Page 66 of A Gentleman's Wife

Unable to eschew society’s strict guidelines, Marianne bobbed a curtsy to the noblewoman.

“Mrs. Ramsbury, is it?” the countess purred.

Marianne pressed her lips together. “It is, my lady. How wonderful to see you again.” The lie burned on her tongue.

“Yes, I’m certain it is.” Lady Slanton whipped open her fan and took a stance beside Marianne. “Tell me, how is my dear friend, Mr. Ramsbury?”

Already Marianne did not like the direction of the conversation. “He is very well, thank you.”

With a dramatic wave of her fan, the countess sighed. “I have so worried about him since his abrupt departure from London. I was concerned for his health and wellbeing, only to find out that he had gone and gotten himself married. But with such haste, it seemed as though he were hiding something, or hiding from someone.”

Marianne lifted her chin, ignoring the woman’s challenge. “We simply stay away because we have no reason to be in London and are very happy on our own.” Blissfully so, even.

The countess glanced over, not missing Marianne’s pointed words. “Indeed? There was a time I thought he had formed an attachment. And in leaving, I worried his poor heart would never find love again. For such feelings do not simply disappear overnight, do they? They often linger.” The countess’s voice tapered off into a cool edge, and Marianne felt their intended threat, but she would not be influenced by them. Not with the bolstered relationship she shared with Thomas.

“Thankfully, he is now much recovered, and any such youthful fancies have been easily overcome, replaced with something much more lasting.”

Marianne held her breath as Lady Slanton’s face altered. She still bore a smile, but it turned eerie in the candlelight, the angry fire in her eyes impossible to miss. Though they stood at nearly the same height, Marianne wondered if the countess would physically overpower her, or perhaps instead she would use her superior rank to ruin her. Marianne suddenly worried she’d gone too far, that she could have damaged Thomas’s standing in society by simply trying to protect him. So she said nothing more, simply waited for the countess to react.

“Lady Slanton!” The voice of Lady Violet called gently from across the room, and Marianne was grateful for the interruption.

The countess straightened her shoulders and gave a nod in parting before leveling one last icy stare at Marianne. “I suppose we’ll have to see, won’t we?” And then she saw herself across the room, back to the hostess.

Marianne’s heart pounded in her absence, wondering what she could have possibly meant. There was an unmistakable warning in her words, which turned Marianne’s stomach sour with fear. What would the noblewoman do?

“Mrs. Ramsbury?” The sound of Mrs. Shelton made Marianne turn. “How are you, dear?”

“Very well, thank you. I am grateful to see you are present, anyway.”

“Won’t you come sit and keep me company?” Mrs. Shelton offered her calming smile.

“Gladly.” Anything to keep the anxieties instilled by the countess at bay.

The last place Thomas wanted to spend his evening was at Lady Violet’s dinner party. But they had made a promise to attend, and he was not about to go back on his word. Not on a social invitation, a marriage contract, or anything else. Not if he could help it.

He’d managed to escape the card room, only to find Marianne lost in happy conversation with a friend. He would not deprive her of that, so he sought to bring her refreshment instead. How he wished he could be back in his study, for his thoughts were anything but present. There was a problem that needed to be sorted, and it left him feeling desperate and helpless, but there was nothing he could do until he received word back from James. The duke would know what to do.

It wasn’t until Thomas found himself alone at the punch table that he heard his name. “What a surprise to see you, Mr. Ramsbury.”

Thomas turned with one drink in each hand, and his jaw tightened in disgust when he stood face to face with Lady Slanton. Once, he had loved her entirely, found her the embodiment of beauty and perfection, without guile, without flaw. But thankfully, that emotion had been drained from his heart, and he saw her for what she truly was. Deceitful, vapid, cold, and selfish. Dressed in all her finery with the face of a haughty princess, Thomas would prefer his wife to her a hundred times over.

“Good evening, Lady Slanton. What brings you to this part of the country?” He hoped his tone was even enough.

“Oh, Lady Violet is a good friend of mine. I am here as her special guest.”

Everything started becoming clear. Lady Violet matched Lady Slanton in temperament and distaste, so of course they would be friends. And they were likely the source of any gossip circulating about Marianne. His dislike of her increased with every moment.

“Indeed. Then please excuse me and enjoy your evening.”

“Though I did want to greet you as my old friend.” Lady Slanton took a step forward, making Thomas take a step back. “I wondered if you might take a turn about the room with me.”

He most certainly did not want to. “I’m sorry, I must deliver some refreshment to my wife.”

She did not miss his pointed emphasis on that last word, for her smile chilled him through. “Surely she can spare you for my sake.” Then without waiting for him to offer, she snaked her hand around the crook of his arm. “Just one moment alone for a brief conversation. As we’ve done once before, do you remember?”

How could he forget? The day he’d once considered his greatest embarrassment was now his greatest mercy. Being refused by Lady Slanton could not have been a more treasured memory than it was that day, because he’d been spared a great deal.

He let her to lead him from the ballroom and out into the corridor, which still held other guests but allowed them some space for privacy. “And what is it you’d like to discuss?”

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