Chapter Twenty

Raising onto her tiptoes, Bronwyn slid her hands up Landon's chest and over his shoulders. Safe and secure in his arms, she was almost convinced the evening would be as easy as dining with the Network elders.

Landon brushed his warm lips along her neck to settle upon her mouth. The sound of footsteps from the hall were no longer the reason for her increased heart rate. The chime of the dinner bell ringing a second time permeated her foggy mind, and her husband released her lips. His hazel eyes bored into her. "Ready?"

Bronwyn stared at his upturned palm. She racked her brain for an excuse to remain where they were. But there were no reasonable reasons to postpone the inevitable any longer. Sliding her hand into his, her heart swelled with a surge of confidence. She nodded, and his warm fingers closed about hers. Landon's lips curved into a smile, complete with the dimple that made her feel giddy.

Together they stood at the threshold of Lord Archbroke's study. Immediately the procession of guests halted, and Landon led Bronwyn to the head of the line. Trained to remain in the shadows and unseen, her pulse raced as she walked by the prying eyes of guests.

Mary's voice echoed through her mind: Ignore the whispers and avoid making eye contact. The murmurs of Who is that? Were hard to dispel and reinforced the fact she was an outsider.

They entered the grand dining room and Landon squeezed her hand.

Sapphire blue skirts filled Bronwyn's view. "Chin up."

Recognizing Theo's voice, Bronwyn dutifully raised her face. Her husband glared down at his cousin, clearly displeased.

Theo ignored Landon and said, "Cousin, you look magnificent tonight." Theo waved a hand, and a footman appeared. "Larry will show you to your seat while I have a quick word with my dear, beloved cousin."

Nervous about leaving Landon's side, she tightened her grip on her husband's arm.

Landon whispered, "I'll be seated opposite you, to the right of Archbroke. I'll just be a moment."

Theo shook her head. "I'm afraid not. With Prinny's arrival I've had to move the seating arrangements. Bronwyn will be seated to my right and you on Archbroke's left."

Dear heaven. What was the Prince Regent doing here? Theo had lost her mind seating her in the third highest-ranking guest position at the table.

The footman stepped forward and led Bronwyn to her seat. She managed to catch but a few of Theo's agitated words—Prinny doesn't approve.

What did the Prince Regent not support? Most likely, the heir to the throne thought her unworthy of Landon. And Bronwyn agreed. Wringing her hands in her lap under the table as the footman pushed in Bronwyn's chair, she glanced to her left. Lady Lucy was as beautiful as the rampant Network rumors had whispered. Petite with shimmering blonde hair and a sweet but mischievous smile. Without an introduction, Bronwyn remained mute and forced the corners of her mouth up in an attempt to mirror Lady Lucy's welcoming expression. Down the table, Bronwyn spied Lord Waterford. His attention was trained on the seat opposite him further down the large dining table, which meant Bronwyn would not be able to see Lady Mary for the duration of the meal.

Lady Lucy chuckled. "Waterford has always been watchful of Mary, but since they married, he detests being more than a foot away from her."

Bronwyn turned to face the woman. "I apologize…"

Lady Lucy casually rested a hand on Bronwyn's forearm. "Countess Hadfield. Theo holds you in very high esteem. I hope you will grant me the honor of addressing you..."

She interrupted the woman and blushed. "Please call me Bronwyn."

The woman's blue-gray eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Lady Bronwyn, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lucy, and this"—she leaned back and waved a hand at the man seated next to her—"is my husband, Blake. Also known as Earl of Devonton."

"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Devonton, Lady Devonton." The informality of Lady Lucy's introduction caught Bronwyn off guard. The lady had broken at least a half dozen or so etiquette rules.

"Lady Bronwyn, I'd be honored if you called me Blake. We are in the company of good friends…except for our last-minute guest." His brow furrowed into a frown.

Lady Lucy elbowed her husband hard in the ribs. "It's none of our business why the Prince Regent decided to invite himself. Plus, Theo thankfully placed him far from us. We won't be subjected to his nonsense this eve."

