Page 37 of Earl for the Summer
“Is it Windham?” Selina asked softly.
“Why would you think so?”
“After his return to London…” Selina hesitated. “He seemed to notice you in a way he hadn’t before. Indeed, I caught him watching you on several occasions.”
Guilt flooded her cheeks with heat. “I’m sorry.”
“You’ve nothing to apologize for. I had no claim on Windham.” Whatever fondness she’d shown for him in the past, Selina seemed to feel no regret at all about choosing Strathmere.
“But you two did have something, did you not?”
Selina looked pensive, then selected a macaron from a plate of treats that had been delivered with the tea tray. She took a bite, dabbing at the corner of her mouth with her pinky before replying.
“We had a sort of flirtation. I liked how buoyant he was, how jovial. But you know how it is during the Season. The day after a ball, a gentleman sends bouquets to half a dozen ladies. Until the question is asked, no one has a claim on anyone else.” She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “It’s all a game.” A smile made her eyes sparkle. “Thanks to Matthew, I’m free of it.”
Daphne no longer cared about playing the game either, but she still felt ill at ease.
“I’d never betray you,” she told her friend.
Selina reached out and squeezed Daphne’s hand. “I never had my heart set on Windham. And when he disappeared, I knew he didn’t have his set on me either.”
Daphne winced. “He wasn’t being thoughtless, Selina. He’d broken his leg.”
“Goodness, did he?” Selina set her teacup aside and leaned in. “But how did he return so quickly? I once sprained my ankle and couldn’t dance for a week.”
Daphne licked her lips. Might as well have it all out in the open, even the parts that didn’t reflect well on her. “He didn’t return.”
Selina stilled, furrowing her brow. “But I saw him. I danced with him.”
“That was his twin. Captain Cassian Rourke.”
“Oh my.” Selina inched closer on the settee. “You mean to tell me that Captain Rourkepretendedto be his brother? To what purpose?”
“So that he did not lose the chance to court you.”
“Good heavens.” Selina lifted a hand and twisted the pendant at her throat. “I truly had no notion he was that keen.” She tipped her head. “When did you know it wasn’t Windham?”
“I suspected there was something odd almost at once, but he only confessed it three nights ago. Before he left London.”
Selina reached for Daphne’s hand again, but this time, she kept a gentle hold on it. “So, Captain Cassian Rourke fanciesyou.”
“Not enough to keep him in London.” Daphne shook her head. “I wouldn’t have wanted him to stay. He lied and lied. For days.”
“On behalf of his brother.” Selina laughed softly. “Windham did seem to see life as a performance. Why not let someone else take his part?” One brow arched high. “The more curious bit is that a naval captain would be willing to do it.” Lifting one finger,she tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Perhaps it’s common among twins.”
“Marigold and Hyacinth have swapped places at times to see if anyone can tell,” Daphne admitted. “But they’re ten. He has no such defense.”
“You’re angry with him.”
“Of course, I am. He lied to me.” Somehow, she didn’t sound nearly as indignant about that fact as she should be.
“He did, but do you care for him?”
“That doesn’t matter now.” Daphne scoffed. “He’s gone.”
And yet she hadn’t stopped thinking about the man for more than hour since she’d last seen his face. She told herself it was anger that made her call him to mind again and again. But over the past days, her thoughts had felt less like anger and more like longing.
Selina observed her silently. “Do you know where he went?”
