Deceived (27 page)

Josie glared at the new bouquet of flowers her maid had just deposited in her chamber. They rested next to four others that had been delivered over the past few days.

“Frustrating man,” she muttered as she leaned in to smell the intoxicating mixture of lilac and roses. “Why must he woo me?”

The first three days since her return to London had been uneventful. She had been left alone, even her mother hadn’t pushed her too hard. She’d lain in her bed, staring out the window, and been allowed to wallow in her feelings.

But then Evan had begun his attentions. He was obviously back in London and had made his presence known through unopened letters that sat on her bedside table, visits she had refused and flowers, flowers, flowers. All her favorite flowers.

“Why can’t he just let me go?” she whispered to herself as she flopped down on her bed. “Why does his honor drive him to make this right when it can never be right?”

Of course, that was a difficult attitude to keep when he was trying so desperately. Sometimes she wondered if she was just being petulant, turning away out of hurt and not willing to hear him.

But then she thought of the guilt on his face when she caught him reading her letters. Of the realization that he had been playing her for a fool all along, and her resolve stiffened again.

She would not see him. Because seeing him would be too cruel. Of course, that meant locking out everyone else in is world too. Audrey had also called during the past few days, as had Mary, but she had turned them away as well. She wanted no champions of Evan to confuse her. Or pity her.

She threw an arm over her face and let out a muffled grumble.

“Great Lord, Josie, you cannot lay about in bed all day!”

She moved her arm and looked up to see her mother standing in the doorway. The same look of concern that had been on her face since she learned of Josie’s troubles lined her features now.

Josie sat up. “I wasn’t lying in bed. I was lying
on
the bed, and there is a distinction.”

Mrs. Westfall’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Only the tiniest distinction, my dear. But regardless, it is time to get ready.”

Josie pushed to her feet and folded her arms. “Mama, I have already told you three times today that I will not go to the Duke and Duchess of Hartholm’s ball!”

“Yes, you have told me three times,” her mother agreed, even as she strolled past Josie to her wardrobe and opened it wide. She flicked through the dozens of pretty dresses inside as she continued speaking. “But I still don’t understand why.”

“Don’t you?” Josie huffed. “Mama, the Duke of Hartholm is the brother to Crispin Flynn. Who attended my wedding with his wife Gemma. Who is the sister of Mary, who is the wife of Edward, who is Evan’s brother.”

Mrs. Westfall leaned away from the wardrobe for a moment and shook her head. “That is rather like all the begetting in the Bible. So many connections.”

“Please do not obtain a sense of humor now,” Josie said as she folded her arms.

“I’ve always had a sense of humor, darling,” Her mother said with a light laugh. She pulled Josie’s favorite gown from the closet, a pale green silk that fell in the most flattering way and brought out her eyes. “I will send in Nell and you should get dressed. We have less than an hour before we are to depart.”

“No,” Josie said, sitting down on the edge of her bed with a scowl. “I have told you I will not.”

Mrs. Westfall turned on her and there was no frustration or anger on her face, even as she said, “My love, you are an adult and a married lady. Under normal circumstances, I would not be able to force you to do anything you did not want to do. I would respect your wishes. But since you have chosen to return to my home, I’m afraid I will continue to make decisions that are best for you.”

“How in the world is going to the Hartholm ball
best
for me?” Josie demanded.

Her mother shrugged. “You have been holed up in this house since your return to London and people are beginning to talk.”

Josie froze, for the thought of their whispers grated along her spine. “And why would I want to face that?”

“Because you have done nothing wrong. I want you to hold your head up high and show the world that you are above that foolishness. The Flynn family—which is where the Hartholms originate, of course—for all their popularity now, experienced their own set of scandals and have overcome them for the most part. What better place to raise your chin and show the world how strong you are?”

“And what if I am not strong?” Josie asked. “What if Evan is there?”

Mrs. Westfall’s gaze flitted away. “He is likely not invited. Right now I do not think that Evan is a favorite amongst his family, thanks to his actions toward you.”

“So they all know?” Josie asked dully.

“You must have known that they would find out. You can’t just run off the day after your wedding without a family noticing.” Her mother inclined her head slightly.

“There’s that sense of humor again,” Josie muttered. “But I suppose you are correct. Can I not convince you to let me bow out of this ball? Perhaps allow me to run off to that secluded countryside hideaway I have been begging for?”

“You cannot.” Her mother grasped her hand and squeezed. “The longer you avoid this, the worse it will be.”

Josie shook her head. “Fine. Send in Nell. I won’t fight her.”

“Good,” her mother said, her eyes brightening as she left the room.

But as Josie walked to the bed where her ball gown lay, she flinched. The very idea of facing off with not just Society but also the family of her now-estranged husband was not in any way pleasant. And all she could hope to do was survive it and not have much attention called to herself.

As the Duke and Duchess of Hartholm’s ball went on around them, Evan cast a glance at Audrey and Jude, but his sister only glared at him in return. He folded his arms.

“You and I arrived back in London the same day,” he said, sidling up to her so his words would not be too loud and be overheard by the crush of the crowd. “And in those four days, I think you have spoken to me three times. And two of those were to call me an idiot.”

