Page 98 of Marry in Scandal

He was a beautiful dancer too, and Lily knew she was the envy of many.

“I’m happy, that’s all,” she said.

“I’m enormously relieved.”

“Relieved?” It was an odd thing to say. She tilted her head and gave him a quizzical look.

He gave a hunted glance around the crowded room. “As long as you’re happy, I’m safe from being gutted with a rusty blade.” His eyes glinted with roguish humor.

“What?”

“It’s true. Your demure little niece threatened me with that, the day we became betrothed.”

“George did?” She spluttered with laughter. “She can be a bit outrageous, but I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

“I’m not so sure. Your sister threatened me too.” He added darkly, “The innocent-looking ones are the worst.”

They finished the dance laughing. It was the supper dance, and Lily began to make her way to the supper room. He detained her with a hand on her arm and a slow-burning smile. “Do you want to stay? Or shall we go home?”

His magnetic, half-hooded glance, light touch and lazy smile were an invitation she couldn’t resist. “Home, please.”

• • •

Sylvia called on Lily at the hotel the very next day and was directed upstairs by a helpful, if misguided, staff member. Having no choice but to accept her visitor, Lily showed her to the sitting room that was part of their hotel suite. The sooner Lily was in her own home, the happier she’d be. With a butler who’d tell unwanted visitors she was not at home.

Sylvia’s eyes were on stalks as she entered the lush apartment. “I must say, you’ve done very well for yourself, Lily. This place is positively—”

“What do you want, Sylvia?”

“Oh, sorry.” She settled herself in a chair and folded her hands in her lap. “I’ve been thinking over what you told meyesterday and though I find it impossible to believe my cousin could do such a thing, treat you with such cruel incivility—”

“Sylvia, I don’t want to talk about it any—”

She held up a hand. “No, let me finish—please. Itisimpossible for me to believe, but I know you wouldn’t lie to me, Lily, not about such an important thing, and so Imustbelieve it. I’m so very sorry I doubted you, and if I was rude—”

“You were.”

“Well, that’s why I’m here. To apologize.” She eyed Lily anxiously. “I really am truly sorry, Lily.” From the bag she was carrying she produced a large, flat box, wrapped in paper emblazoned with the name of a well-known shop. She offered it to Lily, and when Lily didn’t take it, Sylvia put it on a side table.

Lily recognized the wrapping. Sweetmeats, the finest you could buy. She sighed. She really didn’t want to make things up with Sylvia. She felt sorry for her, but she’d never much liked her. And there was a limit to how much she’d put up with.

But she hated to be cruel.

The silence stretched, and Sylvia’s lower lip began to quiver. She stretched out a hand in appeal. “Please say you forgive me, Lily. You’re my only friend—my only true friend—in London, and I could cut out my tongue for the things I said to you yesterday.” She produced a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. She scrunched it up. Tears glistened on her lashes.

Where was Rose when you needed her? She wouldn’t care about a few tears. But Lily wasn’t her sister, and she couldn’t stay angry for very long. She said with obvious reluctance, “Very well, I forgive you, Sylvia.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, dear Lily.” Sylvia jumped up and embraced her. “So are we friends again?”

Lily nodded.

“Then you must let me take you out to tea.”

“No, I don’t think that’s nec—”

“Oh, but I insist. To show you there are no hard feelings.”

She really was the limit. Lily was the one entitled to the hard feelings. But if she did this—it was just a tea, afterall—it would be worth it to get Sylvia off her back. “Very well. When?”