Page 69 of Passions of a Wicked Earl
“You, however, seem to be quite the whore he said you were.”
Claire saw her hand come up and was raising her own to block the strike when she heard, “Lady Anne, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Ainsley.” She spun around, smiled becomingly, and allowed him to kiss her cheek. “I was just talking with your sister by marriage.”
“Really? How fortunate for her. I, however, am in want of a dance. Tell me the next waltz has been reserved for me.”
“Of course, dear man.”
As he led Lady Anne away, Ainsley winked at Claire. She tried to draw comfort from it, but she was trembling from head to toe. She hated knowing that Westcliffe had spoken about her with that woman. What had he seen in her beyond the beauty?
Beth was suddenly at her side, with Lord Greenwood standing nearby. “Was that Lady Anne Cavill speaking with you? Everyone is talking about the ball she’ll be hosting at the end of the month. We’ve yet to receive an invitation. Is that why she was here? To invite us?”
“I do not think we’ll be invited, and even if we are, we’ll not be going.”
“Why not? I want so desperately—”
“You can’t have everything you want, Beth,” she snapped. “I want my husband to be here. I want my marriage to be more than it is. I want—”
She pressed her hand to her forehead. “Let’s get our wraps. It’s time to leave.”
“But there are more dances. I won’t be happy if we leave.”
“And I won’t be happy if we stay. Tonight, my happiness comes before yours.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You have no idea all I’ve done to ensure you have this Season. Do not speak to me of fairness when all I ask is that for one night we do what I want instead of what you want. I don’t want either of us to make a scene here. You will come with me now, or I shall send our regrets to the hostess of the next ball.”
Beth set her face in a mulish expression. “But what if Westcliffe comes here looking for you? He said to save him a dance.”
Oh, he had, blast him. If she wasn’t here, Lady Anne would certainly dance with him. But she couldn’t expect Westcliffe to trust her if she didn’t him.
“I’ll explain to our hostess to tell him we had to leave early.”
“You really do want to leave badly, don’t you?” Beth asked.
“I truly do.”
Her sister nodded. “Very well then.”
Chapter 20
Westcliffe was not in residence when they returned. Claire prepared for bed, then went to his bedchamber, climbed into his bed, and began reading The Last of the Mohicans. It made her feel closer to him. While there was much he didn’t share with her, at least he’d shared his favorite author.
It was a little past midnight when the door opened. She glanced over, and her breath caught. Her husband wore no jacket. His waistcoat was unbuttoned and his cravat missing. He was disheveled, his clothes torn and covered in dirt and blood. Black smudges marred his face. His right hand was wrapped in a filthy cloth.
“Oh, my God.” She scrambled out of bed and rushed over to him. “What happened?”
“What are you doing here? Why are you awake?”
“I was worried about you.” He seemed distracted as she led him over to a chair and forced him to sit. She cradled his face. “Westcliffe, what happened?”
“There was a railway accident. I don’t know what happened. The train went off the track. It was … awful.”
“Why did they send for you?”
“I’m one of the investors. It was my railway. Nine died, Claire. At least forty were injured.”
