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CHAPTER9

Simon didn’t leave Amber’s side for the rest of the day. He followed her everywhere, ensuring she crossed paths with Thomas as much as possible, much to her chagrin.

It started the second he had escorted her away from Felicity and Christopher. The trio walked together with one person on either side of her. There was nowhere for her to run anymore. Even just looking around would bring her face to face with one of them.

But the worst moment came when she met Mary’s eyes from across the room, and the woman shot her a look of sympathy.

It was so wrong. She didn’t want Mary’s sympathy because receiving it meant that this was happening, and Amber wouldn’t let it.

She was going to find a way out.

She was going to do what Mary couldn’t and find a way to save herself.

She wouldn’t let her cousin decide her fate.

She deserved love, and she wasn’t going to marry for anything less.

But for the moment, all she could do was smile and nod as she was escorted around the room. Every time others got too close, they would move, so Amber and her escorts were alone again.

Every second of it grated on her, but there was nothing she could do but follow where they led as they moved around the parlor.

“I’m afraid, I’ve grown rather parched from all this wonderful conversation,” she said in an effort to make a break for it. “I will be right back. I simply need to grab a cup of tea.”

“Oh no,” Thomas wrinkled his nose. “Not tea, I think.”

“What do you mean no?”

“It is far too late for tea. No, I think you should have something more sensible to drink.”

“Sensible? Such as?”

“A lemonade.”

“Lemonade?” Amber grimaced.

“Of course. It is the most proper drink to have at this time I should think.”

“Isn’t lemonade most appropriate for the afternoon?”

“Ideally it is drunk in the afternoon for a garden party, but it is still a far more appropriate evening drink than a cup of tea. Don’t you think?”

“If I thought it was wrong, I wouldn’t have suggested it. I fail to see the problem.”

Thomas let out a patronizing sigh, shaking his head. “And that is exactly why you need me.”

“Oh, is it? Perhaps you could explain.”

“Don’t worry, I was planning on it, my soon to be darling.” And then he had the audacity to pat her hand. “It’s rather sweet how naive you are to these things.”

Amber bit back a groan. “It is naive to want to have an evening cup of tea?”

“Of course! Tea is a morning and afternoon drink. Consuming it in the evening is just plain wrong. Now, lemonade on the other hand is an afternoon to evening drink, thus making it perfectly acceptable and far preferable to consume at this time of night.”

“I suppose that is all well and good, only I don’t care for lemonade.”

“That’s quite all right. You don’t need to worry. I am quite sure you will grow to like it in time.”

“But I?—”