"Theo knows you can't hold your tongue, and none of us care to see you imprisoned for offending our dear Prince Regent." The familiar voice had Bronwyn clenching her hands. Lord Hereford was seated across from her. The man was responsible for Emma's rare but devastating bouts of anguish. He had also recently been appointed to the role of Crown advisor, a position previously held by a PORF for generations.

Taking a deep breath, she shifted her regard to the other guests. Where were Christopher and her mother-in-law? Bronwyn had hoped Theo would have seated them nearby.

Theo glided up to the table and took her seat. As if reading her mind, Theo leaned over and said, "Christopher is seated near Landon, and Aunt Henri has chosen to dine in her rooms tonight."

"Is she unwell?"

"No, as soon as Aunt Henri learned of the Prince Regent's arrival along with his entourage, she declined to join us. She did ask me to pass along her apologies and promises to make it up to you another time."

Unable to hold back her curiosity, Bronwyn asked, "Why is he here?"

Theo's light demeanor disappeared. "I'll leave it to Landon to inform you." Instead of smiling at her guests, who were all unabashedly eavesdropping on their conversation, Theo's lips thinned into a straight line. She glared at the lot of them until they turned their attention to the elegant dining sets placed before them.

Bronwyn scanned the guests seated near them. None of them were privy to the existence of PORFs or the Network. A tendril of unease ran down her spine.

A procession of footmen entered the room and placed bowls of soup in front of each guest. Bronwyn waited for the others to begin eating before she dared to lift her own spoon. Bringing the heavy silver utensil to her mouth, she stilled her shaking hand in order not to spill the onion stock down her chin. The broth was warm and soothing. Bronwyn concentrated on consuming her soup while Lady Lucy regaled her with the events that resulted in their delayed arrival.

Lady Lucy finished with, "We should have arrived sooner, but it took an extraordinary amount of effort for the men to fix the broken axle."

Theo smiled and said, "We are simply glad you both arrived safe and sound."

Everyone around her was engrossed in Lady Lucy's tale. Bronwyn scooped another spoonful of soup. With the broth halfway to her mouth, Bronwyn's noticed the near-full bowls of the other guests. In her house, it was rude to leave food uneaten. Placing her spoon to her lips, she managed to swallow the soup that now tasted cold and bitter. The skin on the back of her neck prickled. At the far end of the table, the Prince Regent was glaring at her. She hastily placed her spoon upon the table, and as soon as it hit the linen, footmen stepped up and removed the bowls. Fustian! She had delayed the dinner service.

Chin to her chest, she didn't dare look about. Prinny's angry scowl would forever be burned into her memory. Uniform footsteps and the smell of fish wafted into the room. She loved fish, yet her stomach rolled as the scent permeated the room. Bronwyn blinked back the tears of failure as a square piece of poached salmon, centered on a petite dish and covered with a mousseline sauce, was placed in front of her. Thin slices of cucumber lined the edge of the plate. It was the most intricate appetizer she'd ever seen. Her family was one of a few that could afford three hearty meals a day. But none this elaborate.

Bronwyn scolded herself for having believed Landon's claims that this evening's dinner would be similar to those they had shared with Mary and Gilbert at Waterford's castle. Mary's cook had prepared meals similar to those prepared by her mum, except they were served on fancy plates. Her stomach was in knots. Fear manifested in the form of anger, and Bronwyn scowled at her plate.

Theo's hand rested upon her forearm. "Landon said you loved salmon. Was I misinformed?"

"Oh, no. It's…well, it simply looks too good to be eaten."

A giggle escaped Lucy, and Bronwyn was acutely aware of the chuckles from the men. She hadn't meant to sound like a peagoose.

Bronwyn noticed Lucy staring at Waterford and giggling. The men, too, were preoccupied with the peculiar expression that had settled on Mary's husband's features.

Theo said, "Waterford prefers beef to fish. But don't worry, the man won't go hungry. Two more courses and then he'll be served what his heart desires."

