Page 62 of The Trouble with True Love

“Was I?” She gave a sob. “Now that I’ve seen him again, I’m not so sure.”

“Oh, my dear!”

There was a momentary pause, probably for a comforting hug, and then Dina said, “I knew I was getting into deep waters when I told him I loved him. I never should have said it first!”

“A woman should never say it first. Have another handkerchief.”

“It just came spilling out. And when he said he loved me, too, of course I thought that settled it, and we’d marry. That’s what people are supposed to do when they love each other, isn’t it?”

Dina’s starting to feel guilty.

Rex’s words from that afternoon in her office came echoing back, and Clara wondered just how large a part guilt had played in the other woman’s decisions and actions. Perhaps more, she was forced to concede, than she had first thought.

They’ve known each other a month. Do you really think they are in any position to commit to each other for the rest of their lives?

“Well, yes,” Nan said, her voice intruding on Clara’s memories of her debate with Rex a few weeks earlier. “Getting married is the customary choice. But it’s not as if it’s required, not for the two of you. You’re a widow, so if you’re discreet, and take the proper precautions, of course, there’s no reason you can’t just pick up where you left off, is there? There are risks, of course, but you know that already—”

“But that’s just it,” Dina cut in, “I don’t want to go back to that. Oh, it was all right at first, terribly exciting, and such wicked fun. But it’s all different now. I love him.”

“Do you truly want to marry him, then?”

“I don’t know! When he said he loved me, I was sure he meant it, but after that ridiculous speech, how can I ever believe he was telling the truth? After he tried to pull the wool over my eyes, how could I ever trust him? If I hadn’t read Lady Truelove that very afternoon, I might have fallen for it, too! But Lady Truelove was right to say, ‘When a man declares his love, he should be prepared to demonstrate it by an honorable courtship.’ Oh, Nan, that’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Of course not, Clara answered silently, her sympathy for the other woman deepening, along with her sense of responsibility. Surely something could be done to make Lionel step up and behave honorably.

“Still,” Dina said, sniffing, “I doubt it matters, since it’s clear he’s not willing to do the right thing.”

“Do you want to leave?” her friend asked. “Shall I have them fetch the carriage?”

“Run away like a rabbit? Never. I’m all right now, and I have no intention of leaving just because he’s here. Let’s go back—no, wait. Do I look a fright?”

“Not too bad, but... here. Put on a bit of my face powder. It’s wonderful stuff. A few dabs of that, and no one will know you’ve been crying.”

The face powder must have done the trick, for a few seconds later, Dina gave a deep sigh and said, “Oh, that’s better. I feel myself again.”

“If Lionel does approach you, what will you say?”

“If he’s not willing to court me in an honorable fashion, there’s nothing to say.”

That sound observation was punctuated by a decisive slam of the door. Clara waited a few moments, but when she heard nothing further, she emerged from the water closet to find herself alone in the withdrawing room, except for the maid in attendance.

Clara paused before one of the pink marble washstands, considering the situation as she washed her hands. The conversation of the other two women made it clear Dina was still in love with Lionel, and that what she wanted was demonstrable proof he could be trusted with her heart and her future before she decided to marry him. Rex had acknowledged that Lionel loved Dina, but he just wasn’t sure they knew each other well enough to wed. If that was still the case, perhaps something could be done to bring these two people back together. She and Rex would have to be the ones to make it come about, since the other two were far too proud and hurt to do it themselves. And, besides, she and Rex had been the ones responsible for tearing the two lovers apart in the first place.

A short while later, however, when Rex claimed his waltz with her, he didn’t seem to share her point of view.

“Is eavesdropping on conversations something you do with everyone?” he asked as they swirled across the ballroom floor. “Or just my friends?”

“Do be serious. She’s devastated, Rex.”

“Possibly. Or she sees that he’s out about town again, having fun, and she regrets tossing him aside.”

“Dog in the manger? I don’t think that’s it at all. I think she really is heartbroken, and bewildered that he’s not willing to do right by her.”

“Perhaps. Either way, what’s it to do with us?”

“We caused it. Yes, we,” she emphasized when one of his brows lifted in a sardonic curve. “Isn’t there something we can do?”

“I think we’ve both done enough already, don’t you?”

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