Chapter 19

It was Tabitha’s first ball since her engagement to Matthew. After having a pleasant dinner with the Dowager Duchess of Hillsburgh, Lady Miriam, and her husband, Tabitha was treated to a lovely first dance with Matthew. And a pleasant second dance. By the third, she teasingly suggested that people would say he was showing her too much affection, which earned her a sly smile.

After that dance, they joined the Dowager Duchess of Hillsburgh and Lady Miriam on the far side of the room. They were speaking to one another and sipping lemonade from the refreshments table. “You seem to be enjoying yourselves,” the Dowager Duchess said, her expression brightening.

“We are, indeed,” Matthew said. “You have planned a magnificent ball, Mother.”

“She always does,” Lady Miriam said. “I wish I had half her talent for planning.”

“Well,” the Dowager Duchess said, chuckling. “I imagine everyone does. You both look quite well, too. I meant to say something earlier. I think marriage suits the both of you.”

Tabitha felt heat rush to her face, and her mind went unbidden to Matthew’s promise that he would be thinking about her naked and aroused atop the dining hall table. “Yes, well …” she trailed off. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

She felt a little embarrassed but also pleased that the Dowager Duchess treated her like family, and Matthew—despite their icy start—treated her like he would a real wife. Perhaps Tabitha’s marriage was not perfect, but she could not deny that there was a lot of good in it.

“Hillsburgh!” A masculine voice cut the air.

Matthew turned his head in the direction of the voice. “Ah, that is Weatherby. I must speak to him. Excuse me, ladies.”

After he left, the Dowager Duchess of Hillsburgh grasped Tabitha’s hand. “I must thank you. I never thought I would see my son so happy ever again, but he seems quite pleased with you.”

“He is a good man,” Tabitha said. “He deserves to be happy.”

“He does,” Her Grace agreed. “You are such a lovely girl, though. You are good for him, especially after what manner of woman Rosemary was.”

Tabitha forced a smile. “Regardless, he loved her very much. I am pleased that I can bring him even a little amount of happiness after so many years of longing for her.”

“That is kind of you,” the Dowager Duchess said.

“And I wanted to apologize,” Lady Miriam interrupted.

Tabitha gave her a bewildered look. “Whatever for?”

The lady sighed. “Well, I should not have told you everything that I did, and I—I heard that you and my brother quarrelled the night after the theatre.”

“He came to speak with us,” Her Grace replied.

“Oh, I did not know that. He must have left while I was visiting with my mother,” Tabitha said.

“I believe he did mention that,” Lady Miriam said. “I know you did not mention my name to him, for which I am grateful. However, I am terribly sorry if I caused any problems between you and my brother. I truly did not mean to interfere, and I spoke—well, I spoke the truth, but maybe I should not have.”

“No,” Tabitha said, “if anything, I ought to be grateful for your interference! If it were not for our conversation, I am not sure I would have confronted Matthew. It did result in an uncomfortable few days, but it all ended well. I am happy, and so is he.”

“I am glad,” Lady Miriam said, looking relieved.

Tabitha smiled. Behind the Dowager Duchess, she saw Bridgette, just arriving. “Oh, excuse me,” she said. “I must greet my friend.”

“Of course,” Her Grace said, smiling. “We should not take all of your time.”

“Agreed,” Lady Miriam replied, looking strangely awkward. “But I—I am glad you are not vexed with me, but—but do know that I understand relationships can be complicated. I would never want to cause you any trouble.”

There was an earnestness to the lady’s words that seemed a little excessive to Tabitha, but she could imagine no reason for such strong emotions. Everything between herself and Matthew had ended well, after all. Lady Miriam had no reason to feel still guilty, especially after her apology was accepted.

Instinctively, Tabitha felt there was something else. There was something about Lady Miriam that she was missing, and aside from her dalliance with Cassius, Tabitha’s instincts had always served her well. Something was amiss, but Tabitha did not have enough information to know what. She said nothing, merely curtseying to Her Grace and instead moving through the crowd to join her friend.

Bridgette seemed to have already gathered the attention of a handsome young man. He was tall with broad shoulders and hair as black as ink. Tabitha wondered if this was the nobleman whom her friend had mentioned and if he still believed that Bridgette was a lady. She bit her lip, trying to decide how to help if this was that young lord. Tabitha could not be the one to reveal her friend’s deception, yet morally, she felt that she must do something.

Without warning, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist. Tabitha gasped, but before she could protest, she found herself pulled into a secluded alcove. “Matthew!” she exclaimed.

