She ignored the tears pricking at her eyes as she hurried past the maid, Mary. Or whoever the woman was. This had all gotten so complicated. If only he hadn’t kissed her. Or better still, it didn’t affect her. He didn’t affect her.
Finding her father was alarmingly easy. Even amongst the crush of people her father stood a head taller than most. He came stalking toward her. It turned out, he had been searching for her. “Where have you been?” he hissed.
Her hands shot to her hips. “Trying to sort out a problem you refuse to acknowledge.”
Normally he would have lectured her on speaking her thoughts but instead his lips thinned. “And what problem is that?”
“The fact that the man you want to marry me to is renowned for chasing light skirts.”
He huffed a breath. “The world is rarely fair, Tabbie. Men are beasts; their wives just don’t know it. I’ve told you more than once, you’re too smart for your own good. I meant it.”
Her mouth hung open as she gazed at her father in astonishment. “Papa, you’re not referring to yourself?” She hadn’t called him that in some time, but the conversation had thrown her off guard.
“Of course I am not. I am simply trying to make the point that with arranged marriages, it is more often the case than you might think.” He stepped closer. “I saw you both at the table last night. He understands you, Tabbie. He is handsome and well connected. You could do far worse.”
If her mouth could have dropped lower still, it surely would have. But it was unladylike to stand there gaping so she snapped it closed. It was on the tip of her tongue to insist that she could do far better. A man who was faithful to her. But arguing wouldn’t make her point and so she gestured for her father to follow. Her insides railed at having to suffer more of the feelings he seemed to provoke. Not the excitement but the jealousy and hurt that he caused. “This way.” She waved her hand and turned back to the library, praying that she’d given Luke enough time to set up the ruse.
She walked slowly, a sick dread making her legs feel leaden. Even knowing what she would likely see didn’t lesson her feelings of nausea. She would witness firsthand Luke holding another woman. Her father’s strides matched hers. “What is this about?” he demanded.
Summoning her courage, she spoke. “I know that men have discreet affairs. When you spend most social gatherings by the wall, you hear a great deal. But there is a difference between discreet and flagrant.” They had reached the library door. It had only been a quarter hour and she prayed that they were ready.
She gestured for her father to enter. She couldn’t bring herself to open the door as her stomach twisted painfully.
Grimacing at her, he turned the knob and strode confidently into the room. “Sussex,” she heard him grumble.
“Your Grace,” Luke replied. There was no hint in their voices that anything was amiss. Which was perplexing. Tabbie inched closer to the opening and grabbing the jam, peeked around the door into the room. There was no sign of Mary. Instead, Sussex sat behind her father’s desk looking at several sheets of paper. Deep down inside, relief washed over her. It was quickly replaced with confusion.
Her father turned back to her. “What is the meaning of this?”
Her mouth closed and then opened and then closed again. But try as she might, no response came out. She couldn’t very well say that she had arranged for Luke to be caught with another woman. “I thought…that is to say…I assumed that…” she stuttered out, unable to formulate a thought. What had happened to their plan?
“Lady Tabitha has a rather low opinion of me, Your Grace.” Luke cocked an eyebrow, apparently completely at ease.
“I am aware,” her father responded drily. “Why are you in my library and why does Tabbie know that fact?”
“I followed him.” Her mind finally snapped into action. Perhaps she could salvage this encounter after all. “He came in here with a maid.”
Luke glowered at her. “I confess it is true. I hoped to sneak a glass of your brandy. I thought better of it.”
Her father crossed his arms over his chest. “But you saw fit to look at my personal papers?”
Luke looked down then and Tabbie tensed. While she wanted Luke to be caught with the maid so that her father would end his pursuit of the engagement, she did not want him in trouble for anything else. “The marriage contracts.” Luke gestured to the papers before him. “Forgive me. They so intimately involved me, that I could not resist.”
Up to that moment, Tabbie had been numb, perplexed. Perhaps confused. But anger coursed through her. He had hoodwinked her while she had been attempting to trick her father. She wanted answers. But none would be had now and so, turning on her heel, she stomped out of the library.
Chapter 4
Luke strode through the ballroom, making his third circle. He was searching for that little minx, and had been unable to find her.
He needed to talk to her, immediately. Several things had taken unexpected turns this evening. For one, he couldn’t lay a finger on Mary no matter how hard he tried. That had never happened to him before.
As if that wasn’t strange enough, he’d read the marriage contract, and found it…pleasing.
A sniffling was the first indication that he was getting close, though he proceeded with caution in case it wasn’t her. But a peek through a potted fern confirmed that it was his Tabbie, sitting alone, hiding behind a plant.
He stepped around it and her eyes snapped to his as she swiped at her tears. Without missing a beat she stood. “You ruined the plan.”
“I know.” He gave a little shrug.