Page 56 of The Dreaming Beauty
Lady Melbourne shifted, and her calculating eyes met Tansy’s. “I hope your aunt recovers.”
Did she really? Even if she was Marcus’s mother, it was clear she was not as kind as her son. It seemed from the moment Tansy had met her, Lady Melbourne had been determined not to like her. She forced a congenial expression. “I shall tell her. Thank you.”
Lady Melbourne tilted her head. “Humor me, dear. I cannot put my finger on it, but you seem terribly familiar to me. Before you leave, I wonder if you could tell me the names of your parents.”
The blood drained from Tansy’s face, and the question made her feel faint. No question shook her like this one, but after tonight, answering Lady Melbourne took real strength. “My mother was Rosalind White, and I never knew my father.”
The shrewdness Lady Melbourne embodied disappeared in an instant. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes fluttered rapidly. More than shocked, she looked terrified. “That is not possible. Rosalind White died before she had any children.”
Tansy’s knees quaked, and she opened her mouth to object when the duke strolled around the corner. “There you are, Miss Tansy. I was afraid you had left without saying goodbye. Miss Tansy? You look pale. Mother, if you have frightened her, I shall never forgive you.” He said the threat lightly, but his concern for Tansy seemed real enough.
She reached for him, desperate for something to hold on to.
He took her hand with one of his own, the other going around her back to steady her. “What is this?” he asked. “You do not look at all well.”
“I just had a slight dizzy spell.” Tansy’s eyes flitted to Lady Melbourne, whose own shock had passed, her expression exchanged for one of perplexity.
The front door opened then, and Marcus strode into the entrance hall. He took one look at Tansy in his brother’s arms, and his mouth pulled tight. “Am I interrupting something?”
Inhaling sharply, Tansy pulled herself from the duke’s steadying embrace.
“Marcus,” Lady Melbourne seemed as desperate to see him as Tansy was. She waved her son inside. “Where have you been?”
“Never mind that.” The duke motioned to Tansy. “Miss Tansy is unwell. Send for Mrs. Kirk.” He returned his hand to Tansy’s back and bent his head toward her. “Not to worry. She is better than most doctors and will have you feeling better in no time.”
Tansy knew how capable Mrs. Kirk was, but she had no use for the housekeeper’s services now. “I am well enough, I assure you. My aunt is already in the carriage, and I much prefer to be home, where I can rest better.”
“But the night is still young,” the duke argued. “You can rest here for a while, and I would be all too happy to read to you or fetch you whatever you need.”
“Simon, Miss Tansy has already expressed her desire to return home,” Lady Melbourne said, her voice surprisingly absent of irritation. “Let her go.”
Tansy again stepped away from the duke. She needed space to think, but the idea of being with her aunts after all she had learned tonight made her feel ill. She was not sure whom to trust and whom to believe. Her mind whirled. Her gaze settled on Marcus, and clarity came to her.
Marcus. She could trust him. She was sure of it.
Thinking quickly, she turned to Lady Melbourne and His Grace while she stalled for time. “Thank you for dinner and for your hospitality.” She curtsied, then faced Marcus, who stood with his hand still on the handle of the door. “I really must hurry home, as I did so hope to be up to see the sunrise.” She met his eyes, praying he would notice the discrepancy of what she was saying now to what she had told him in the past.
“The sunrise?” Marcus repeated.
Thank the heavens he had caught it. “Yes, the view is spectacular above our willows.” She put an emphasis onwillows, not sure if he would understand but hoping he would. “Goodnightto you all.” She dropped the last hint and hurried past him before either man could offer to see her out. She was already at odds with Lady Melbourne, and she did not want to try the woman’s patience any further.
A footman outside helped her into the carriage, where she found a sullen Iris.
“Are you ready to tell me what happened in there?” Tansy demanded.
Silence.
Perhaps she was not the only one in the family to have premonitions. Iris might have predicted a terrible turn of events, but Tansy doubted her aunt could have guessed her discovery.
“Iris, please.”
Iris turned away from her, the shadows of the night unable to hide the shock still present on her features.
There would be no information from any of her aunts. Not tonight and maybe never. But her determination would not be suppressed this time. She would not forget what she had seen, and she would have answers.
Chapter 25
Marcus joined the dinner partyin the drawing room. Card tables had been brought in, but he was in no mood to play. When he excused himself from the game, Miss Bellvue cornered him. Her constant chatter grated, and he knew he should pay attention, but his mind replayed three words.Sunrise. Willows. Night.He nodded when Miss Bellvue paused, and she continued as if he had not missed a word. Tansy had said she was like him and preferred the night to the morning. Had she been trying to pass him a message?
