Page 83 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

“No.” Spoken with such confidence, she held onto his denial as if it were a lifeline.

“Why was Adalyn here?”

Victor’s gaze, which up to that point, had been direct and open, traveled to the side, and her heart dropped.

“She wanted to wish me happiness.”

“Hadn’t she already done so in the reception line?”

A few leaves had fallen to the tile flooring, and Victor’s feet rustled against them as he shifted his position. “She asked if her presence created a problem for me—for us.”

Ah.“Lord Nash asked me the same question last night.”

Victor’s gaze jerked back to hers. “What did you tell him?”

“That if it was a problem, I would rather learn the truth of your feelings before the wedding than after.” Despite Victor’s adamant denial, doubt niggled at her. “Is it a problem? Is that what Lydia meant by saying you were confused about who was your fiancée?”

“She misunderstood something she saw.”

“What, Victor? What did she see?”

“A kiss.” Victor stepped forward, his foot landing on a dried leaf, the crunch mimicking the breaking of her heart. “But it’s not what you think.”

The room tilted, and her knees grew weak. “Not what I think? Do you mean like when you said Adalyn’s name after kissing me?” She shook her head, trying to clear it. “Why would you ask me to meet you here if you were meeting Adalyn? Were Lord Felix and Miss Whyte right? If you wanted me to cry off, why not just ask me? I never wanted to tie you to a marriage you didn’t want, Victor. My reputation be damned. All you had to do was say the word.”

“That’s not what I want. In fact, I—what do you mean Lord Felix? What does Davies have to do with this?”

“He accosted me in the hall on my way to see you. He told me you were here with Adalyn.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to believe him, but it appears he was right.”

“Accosted you? Did he harm you?” He took another step forward. “I will strangle him with my bare hands if he?—”

She held out a hand. “Stop. Please, don’t come any closer. I need to think. Let’s get through the evening—as you said. Then, in the morning, I’ll tell Drake the wedding is off.”

On shaky legs, she stumbled from the orangery. Tears blurred her vision as she hurried down the hallway, desperate to get away—anywhere but where Victor was.

Voices drifted ahead as she grew closer to the ballroom. Anxious to avoid confrontation, she ducked into another room and closed the door. Time would help her get her tears under control before returning to the ballroom. Nausea crept up her throat again. She turned the scene over in her mind again and again, like a jagged stone she couldn’t stop touching. Adalyn’s face, Victor’s fierce denial, Lydia’s glee—each one another blow. Would Victor really be so cruel as to orchestrate a scene in orderfor her to witness a tryst between him and Adalyn? It didn’t make sense.

But Victor admitted to a kiss. Did Victor kiss Adalyn, or did Adalyn kiss Victor? But why would Adalyn kiss Victor? In seeing him again, had she realized she had deeper feelings for him than she believed? By all accounts, she appeared to be happy with her marriage. To love Lord Nash.

Oh, poor Nash! What would he do? She’d heard tales about his marksmanship. Would he challenge Victor to a duel of honor?

Juliana paced the floor.Think. Think.

She felt herself slipping into Drake’s pattern of second guessing and worst-case scenarios. “Stop,” she muttered to herself. No matter what the explanation, one clear path lay ahead of her. She would release Victor with an open heart. The clock on the mantle struck half past midnight, and everyone would be gathering for supper.

After wiping away her tears, she cracked open the door, poked her head out, and listened. No voices rose from any of the rooms, and the hallway was clear. With deliberate steps, she strode back to the ballroom, her head held high. She would not embarrass Drake or Honoria by making a scene.

Catching her eye, Drake hurried over to her. “Where have you been?” No anger laced his words, and she recognized the worry in his eyes.

“I needed some air. Where is Victor?”

“Over speaking with Lord Nash and his wife.”

Juliana’s gaze jerked toward where Drake indicated. Nash didn’t appear to be on the verge of murder. But what did it mean?

Drake pulled her attention back. His amber eyes studied her. “Victor seemed upset when he came back into the ballroom. Andfrankly, you do as well. Don’t lie to me, Juliana. Did something happen?”

“I don’t want to ruin the evening, Drake. I promise I will tell you when the ball is over.”

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