Page 70 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
Lady Braithwaite was right. She was incredibly stupid.
How Johnathan had been convinced into taking Miss Guthrie for a drive, he still did not quite know. Spending any more time with her was the last thing on his mind, but it seemed she was everywhere he looked. And when she was not present, Miss Wallace managed to fill her place.
He gripped the reins as Miss Guthrie prattled on. Did she always speak so highly of her own abilities? It appeared to be the only topic she could converse on adequately. And when she was not extolling her own virtues, she was pointing out the faults of others.
Rotten Row was backed up as usual, carriages and riders moving slowly through the park as people came to see and be seen. Johnathan cared for none of it. Every once in a while Miss Guthrie called to the occupants of another conveyance and he was obligated to stop, but otherwise he’d not been required to say more than ten words the last half hour.
When a shiny yellow phaeton rounded the corner ahead of them, his jaw hung slack. It had been six days since Susannah had rushed out of the sitting room at Kendall House and even though he’d been by to visit four of those days, he’d not caught sight of her. To add to his concern, his friends had become increasingly quiet when the subject of Susannah’s absence was brought up. He’d assumed she’d been indisposed, but her pink cheeks and bright smile were anything but sickly.
The wind whipped at the light pink strings of her bonnet, sunlight dancing off her enchanting golden curls. He could not pull his eyes from her. She was a masterpiece.
Miss Guthrie placed a hand on his arm, pulling him from his reverie. He glanced down at her.
She gazed back expectantly.
“I am s-sorry. I must have b-been woolgathering.”
“I asked if you will be attending the Durhams’ annual ball.”
He pondered the question as the yellow phaeton driven by none other than Mr. Wallace neared their position.Washe going to attend the infamous ball that had been the ruining of Melior’s reputation? Then again, it had been the making of Nate and Melior’s happiness. Perhaps he should ask them their opinion on it.
“I have not yet decided.”
“Please do,” she begged. “It is always a splendid event.”
The tall conveyance was nearly upon them when Susannah finally pulled her eyes from the driver to look in his direction. She froze. Mr. Wallace, on the other hand, grinned broadly.
“Newhurst. What a pleasure meeting you here. My sister will be sorry she was not able to accompany us today. Thank you again for escorting her home from the tea shop on Monday last.”
Johnathan’s lips pulled down. He’d not wanted to play the gentleman as he’d been on his way to Kendall House, but Miss Wallace’s maid had grown ill and far be it from him to leave a lady to walk home unattended.
“And is her maid recovered?”
“Maid?” Mr. Wallace’s brow scrunched. “Oh, yes. Jones is quite recovered. She must have eaten something bad.”
Johnathan adjusted the reins in his hands. The maid had claimed a headache, not a stomachache. He pressed his lips together to keep from saying something he’d regret. How had he been duped… again?
Glancing at Miss Guthrie, he wondered at his own gullibility. He’d prided himself on his powers of observation but lately life had proved him just as oblivious as the next fellow.
“I am glad she is recovering. And you, Miss Wayland, are you quite recovered from your illness?”
Susannah had sat with her head bowed, her attention completely on her clasped hands, but when he spoke she glancedup in confusion. “I am well, Your Lordship. Whatever gave you the impression I have been ill?”
Your Lordship? With two simple words the honorific placed so much distance between them that it might as well have been a chasm. He wanted to argue, to point out her absences at their gatherings at Kendall House, but then his eyes strayed to how near she sat to Mr. Wallace. Perhaps she’d truly been gone. A vice-like grip clawed at his throat.
Javenia had been conveniently absent as well, which meant that she and her mother might have been playing chaperone to Susannah. Had Susannah made her—he swallowed hard—choice?
No one had hinted at an impending engagement between Mr. Wallace and Susannah, but that did not mean it was not in the process.
“I am s-sorry,” he finally choked out. “My information must have been faulty.”
“It is nice to see you out enjoying the fresh air, cousin,” Miss Guthrie said, slipping her arm through Johnathan’s.
He glanced down at her, not sure why she’d taken such liberty. She maintained eye contact with Susannah.
“And you, Miss Guthrie.” Susannah’s words lacked enthusiasm. Johnathan studied her, noting a pinch at the corners of her eyes and the way she looked everywhere but at him.
He could stand it no longer. If his presence made her so uncomfortable, they would be on their way.