Surely, it had to be him. It seemed that his control was not as great as he had claimed. Tabitha whirled around, expecting to see her husband with his sparkling eyes and sly grin, but that was not it at all. Cassius smirked at her from the shadows. “Good evening, Tabby Cat.”

“You!” she exclaimed, pulling back.

He did not release her. “Tabitha,” he said. “Please. I wanted to apologize to you. I know that I hurt you when I left. I know it was cowardly, and I am so sorry. I have languished from the regret I feel for abandoning you. I should have proposed marriage for you, and it is to my eternal shame that I did not.”

Tabitha swallowed hard. She told herself that his honeyed words would not sway her, but her mind still travelled back to every wonderful moment they had ever shared. She had loved this man; maybe she still did.

With a sudden wash of understanding, she realized that this was surely how Matthew had felt when he had hoped for Rosemary’s return, and she had criticized him for that. How could she have done that?

“Tabitha,” Cassius murmured in that smooth, conspiratorial way. “I am entirely sincere. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I beg you just to trust that I wanted to be an honourable man for you. I have been haunted by you ever since I left, but the thought of marrying you was so … so …”

“So what?” she asked, feeling faint.

He chuckled and shook his head. “I doubted that I was good enough for a woman like you. I felt that you deserved better. You are such an honourable, brilliant woman, and I truly felt as though I had tempted you too much. I nearly ruined you, and I felt it best to remove myself from your life. Alas, I am a selfish man, Tabitha. I could not bear to stay away forever.”

“Cassius, I am married now,” Tabitha said softly. “We cannot be seen together like this.”

“But do you not see? This is wonderful. Now, we are both wed, and we can have dalliances together. No one would think anything ill of us.”

“What?” Tabitha asked. “How could you suggest such a thing?”

“How could I not? I love you,” Cassius said. “Leaving you was the biggest mistake I have ever made, and I do not think I can survive without you. Please, Tabitha, think about it!”

She pulled again, trying to free herself, but his grip tightened. “No,” she said. “I am happily married to my husband, and I will not betray the sanctity of our marriage bed!”

Cassius snorted and pulled hard. Tabitha stumbled towards him, and he wrapped his arms around her. He did not act as though he were drunk, but she smelled the drink on his breath. It was something strong. “At least, until his real wife returns home,” Cassius said. “Then, you will be unmarried and cast adrift. You would do best to derive what enjoyment you can as a married woman before it all burns to ashes around you.”

Tabitha pushed against him, trying to free herself. “You know nothing! Her Grace is dead! She is not returning ever!”

Cassius laughed. “Dead? Oh, Tabby … no, I have proof that she is alive. She left because His Grace would not satisfy her, but I could.”

Tabitha felt as if her blood had frozen in her very veins. “What?” she asked, feeling faint.

Cassius reached inside his jacket and withdrew a watch. “I have a gift from Rosemary when we had our own affair on the Continent.”

He held it before her eyes, and Tabitha’s heartbeat quickened as she saw the golden watch. Matthew’s initials and family crest were engraved upon it. A lump rose in her throat, and she stared numbly at him.

Her mind raced, trying to find some rational reason for why Cassius had that watch. It could not possibly be true. There was no way that Rosemary was alive. Surely, this was some trick that he had devised in the hopes of seducing her or perhaps, to upset her.

He returned the watch to his jacket and smiled gently. “I am sorry, Tabby Cat,” he said, “but it is the truth. Someday, she will return, and your marriage will be annulled.”

“No,” she whispered.

He lowered his hands, and Tabitha drew a shuddering breath. She resumed her struggles, managing to free herself from his grasp. This did not deter him. He seized the front of her gown and pulled her to him.

“How dare you?” she snapped.

She raised her hand, but he caught her wrist before she could slap him. “Oh, Tabby Cat, I knew you would be upset,” Cassius murmured. “I am so sorry that your marriage must end in such a distasteful way.”

“You must be wrong,” Tabitha said, shaking her head.

She tried to back away from him, but her back struck a wall. Seeing an opening, Cassius placed a hand on each side of her, effectively pinning her there. “Tabby Cat,” he murmured. “Do not fight this. Let me comfort you in your hour of need. I know that you must be terribly distressed to receive this news.”

“It is not true. I am not distressed.”

Despite her brave words, Tabitha’s chest ached. Her heart drummed so violently against her ribs that she heard its echo reverberate through her head. It could not be true, but despite her efforts, she could find no reason for Cassius to have that watch.

“Tell me where you really found that watch,” she said, the words emerging in a breathless rush. “Did you win it in a wager? A game of cards?”

He shook his head. “Oh, Tabby, no.”

A throat cleared, and a shiver traced the path of Tabitha’s spine. “I see you have met my wife.”