Chapter Thirty

Another invitation. Another evening spent ingratiating herself and pretending to be someone she was not. Lily wanted none of it. Days had passed since she’d stolen the armband and Adam had left her.

But she had to return it. It wasn’t hers to keep nor to give away.

Under her breath, she muttered, “You didn’t have to come. I promised to return it and I will.”

Willa squeezed Lily’s arm as they stared up the steps to the door of Lord Granby’s townhouse. Even the house itself seemed to scowl at them disapprovingly. The looming clouds overhead didn’t help.

“I’m not here to monitor you. I’m here for support.”

Lily stretched her lips, but it didn’t feel close to a smile. Slowly, they began the inexorable climb to the door. When it swung open, Lily peered at the scuffed toes of her slippers, peeking out from beneath her hem. Strangely enough, Willa’s larger feet next to hers gave her comfort and strength.

She lifted her eyes. “Is Miss Granby at home? Tell her it’s Mrs.—” Her voice caught. “Mrs. Darling.”

For a brief, blissful time, she’d fooled herself into thinking that she and Adam would be man and wife in truth. She’d given herself to him…again—her heart and her body. And, like he had four years ago, he had tossed her aside. In the hole left by his absence, she had biting questions and doubts. What if everything between them had been a lie?

“Right this way, madam.”

As Lily stepped into the house, Willa tightened her hold. When Lily looked at her sister, she found a fierce expression on Willa’s face.

“You’re doing the right thing, Lily. I’ll be next to you the entire time.”

Lily smiled. At least this time around, she had something more valuable from the trial than the dignity that had been stripped from her. She had her sisters, who, thanks to this ordeal, had drawn ever closer to her. She should have confessed the truth to them years ago.

“Thank you.”

The footman led them into the house. His gaze strayed to the parcel in her arms, but when she held it closer, he didn’t ask after it. Instead, he showed them into the plant-riddled sitting room she had visited on more than one occasion. Lily sank into a cushion, barely hearing his offer to bring her some tea. She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak as anxiety knotted in her throat. He departed without another word. Willa sat next to her, clutching her hand tightly.

Her thoughts clattered around her mind like the rattle of dice. She’d gambled so much for the chance at happiness, only to have it ripped away from her. These past few days, she had tried to distract herself—tried to accept the comfort her sisters offered, but from time to time the pity they poorly hid threatened to swallow her.

She tried going to the shop and working herself into exhaustion, but the workroom only reminded her of working elbow to elbow with Adam. The easy way he used to tease her, the companionable silence, the frequent touches as if he reassured himself of her presence. Those happy memories soured with his absence.

Worse still was the tight panic that gripped her every time she relieved herself and still found no blood.

“Mrs. Darling. I’m surprised you’re here.”

Lily looked up at the cold, clipped voice. Miss Granby, bristling with indignation, pushed her spectacles higher on her nose and stormed to the chair opposite Lily. She sat, not bothering with pleasantries as she glared at her visitor.

“And who is this?”

“My sister, Willa.”

Miss Granby spared her only the slightest nod before facing Lily once more. “Are you here to give me more dastardly advice?”

Lily’s strength failed her. She leaned into Willa as she held out the parcel. Her hand trembled. When Miss Granby made no move to take it, Lily placed the parcel, still wrapped, on the table between them. “This belongs to your father.” Her voice was no more than a whisper.

Curiosity overcoming her, Miss Granby leaned forward and lifted the edge of the fabric. Disgust curled her lip. She dropped the fabric as if bitten. Jaw clenched, she turned to look at the window, though with the leaves and blooms crowding around the sill, there was precious little to see.

“Papa noticed something was amiss. I should have known. I should have known from the start.” She blinked rapidly, clenching her hands on her lap.

Each word pierced Lily like a needle. She took them without comment, without apology. She deserved every last barb.

“It was wrong of me to take it. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I thought it would be better in the hands of its rightful owner than in those of the person who coerced me to take it.”

Miss Granby sneered. “Would that be your husband? If you have one.”

Lily flinched.

