Page 5 of A Lady Never Tells
“I spent the evening with him there.” Claudine’s lips twitched. “But to be honest, what started between us began much sooner than that. We gave into our desire that evening, and I do not regret it. I love him and he loves me. I promise I am not entering into this marriage lightly. It is what I want. Can you be happy for me?”
She’d be awful if she couldn’t support her friend. Just because her husband had been unfaithful didn’t mean Lord Wyndam would do the same to Claudine. “If you’re happy, then yes, I’m thrilled for you. When is the wedding?”
“Hudson, Lord Wyndam,” Claudine began. “Is going to get a special license. It would be.” She coughed into her hand lightly. “Prudent for us to marry as fast as possible.”
Was she implying what Eden thought? “Are you?”
“Enceinte?” Claudine supplied. “Yes.”
“I see.” She did, more than before. Even if she didn’t love Lord Wyndam, she had a child to think of. Though Eden did believe Claudine thought she loved the earl. “So how soon is this wedding?”
“In a few days,” Claudine told her. “I would like you to attend.”
“Of course,” Eden said automatically. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” She pasted a smile on her face. She would be happy for her friend. At least as long as she was in Claudine’s presence... “Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”
“I’m so glad,” Claudine said. “You’re a dear friend and I do wish to share my special day with you. This is more exciting than my first wedding. I’ve never felt this happy in my entire life.” She frowned. “When I married James, I was young and foolish. I did not know what it was like to truly love someone. I wanted to love him, so I convinced myself I did. This, what I feel for Hudson, is so much deeper. It’s…consuming.”
Part of Eden was jealous of her friend’s newfound love. She’d wanted that for herself once upon a time. She’d have given anything to feel that deeply for someone. She didn’t know anything remotely like love until her son had been born, and before that, she’d done what was expected of her. She was still doing that. Roslyn depended on her, and so did her son, Caden. Eden lived for them. Would she ever know true happiness?
“That’s a blessing,” Eden said softly. “I admit it is unexpected, but I couldn’t imagine anyone more deserving of this happiness than you.” Eden leaned forward and pressed her hand on to Claudine’s. “You’re one of the best people I know. Do not let anyone take away what brings you joy. I’m glad you have something good in your life. No one deserves it more.”
“I could say the same about you,” Claudine told her. “You’ve lost much too.”
“But I’ve always had control of my life. That was taken from you.” Eden fought tears and she didn’t quite know why. “Your heartbreak was real. Mine wasn’t the same.”
“But you had heartbreak, regardless of what caused it. We both lost someone, just in different ways. Your husband wasn’t your person. Yes, he died, but his affair with your friend was the true betrayal. That lost cuts deep.”
Yes, it did. She would never be able to forgive Claire, Lady Harewood. She’d been her closest friend since they were mere girls. Now she never spoke to her again. “That’s true.” She said that more to herself than to Claudine. Eden shook her head lightly. “There’s no turning that clock back, though. We must move forward. I hope you’ll attend to night. Bring the earl with you. I’d like to judge for myself that he loves you.”
Claudine laughed. “I would love to attend and I will have Hudson escort me.”
“Good,” Eden said. “It’ll be a grand event with you there.”
“It’ll be grand regardless if I attend or not.”
Eden didn’t have time to reply. The maid brought in tea and they talked until Claudine had to leave. She still had a lot to prepare for anyway, and with Claudine’s news, she had a lot to consider. Could she be as happy as her friend now was? She doubted it. It was best she kept to the path she’d carved for herself, and her heart was better kept protected. There was only so much it could take before it collapsed completely.
Maxwell stared at the clothing his valet had laid out before him. He still couldn’t believe he was going to attend a debut ball for one of the young misses about to be launched into society. This was not how he’d foreseen his days going. He still had no wish to actually marry. Perhaps before he dressed for the bloody ball, he’d pay a visit to the nursery. To remind himself of the reason he was going through with this farce.
Yes. That was a damned good idea. He left his bedchamber and went to the nursery. His niece, Sarah, had just finished her bath and sat on a stool as her nanny combed her wet, brown curls. “Ouch,” she said. “You’re pulling too hard.”
“My apologies, Lady Sarah,” the nanny said. “But you’ve gotten your hair into a fine tangled mess. I’m combing through as carefully as I can.”
Maxwell leaned against the doorframe and smiled. She was an adorable little cherub. He adored her and he would do anything for that little sprite. Sally, the nanny, finished untangling Sarah’s hair and then plaited it. “There you go,” she said.
Sarah popped her thumb into her mouth and sucked on it. “No,” Sally told her. “Young ladies, do not suck on their thumbs.”
“I do,” Sarah exclaimed around the thumb in her mouth.
Sally frowned. “It’s time for you to go to bed.”
Sarah turned and finally noticed Maxwell. She leapt from the stool and ran toward him. In her excitement, she forgot the need to suck her thumb. Sarah launched herself into his arms. He chuckled as he swung her upward. Maxwell hugged her against him. “Are you here to read me a story before bed?” she asked.
“I hadn’t planned to,” Maxwell told her. “I’m going out for the evening.”
Sarah frowned. “You never go out. Why are you leaving now?”
He did stay home each night. Except for one, but his niece didn’t know about that night. She had still been at his country house then. He had only recently had her moved to London so he could watch over her better. She needed stability, and he intended to ensure she had it. He would do anything for her. Which was why he was going wife hunting.
