Page 47 of The Gentleman Was Right
“I can and I have,” she replied. “Your lack of fidelity destroyed any chance that I would marry you.”
Red spots bloomed on his cheeks, and with his chest heaving, he was even more gorgeous than usual. It was infuriating that even after everything that had happened, she still noticed how attractive he was. Why couldn’t she simply hate him?
“Don’t be dramatic. I have never treated you with anything other than kindness. I courted you and complimented you. And then when your father died, I told you I’d wait as long as you needed. I…I…how could you do this to me?” His breath rushed in and out as he released and clenched his hands at his sides.
“I told you time and again that we would not marry.”
“You did. It’s just…I did not believe you.” His voice sounded anguished, and his expression was no better. She wanted to feel vindicated, but it was hard in the face of his distress. “I would have been an admirable husband to you.”
“How can you say that?” She swallowed thickly. “You don’t love me.” Why didn’t he understand? And how did he always manage to make her feel as if she were being unreasonable?
“And you thinkhedoes?”
“Not at all. I am no longer under the illusion that I will marry a man who loves me.” She couldn’t contain a choking laugh. “The difference is,heis too honorable topretend.”
“I wasn’t pretending,” Basil replied stiffly. “I don’t understand why it is inconceivable to you that I might be capable of lovingtwowomen.”
“And I don’t understand why you thought it was acceptable to captivate me when you were already in love with someone else. It was an unforgivable betrayal of my trust.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, her hand flew to her lips. She could hardly believe she’d revealed how deeply her emotions had run. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know, but she would never forgive herself for reminding him how smitten she’d been.
“I wanted you to be happy,” he whispered.
She shook her head and willed tears from forming in her eyes. She’d already shed all the tears she’d allow on Basil Knightly. “I’m happy now that I’m free of our betrothal,” she said just as softly.
He nodded once and then grabbed his jacket, wrestling it on before picking up his spectacles. “Is your husband here now?”
“Of course. As of today, this is his house.”
“Lovely.” In a blink, Basil wiped the pain off his face, and in its place, formed a wobbly smile. “Shall we find him? I fancy an introduction.”
“Let’s,” she said, unable to force a smile in return even though she wanted to. The triumph she’d expected was there, but something else was too. Something that she couldn’t identify but did not particularly like. Revenge did not feel as sweet as she had expected it to.
She led Basil down the hallway, her heart thudding in her chest. Edward straightened when he spotted them. His expression was polite, if a bit remote, while she performed the introductions, and the two men exchanged stilted greetings.
“All sorted?” Edward asked her.
She nodded as Basil said, “If byall sortedyou mean Violet has informed me that you married her earlier today, and she wishes me to leave, then yes.” He stepped closer than strictly necessary, but his expression was as congenial as always. “I don’t know your intentions here, and I might lack the power to undo an ill-conceived marriage, but Violet’s father entrusted me with her safety, and I take that responsibility quite seriously. It is my expectation that you’ll treat her well.”
“Basil,” she sputtered, horror clogging her throat. It was inconceivable that he thought he needed to defend her when the only person in this room who’d ever hurt her was him. “You can’t…you aren’t…you’re being preposterous.”
His sincere blue eyes met hers. “Regardless of whatyoubelieve, I have never wanted anything more than I wanted to marry you. It is my most fervent hope that you are satisfied with the choice you’ve made today. Your happiness will always be important to me, and if you ever require my assistance, you only need to ask.”
She didn’t know how to respond. He seemed earnest and truthful, and as always, it confused her. How could he speak so genuinely when he had betrayed her?
Edward glanced at her and then spoke calmly. “I will not give Violet any reason to regret marrying me.”
“I should hope not.” Basil shot one more glance in her direction before he turned to the staircase and started climbing it. “I’ll instruct my mother’s companion to pack their trunks and gather their things. Mother and I shall be gone before dark.” He turned on the fifth step and looked down upon them. “There are things we must discuss, but they can wait for another day.”
“What things?” she demanded, her feet moving toward the stairs. She had intended to never lay eyes upon him again.
“Not today.” He shook his head. “You should enjoy your honeymoon first.”
He smirked, and the twinkle in his eye reminded her that he was aware of how much she enjoyed passionate interludes. Not for the first time, she wished she’d never kissed him, or touched him, or allowed him to touch her. She’d given him too many parts of herself, too many firsts. Loving him had allowed him to betray her.
She would need to be much more careful with Edward than she’d been with Basil. Imagine if she became infatuated with her husband?
The horror.
Even though she knew that Basil was attempting to embarrass her, she said nothing except, “Thank you.”
