Chapter 21

Carina knew that she could not remain locked in Bolton's drawing room forever, but she wasn't ready to face Felix again. He was also stubborn enough not to leave.

At least there was brandy, and she was currently enjoying her second glass, except it had not helped dull the pain and she'd cried more times than she wanted to admit.

Why did he have to lie to her? Why did he have to go and break her heart and make her believe the impossible?

Was it true that he didn't care if Miss Daphne married anyone else?

Not that it mattered, he had never said anything about marriage to Carina. She had only assumed. Then again, why should a girl with a family history like hers expect a marriage proposal from anyone, especially the son of a viscount and grandson of an earl.

This was the very reason she took her place among the wallflowers. She did not belong no matter how much Gaia had wished it to be.

Carina plopped down on the settee, slumped, and cradled the glass of brandy upon her belly. This was not at all how a lady should sit. Except, she wasn't a lady and all she was worthy of being was a companion or mistress. At least companion was respectable, but lonelier than being a mistress.

Tears filled her eyes again.

"Carina?" Gaia called then tapped on the door. "Let me in."

She slowly rose from the settee and crossed to the door. "Only you," she insisted.

"Yes. Of course."

She unlocked the door and slowly opened it, letting her friend enter, then closed and locked it again.

"What has happened?"

"Mr. Felix Knight is a liar, scoundrel, rake and rogue and I don't want anything more to do with him, ever!"

Gaia blinked. "As bad as all that?"

"He isn't even who he claims to be."

She then told her friend and employer what she had learned at Sydney Gardens while she finished her second glass of brandy.

"Did you know?" she asked Gaia as she rose to pour another glass.

"I will request tea." Gaia followed and took the glass from her hand. "I only learned recently who his family was, but not that he had a betrothed."

"What of Lydell?"

"He is the one who told me."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Knight wanted it to come from him and I knew how you would react if you learned before he proposed marriage."

"Except he didn't ask me to marry him!"

Carina blew out a sigh and wandered to a chair, slightly dizzy. Perhaps she shouldn't have drunk more brandy, but she had wanted the pain in her heart to ease and that is what gentlemen did all the time. It also didn't work.

Gaia opened the door as she tugged on the bellpull.

"What are you doing?" Carina demanded.

"I wish to hear what Mr. Knight has to say for himself, as does my husband."

"I have already heard," Carina reminded her.

"Perhaps we can listen with less emotion and determine what next should be done."

Maybe it was a good thing that she'd drunk the brandy because she was calmer, not that it changed her opinion of Mr. Felix Knight.

When they could not enter the drawing room, Bolton had led him to the library where he poured a glass of brandy for each of them. They did not speak.

A maid brought cold compresses and they spent the rest of the time glaring at the other. Felix also waited for Bolton to call him out.

Then Lydell and his wife arrived. She went to Carina and Lydell made demands of him.

"Apparently Knight has been betrothed this entire time without telling anyone."

"I thought you were courting Carina," Lydell stated.

"I was. I still want to," Felix insisted.

Bolton snorted.

"You have not even bothered to ask me what occurred. Instead, you listened to Carina and then greeted me with a punch to the eye."

"There are usually two sides to every story," Lydell reminded them.

"What else do we need to know? He courted her while betrothed to another woman," Bolton insisted. "How far did he intend to proceed before telling Carina? Or would he ever tell her, just simply seduce her?"

Rage spiked and Felix charged across the library only to be pulled back by Lydell.

"I want these answers as well, but I think the two of you have pounded on each other enough for one afternoon."

"For a gentleman who only pretended to court Carina, you are certainly protective of her. Are you certain your feelings aren't deeper and that you are just afraid of giving up your bachelor status?" It had always been Felix's fear.

"I am protective because I think of her almost as a sister," Bolton bit out. "Had it been Gaia you did this to, you would be meeting me at dawn. I still haven't decided if I still won't challenge you."

"Enough!" Lydell yelled.

"My, emotions are running high," Lady Lydell said as she glided into the library. "I have requested tea. Shall we all adjourn to the drawing room where we will have a civil conversation, no violence, and Mr. Knight can explain to us his deception."

Already she had judged him. But that was only because they only knew what Carina had told them, not his reasons.

He set his brandy aside as he exited the library, as did Bolton. They were followed by Lord and Lady Lydell.

When he entered the drawing room, Carina glared at him, but his heart ached at seeing her red, swollen eyes.

He was responsible for her tears because he had been so afraid of losing her.

He deserved to lose Carina. If he had only been honest from the beginning…except, then he would have never had her to lose.

After the footman placed the tea service on the table, Lady Lydell served.

"Tell us the full truth of your family, Mr. Knight, as well as your betrothal," Lydell demanded.

He had not only lost Carina, but his employment and the friends he once had in this room.