Page 43 of The Wicked Duke's Convenient Bride
“He does,” Her Grace agreed. “You are such a lovely girl, though. You are good for him, especially after what manner of woman Rosemary was.”
Tabitha forced a smile. “Regardless, he loved her very much. I am pleased that I can bring him even a little amount of happiness after so many years of longing for her.”
“That is kind of you,” the Dowager Duchess said.
“And I wanted to apologize,” Lady Miriam interrupted.
Tabitha gave her a bewildered look. “Whatever for?”
The lady sighed. “Well, I should not have told you everything that I did, and I—I heard that you and my brother quarrelled the night after the theatre.”
“He came to speak with us,” Her Grace replied.
“Oh, I did not know that. He must have left while I was visiting with my mother,” Tabitha said.
“I believe he did mention that,” Lady Miriam said. “I know you did not mention my name to him, for which I am grateful. However, I am terribly sorry if I caused any problems between you and my brother. I truly did not mean to interfere, and I spoke—well, I spoke the truth, but maybe I should not have.”
“No,” Tabitha said, “if anything, I ought to be grateful for your interference! If it were not for our conversation, I am not sure I would have confronted Matthew. It did result in an uncomfortable few days, but it all ended well. I am happy, and so is he.”
“I am glad,” Lady Miriam said, looking relieved.
Tabitha smiled. Behind the Dowager Duchess, she saw Bridgette, just arriving. “Oh, excuse me,” she said. “I must greet my friend.”
“Of course,” Her Grace said, smiling. “We should not take all of your time.”
“Agreed,” Lady Miriam replied, looking strangely awkward. “But I—I am glad you are not vexed with me, but—but do know that I understand relationships can be complicated. I would never want to cause you any trouble.”
There was an earnestness to the lady’s words that seemed a little excessive to Tabitha, but she could imagine no reason for such strong emotions. Everything between herself and Matthew had ended well, after all. Lady Miriam had no reason to feel still guilty, especially after her apology was accepted.
Instinctively, Tabitha felt there was something else. There was something about Lady Miriam that she was missing, and aside from her dalliance with Cassius, Tabitha’s instincts had always served her well. Something was amiss, but Tabitha did not have enough information to know what. She said nothing, merely curtseying to Her Grace and instead moving through the crowd to join her friend.
Bridgette seemed to have already gathered the attention of a handsome young man. He was tall with broad shoulders and hair as black as ink. Tabitha wondered if this was the nobleman whom her friend had mentioned and if he still believed that Bridgette was a lady. She bit her lip, trying to decide how to help if this was that young lord. Tabitha could not be the one to reveal her friend’s deception, yet morally, she felt that she must do something.
Without warning, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist. Tabitha gasped, but before she could protest, she found herself pulled into a secluded alcove. “Matthew!” she exclaimed.
Surely, it had to be him. It seemed that his control was not as great as he had claimed. Tabitha whirled around, expecting to see her husband with his sparkling eyes and sly grin, but that was not it at all. Cassius smirked at her from the shadows. “Good evening, Tabby Cat.”
“You!” she exclaimed, pulling back.
He did not release her. “Tabitha,” he said. “Please. I wanted to apologize to you. I know that I hurt you when I left. I know it was cowardly, and I am so sorry. I have languished from the regret I feel for abandoning you. I should have proposed marriage for you, and it is to my eternal shame that I did not.”
Tabitha swallowed hard. She told herself that his honeyed words would not sway her, but her mind still travelled back to every wonderful moment they had ever shared. She had loved this man; maybe she still did.
With a sudden wash of understanding, she realized that this was surely how Matthew had felt when he had hoped for Rosemary’s return, and she had criticized him for that. How could she have done that?
“Tabitha,” Cassius murmured in that smooth, conspiratorial way. “I am entirely sincere. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I beg you just to trust that I wanted to be an honourable man for you. I have been haunted by you ever since I left, but the thought of marrying you was so … so …”
“So what?” she asked, feeling faint.
He chuckled and shook his head. “I doubted that I was good enough for a woman like you. I felt that you deserved better. You are such an honourable, brilliant woman, and I truly felt as though I had tempted you too much. I nearly ruined you, and I felt it best to remove myself from your life. Alas, I am a selfish man, Tabitha. I could not bear to stay away forever.”
“Cassius, I am married now,” Tabitha said softly. “We cannot be seen together like this.”
“But do you not see? This is wonderful. Now, we are both wed, and we can have dalliances together. No one would think anything ill of us.”
“What?” Tabitha asked. “How could you suggest such a thing?”
“How could I not? I love you,” Cassius said. “Leaving you was the biggest mistake I have ever made, and I do not think I can survive without you. Please, Tabitha, think about it!”
