What Dreams May Come by Dana LeCheminant

Author:Dana LeCheminant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2023-03-06T22:07:20+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Lucy had only two days left before Mr. Granger did something she would feel guilty about for the rest of her life. At the very best, she could picture quite easily how much he would enjoy marching up to Calloway Park’s door and proclaiming her engaged to him for everyone to hear, making her engagement to William a terrible scandal. And she wouldn’t have the strength to argue because he would be only half wrong. While she was not and hopefully never would be in an understanding with Granger, neither was she engaged to William. That lie alone was enough to ruin her.

He would probably call it mercy, but Lucy would hate him for it for the rest of her lonely life.

At worst, he would drag the Calloway name through the mud, maybe even shoot William. He would never get away with it, but that wouldn’t change the fact that William’s inevitable death would be on her head.

No, she would have to tell the family she couldn’t marry William, then slip away quietly before any of them truly realized what she had done to them. After Olivia’s reaction to her weak attempt at telling the truth at tea yesterday, even if Lucy directly said she had never been engaged to William, it would take a miracle for the family to believe her. She wanted to be the one to tell them, but more and more it was looking like Mr. Granger might be the one to get them to believe it, unless Lucy could leave before he got the chance. She hated that thought.

Lucy was just glad she had decided not to tell Rebecca of yesterday’s encounter. The maid surely would have panicked and done something even more drastic than lying about Lucy’s relationship with William, though Lucy couldn’t fathom what could possibly be worse.

“You seem to be gathering quite a lot of wool,” Olivia said, breaking Lucy out of her thoughts. “What has you so deep in thought this afternoon?”

“I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular,” Lucy said, and it alarmed her to realize how easily the lie came.

Lady Calloway, who had reluctantly agreed to join the young ladies for a spell while they embroidered, smiled at Lucy, though she looked ready to fall asleep where she sat.

Lucy had been trying for almost an hour to think of a way to convince her to take a nap without it being offensive.

“I treasure those moments when my thoughts are calm,” Lady Calloway said. “It is such a rarity nowadays, and too often I find myself overcome with worry for my family.”

Reaching across the sofa they shared, Olivia put a hand on her mother’s arm. “You needn’t worry about us. Simon takes care of us.”

Lucy didn’t miss the flash of pain that crossed Lady Calloway’s face, and she had to agree with the dowager baroness. Simon spent a good deal too much time thinking about everyone but himself.

Though she hadn’t seen him since they’d parted ways after their journey to

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