“Adam is my husband, but he didn’t…”

The young woman didn’t appear to be listening. She slammed her clenched fists on her knees. The thump ricocheted through Lily’s hollow chest.

Willa surged to her feet, her eyes sharp. “It wasn’t her fault, and she’s doing the right thing.”

Miss Granby didn’t appear to hear. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her voice thick with emotion, she said, “This is your fault. You gave me false advice so I would invite you to Papa’s dinner parties. And now look what’s happened—he’s leaving the country!”

Adam?

Lily exchanged a glance with Willa. Confused, her sister slowly sank onto the cushion next to Lily again.

Surely, Miss Granby couldn’t know something about Adam that they did not. Lily hadn’t the faintest idea where he was, or if he’d intended to leave England.

No, if she had referred to Adam, tears would not have sparkled behind her spectacles, magnified by the glass.

In a soft voice, Lily asked, “Who is leaving?”

“Mr. Peabody,” she said on a sob. She dashed the tears from her cheeks impatiently and aimed a watery glare in Lily’s direction. “I did everything you said, but it didn’t work. He’s leaving the country on an expedition! Who knows when I’ll see him next?”

Willa perched on the edge of her seat, ready to rise at the slightest provocation. “You… You don’t care about the theft?”

“That old thing?” Miss Granby produced a handkerchief. She wrung it between her hands. “Who cares, Papa has a dozen more like it. But this was supposed to be my…” She squeezed her eyes shut again, looking pained.

That afternoon she had visited Lily, Adam had been so tender in his treatment of Miss Granby. He’d seemed to genuinely care.

Like he genuinely cared about you?

The voice was so small, she brushed it away like a fly. Oh, bother. She swallowed back a hard lump. He had left her again, but this time, she couldn’t muster the same anger. He had shown her more of himself, shared secrets about himself, enraptured her body and soul. The man who’d taken pity on distraught bluestockings and taught them how to flirt— That was the man Lily loved, despite everything. His abandonment hurt so much more. When would it end?

“I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.”

At Willa’s statement, Miss Granby turned cherry pink. She hid behind the handkerchief.

Too much space separated them for Lily to comfort the poor woman properly. “Adam didn’t lead you astray. His advice was sound.”

If anything, that seemed to deepen Miss Granby’s despair. She sniffled. “It’s me, then?”

“It might be a misunderstanding. You should speak with him and tell him how you feel.”

The ragged breath Miss Granby drew in sounded closer to a sob. “What if I do and he still leaves?”

Willa scoffed. “If he does, he doesn’t deserve you.”

Color bloomed in Miss Granby’s cheeks as she lifted her gaze, her eyes wide. “Why would you say that? You don’t even know me.”

“But I do, and my sister has the right of it. You’re intelligent, witty, pretty. He’d have to be blind to turn away from you, especially after you confess your love for him. He won’t find a better woman.”

The blush mantling Miss Granby’s cheeks deepened. She worried her handkerchief again. “I’m frightened. I’m frightened I’ll tell him and he’ll still leave.”

Lily’s heart clenched. That was precisely what had happened to her, wasn’t it? For all Adam’s pretty words, his actions had proven how he truly felt. He didn’t want her for life.

“Bollocks,” Willa said, with feeling.

Lily jumped. “Willa!”

Her sister wrinkled her nose but didn’t apologize. “That’s what such sentiments are. Miss Granby, if your Mr. Peabody doesn’t worship the air you breathe, then he isn’t worth your time. You’ll find someone more worthy, trust me.”

Astounded, Lily gaped at her sister. Willa’s words were infused with such conviction and confidence. She believed them. Which meant she must think the same of Mr. Sanderson. Warmth bloomed in Lily’s chest and she reached out to clasp her sister’s hand, sharing a smile with her.

“You’re absolutely right, Willa.”

A dimple winked in Willa’s cheek as she smirked. “I know I am.”

Her confidence in herself bled into Lily. She turned to Miss Granby, catching the other woman’s eyes. “If you’ll allow me to offer one more piece of advice? You cannot know how Mr. Peabody will respond until you try.”