Page 55 of Long Live the Baron
Shut up, Lily!
She had never hated her propensity to babble more than she did in that moment. Her nerves were speaking for her when she really wanted to scream at the widow to unhand her husband. It was pure drama, a scene from a Drury Lane production, complete with the three of them and first John standing in the wings. And, suddenly, Lily did not have the energy to deal with it.
She just wanted to hide in one of the many gloomy rooms of Ridley House to cry. All her worst fears had been realized, and her hopes of finding love with Brendan Ridley were for naught.
“I shall leave you to your visit, then.”
Spinning away, Lily ran down the hall, passing first John as she hurried to the little drawing room where she and Brendan had shared their first kiss. The day she had believed their marriage stood a chance. The wonderful, perfect day when she had fallen in love with her new husband.
“Lily!” Brendan’s strangled voice called after her, but she did not hesitate. Running inside, she slammed the door behind her and fumbled to lock it with her trembling hands. First John was not a welcome visitor right now.
Hurling herself onto a settee, Lily curled into a ball and wept in the empty room. She had thought that—after what she had done for him, and the way he had looked at her on their wedding day—they could build something real. That she had progressed on her campaign to compel Brendan to fall in love with her.
How had she ever thought she could compete with all that luscious womanhood on display? Most men of the peerage would give their eyeteeth for a place in Lady Slight’s bed, and stupid little Lily had thought she could convince a sophisticated man like Brendan to fall in love with her by being honest and cheerful, and changing her wardrobe.
What a farce!
* * *
“Oh,dear! Your wife seems a trifle upset.”
Harriet giggled, leaning her face into his neck and snuggling into him. Brendan growled in fury, reminding himself to be gentle as he firmly shoved the widow off him. A cloud of rosewater and wine had him gagging as he gently walked the woman back into the library, her blue eyes wide in surprise. This time Brendan was not brooking any argument. He was going to make his stance clear, rid his home of her, and then find Lily to straighten this travesty out.
To think that minutes earlier he had been planning to take Lily away from Ridley House and the lurking danger within, to give her the attention she deserved as his bride, only to have the vexing viscountess create havoc.
Pressing her down into a chair, Brendan walked around to take a seat, ensuring that the library table was between them lest Harriet develop any new notions about leaping onto him as she had done before.
“Lady Slight, you are not welcome in my home.”
Harriet’s face flushed, and she narrowed her eyes in piercing hatred. Brendan considered his options. If he were cruel or scolded her mercilessly, the viscountess would have endless opportunities to seek revenge by belittling Lily, or spreading gossip to other members of theton. Worse, she could attempt mischief like this again if he pushed her too far, which would hurt his wife again.
If his mother were here, she would advise him to be kind. She would point out that each person carries their own burden. That life could be crushing, and one cannot know the trials a person has endured. And when it was possible, one should attempt to lighten their load and disengage without fighting.
Damnation! He would really rather berate her and throw her out of his home in a rage after such ignominious behavior, but …I do not know the burdens that Harriet might carry. Or what vengeance she might seek against Lily!
“I enjoyed our time together.” Brendan struggled to find cajoling words to persuade her to leave his home and never return. “We enjoyed our time together. But this was always to be a temporary arrangement. You have no wish for permanent ties, and I … find that I do. Because of circumstances beyond our control, Lady Filminster is my wife, and I am not a man to dally with multiple women.”
“You no longer want me?”
Brendan raised a hand to the pulse beating in his temple and applied pressure while he tried to think how to convince Harriet to walk away.
And never return!
“It does not signify. You are a beautiful woman, and you are quite aware I pursued a place in your bed ferociously for several months, but that chapter is over. I believe, if you think on it for a moment, that you grew weary of me. You made excuses not to see me in recent times, made arrangements which kept us apart.”
Inspiration hit while he was talking, and Brendan realized the best strategy would be to persuade Harriet that their parting of ways was, in fact, her idea. He permitted a regretful expression to settle upon his features to complete his argument. “I think, perhaps, I knew you would end things with me soon, and it seemed wise to move on rather than have to experience the pain of being sent away.”
He watched her closely, in breathless suspense, as he waited for her response. He had come to realize since spending time with Lily that Harriet was essentially a selfish woman who only thought of her own wants and needs. Appealing to her basic nature might convince her to lose all interest in him if he could just?—
“That is true.”
He almost straightened in relief, but carefully maintained the expression of regret. Slowly he lowered his eyes to stare at the table, to provide the appearance of melancholy, even allowing his shoulders to sag just a fraction, as if devastated at her declaration.
“I thought it might be. When you forgot our appointment that night of the coronation …” He shook his head as if overcome, hoping his performance was natural but not daring to look up at her in case he broke the illusion he was attempting to cast. The illusion of an enamored man, attempting to protect himself from pain.
“I decided it was time to see to my duty before you …” He waited with bated breath to see if she would respond to his cue.
“Brendan, I am afraid that our time has come to an end. Your circumstances have become too complicated for a woman in my situation, so I think it would be best if we no longer meet.”
