner than had he taken his seat than she blatantly questioned, “What is your aversion to marriage?”

Flora watched with curious eyes, clearly interested in what he would say next. He didn’t want to dash his aunt’s hopes for a blissful match, but would not lie to her just the same. He had his reasons and would not discuss the wounding details; he would keep to the most obvious facts.

“None of the Beaumont men have been lucky in marriage,” he stated as his mother’s betrayal raged through him, solidifying the argument in his mind.

“That’s not true,” his aunt argued back as she pointed an elegant finger at him as if to emphasize her point. “Arthur and Tabitha were most happy and in love.”

His annoyance rose as he tried to justify his position. “And they both died in a carriage accident. I hardly call that a success.”

“That was tragic, but they were most happy while alive.” His aunt narrowed her gaze, eyeing him intently. “When did you become so cynical?”

Then the confession poured from his mouth without thought. “When my mother deserted Father and me for her lover.” And it climaxed when the person I thought was a friend, part of my soul, turned her back on me, and it has only worsened since she had the audacity to try and use me to help her this Season.

He was finished with this conversation. He would not discuss the past, not when he’d worked so hard to bury, to forget, to not feel.

He stood, and bowed his head to his relatives. “I wish you a good evening, Aunt Adeline, Flora.”

“Titus, don’t go,” Flora said.

“Titus, please—” Aunt Adeline started pleading, but halted her sentence when Titus turned around with a harsh glare.

He was not going to argue. Without another word, he swung back around and took his leave, as was his wont as of late. Why couldn’t the past stay buried?

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