Lady Lucy snorted. "Certainly you don't intend to serve Mary to him in front of our esteemed guest." The quick-witted comment drew chuckles from all the guests within earshot. They all shared a sense of familiarity and comradery.

Bronwyn didn't belong.

She peeked at Lady Lucy from the corner of her eyes. None of the guests seated near them appeared offended or repulsed by Lady Lucy's blatant disregard for propriety. The woman didn't abide by any of the rules Bronwyn had agonized over. A lump formed in Bronwyn's throat. She couldn't imagine herself comfortable, laughing, and making jokes like Lady Lucy with the guests seated at the table.

Bronwyn laid her fork back down upon the table. "I think I'll go check on my mother-in-law."

"There really is no need." Theo placed a bite in her mouth.

"I want to." Bronwyn plastered a look of genuine concern on her face.

Theo dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin. "Very well. I'll make an excuse for you if you're not back by the next course. But Landon will want to make the announcement soon, so don't dawdle too long."

A footman assisted her out of her seat and escorted her out to the hall. As soon as they were out of sight, Bronwyn said, "Have a coach readied and waiting for me out back. And Larry, not a word to anyone. Am I clear?"

The footman nodded and dashed off to do her bidding.

She hurried down the hall, up the staircase around two more corridors, and came up short as she passed her mother-in-law's chambers. Frozen, Bronwyn faced the door before her. She wasn't a liar or a coward, but the fear of disappointing her sweet mother-in-law was paralyzing. Before she could flee, the door swung open and the dowager Hadfield stood at the threshold with her hands upon her hips. "What are you about, my dear?"

Under her mother-in-law's piercing gaze, Bronwyn swayed as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I don't fit in with his lot."

One eyebrow arched, Landon's mama said, "My son won't give you up that easily."

She would not change her mind. She was leaving. Hands clenched, Bronwyn said, "I made a mistake. I shouldn't have agreed to marry him."

The older woman wrapped her up in a hug. "I've come to love you as my own daughter. You are no ninny. If this is what you have decided is best, then I shall not be the one to persuade you otherwise. However, before you leave, you must inform me of your destination so I can go to sleep at ease."

Blast. She hadn't considered a destination; only her escape. Bronwyn was released from the woman's warm embrace.

"I shall be going home. Back to London."

"To the Hadfield townhouse or back to your parents?"

Bronwyn smiled as her plans solidified in her mind. "Neither. Don't worry, I'll be safe."

Her mother-in-law frowned. "Tell me where and I'll promise not to say a word."

"Very well, you can find me at Ms. Lennox's shop."

"Will you be leaving a note for Landon?"

"I've not enough time. You'll give me your word not to share with him my whereabouts?"

"You have my promise. However, I'll be more than happy to pass along whatever details you would like for me to share."

"Please convey my apologies to Theo, and my thanks to Mary for all her assistance." Bronwyn sighed. "And please tell him…tell Landon that I love him, but it was a mistake for us to marry. I'll make arrangements for an annulment so he can marry a lady more befitting his needs."

Her mother-in-law donned a motherly look and said, "You are wrong. There is no one more deserving or better suited than you, but until you believe it yourself, there is no reason for you to stay." Engulfed in a hug, Bronwyn hugged her mother-in-law back.

She withdrew and said, "Thank you for your help."

Dowager Hadfield shook her head and stepped back into her room. Sad eyes peered back at Bronwyn until the door clicked closed.

With no time to waste, Bronwyn ran to her rooms and ordered Peyton to pack a valise. It was a solid two-day journey back to London. A Network inn was close by. She'd stay the night there and travel home with the first rays of daylight on the morrow.

She hastily swiped a tear from her cheek. Landon needed a woman who was bold and brilliant like Lady Lucy. Not a wife who behaved like a peagoose in front of his closest friends despite days of etiquette lessons. Bronwyn led her maid through the secret passageways to the back door.

As ordered, the coach was readied and waiting.

The driver asked, "Where to my lady?"

With one foot on the coach steps, Bronwyn answered, "The Lone Dove."