Page 17 of A Gentleman's Kiss
Lillian couldn’t let her aunt turn from her without explanation.
“Madam, I don’t quite understand?” Lillian raced to catch up.
“Do you not?” her aunt hissed.
“No,” Lillian said, baffled.What did I do to cause such suspicion?“I have no intention of marrying Lord Wessex.”
Her aunt’s glare turned vicious. “Like I said, you are unpolished and unknowing in the ways of this court. You may have thought you could keep this a secret, but little did you know entering the queen’s court, upon the arm of Lord Wessex her own nephew, hinted at much more than a simple escort. Especially when he has never done so before. If you were aware of this, perhaps you wouldn’t have chosen to do so, and you could have announced your engagement to your family prior to creating such a spectacle.”
“Engagement?”
How in the world did this happen?
“How dare you,” her aunt hissed, her face coming close to Lillian’s. “You knew I planned for Tamara to marry Lord Wessex. She shouldn’t be usurped by someone as low and common as you.”
“Your Grace, a huge mistake has been made. I do not plan to marry Lord Wessex. I swear it. In fact, I have only to wait a short time before I believe Sir Trenton should ask for my hand.”
At this, her aunt burst into a gale of laughter.
“You are naïve girl. As soon as you are married I shall be glad to be rid of you and your stupidity. Would that I could now.”
Lillian let her aunt leave her this time. Her brain whirled like river current out of control, and she was terrified she’d get swept up and drown. Her clenched painfully, and she tried to breathe, but her tight stays only cut deep into her waist. She needed to speak to Lord Wessex—immediately.
