Page 78 of The Lyon Whisperer
How much time had passed, she wondered? Her absence was bound to be noticed by now. “Go on, then.”
“I said I knew yours was not a love match because I know why he married you. Are you aware your husband’s finances recently took a major hit thanks to his own abominable mismanagement of the viscount’s resources?”
She lifted her chin. “You refer to the recent arsons?”
He sneered. “Arson, you say? A likely story. An excuse.”
She said nothing, hoping if she ceased responding, he might allow her to reenter the ballroom.
“I shall be blunt. He married you for money, just like he intended to marry Millicent for hers—until he realized he would inherit his uncle’s title.”
“I thought you said he seduced her and cast her aside.”
“After,” he replied, eyes flashing with brief frustration. “Lady Culver, the man you married is a charlatan. He’s not above using seduction to draw his quarry in. But don’t be fooled. It’s your inheritance he’s after, else why—” His words cut off abruptly and he slid her a pitying glance.
“Else why,what?”
“Why rush into marriage with a woman so thoroughly on the shelf? The man has not one title but two. Granted, he’s no earl, but he could certainly have caught one of the season’s freshest young faces.”
She swallowed as his words hit the mark. Hadn’t she reached the same conclusion days ago?
“Come now, darling, I’ve no wish to insult you. I merely wanted you to be aware of the facts as they concern you. Culver needed money. Marriage to you provided that. How he convinced the earl to part with you so quickly is the only mystery here—one I fully intend to solve.”
“Why?” she asked, fighting for composure. Somehow talking with Chase had convinced her there was something more to their marriage than a mere business transaction. By his own account, she believed he chose to marry her because he found her particularly to his liking. Had he made that part up to spare her feelings?
He had withdrawn from her markedly ever since they’d consummated their marriage. Although, he had not seen fit to exit himself from her bed—yet.
“Why, you ask?” Lord Tully recaptured one of her hands in his. He bent over her fingers, never breaking eye contact. “Both of us owe our current loveless marital statuses to Culver. It’s only right we form a partnership and take whatever solace we can from one another.
“Not only do I promise to share whatever information I uncover, I beg you to come to me should you need”—his slumberous hazel eyes drifted over her again—“anything at all. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.”
She lifted her chin and sent him a steely smile. “Right now, I need to be returned to my friends.”
He pulled a silver-gilded card from his waistcoat and pressed it into her hand. “Your wish is my command.”
Chase stood besideFallsgate, projecting an air of outward aplomb.
Inside, he seethed. He’d returned from the card room in search of his wife only to find Amelia gone.
He then had the misfortune of catching sight of her in no other than Tully’s arms as he partnered her on the dance floor. By now the two should have danced the length of the room and back, but he’d seen hide nor hair of either of them.
He didn’t like it. Not one little bit.
The demure polonaise they’d danced had ended, as well.
Bloody hell. The musicians had struck up a waltz.
He lifted his lemonade to his lips and, as unobtrusively as possible, scanned the floor again. He spotted them.
Tully wore his usual cocksure grin, looking for all the world like a man with one thing in mind.Seduction.
Chase had heard whispers of his many conquests, and of the cuckolded husbands he’d left in his wake. The man was uncommonly good looking and wore debonair like a second skin. But inside, Chase knew, he was nothing more than a cold-hearted snake.
Surely Amelia would not succumb to the man’s charms, however liberally applied?
His fisted his free hand at his side, and his nails bit into his palm. He forced himself to relax, unfurling his fingers as they neared.
If Tully thought to whisk Amelia past, he had another thing coming. Chase would bar his path in if necessary.