Audrey tilted her head. “You
are
an idiot, Evan. An idiot. There, now I have spoken to you four times in four days and called you an idiot every time.”

Evan shifted and looked to his new brother-in-law and longtime friend for assistance, but Jude offered none. “Don’t expect me to take your side, Evan. I like my wife and don’t want her to kick me out of her bed.”

Audrey shot Jude a look. “And?”

“Oh, and I also think you’re an idiot,” Jude added. He leaned forward. “I actually do. It isn’t just for my wife’s sake.”

“Well, I am not arguing that what I did was wrong,” Evan growled. “Everyone telling me over and over doesn’t help. I’m trying to fix it, but Josie won’t allow me to do so. I call on her every day—
twice
a damn day.”

Audrey’s hard expression softened a fraction. “I’ve heard from her mother that Josie will be here tonight. So you have been given every opportunity thanks to our friends the Flynns and your mother-in-law. You will have to take advantage.”

Evan’s heart lurched to his throat. He hadn’t seen Josie in a week. Now he ached for just a glimpse of his wife. But the fact was that he had no idea if she would let him near her at all, let alone allow him to speak to her in private so he could begin to repair the damage he had done.

“When will she arrive?” he asked, peering over the crowd, impatience burning inside of him.

“Calm yourself,” came Edward’s voice from behind him.

Evan turned to frown as his brother and Mary approached. Mary and Audrey exchanged hugs and Jude and Edward shook hands, but soon all their attention was back on him.

“She has not yet arrived?” Mary pressed, the most gentle in her approach of all his judgmental family.

And yet he could not take solace in her kindness, for he knew he didn’t deserve it. In fact, he deserved far worse than his brother and sister’s pointed judgment as well.

“No,” he said, looking over the crowd with impatience a second time. “Perhaps she changed her mind.”

He wouldn’t put it past her. After all, Josie knew he was in Town, thanks to his multiple attempts to see her. She would be a fool not to guess that he might be in attendance at this ball, since the Flynn family was so connected to his own.

But he had no sooner had that troubling thought when the footman at the door intoned, “Mrs. Westfall and Lady Evan Hartwell.”

Around them the crowd stirred and many heads swiveled to watch as Josie and her mother made their entrance. Evan could hardly breathe as he got his first glimpse of her in what felt like a lifetime.

She was glorious. There was no other word for it. Her pale green gown flowed over her lush body, demure and yet still hinting at the wonderful curves he adored. Her hair had been fixed and twisted and curled into an elaborate homage to Ancient Greece. Little tendrils framed her face. And though he was too far across the room to see her green eyes, he knew the color she wore would complement them perfectly and bring out their brightness and vitality.

Mary moved forward. “I will go to her first, Evan. Wait here.”

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He was too mesmerized by watching Josie—his wife—enter the room. Her gaze swept around her and he knew she was searching for him. From her frown, it seemed that was not a happy thing.

He lunged to go to her, but Edward caught his arm and held him steady. “Wait now. Let Mary and Gemma introduce her to Serafina and Rafe.”

“How can I wait?” he snapped, trying and failing to shake his brother off.

“Allow her to get comfortable at least,” Audrey said with a shake of her head. “Run up to her now and you risk sending her flying from the room. Good Lord, you must be in love if you can’t even utilize a bit of strategy.”

He spun on his sister. “I am not trying to devise the proper strategy to speak to my own wife.”

Jude lifted both eyebrows at his sharpness. “Perhaps you should listen to your sister. Audrey knows Josie, after all.”

“Not as well as I do,” Evan grumbled, turning back to watch as Mary greeted Josie with a warm hug. He was pleased that Josie accepted it and even allowed her mother to slip away from her.

Mary linked arms with Josie and they moved across the floor. People looked at her as they went and Evan could see how she lifted her chin in defiance even in the face of their scrutiny. He found his heart swelling with pride at her strength of character, for he knew their whispers and pointed attention put her to mind of unhappy times.

The two women soon approached the Duchess of Hartholm and Mary’s sister Gemma, and it was clear introductions were being made. From the expressions, all the women were trying to make things easier on Josie. How he appreciated that. And he was especially pleased when his wife actually smiled and it seemed…
real
.

“What should I do?” he asked, directing the question to Audrey without looking at her.

Audrey was quiet for a moment as she observed Josie beside him. “She seems more at ease now,” his sister said.

“She’s looking this way,” Evan gasped as Josie’s eyes fell on him. She jolted at the sight of him and turned her face, but her cheeks went pink and her posture stiffened.

“Go,” Audrey encouraged him with a slight push. “Ask her to dance with you. She will not be able to refuse with the crowd watching. Just try not to make an ass of yourself once you have her in your arms.”

He glowered one last time at his sister, but then marched into the crowd toward Josie. It was obvious the women with her noted his approach, and from the way she stiffened more and more, so did she. But she didn’t run. And for that he was grateful.

As he reached her, he saw those in the crowd watching, leaning in. Clearly the fact that they were married but already living apart was fodder for gossip.

“Good evening, ladies,” he drawled, hoping to sound casual when he could hardly hear over the pounding of his heart.

The others said their hellos, but Josie didn’t respond. She just stared straight ahead, as if frozen by her pain. Or her hatred.