Page 10 of The Lady Was Lying (Greydon #3)

Chapter Four

W hen Belinda returned home from her misadventure at the bookstore, she was cornered by Sebastian and Emmeline’s daughter Arianna and convinced to go to the park.

She didn’t realize they were to be joined by Emmeline and Jane—in addition to Arianna’s nursemaid—until they were nearly out the door.

She could have changed her mind, but Arianna would have been disappointed, and she had to talk to Jane at some point, so she followed everyone out of the house.

She trod along slowly, dreading the fact that she needed to apologize, while listening to Arianna chatter about how fast she could run.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, snagging her sister’s arm when Arianna darted off the path toward the patch of green in the center of the park.

Jane halted, her eyes latching onto Belinda’s face. “You don’t have to apologize. It isn’t your fault that I keep trying to force you to consider marriage. If anything, I should be the one to apologize.”

“Not at all. I overreacted. You want me to be happy, and I know that your heart is in the right place. I need to keep a tighter rein on my temper.”

“You didn’t overreact. I pushed too hard.

I’m aware that I’ve been somewhat self-absorbed recently.

I’m also aware that you came to my debut even though you didn’t want to.

I’m sorry that I failed to appreciate the memories it forced you to confront.

I still don’t know all the details of your season, but if you ever feel like talking about what happened then, I’d be more than happy to listen.

I won’t hold whatever horrible things you believe you’ve done against you. ”

Jane was far too kind, and Belinda wanted to discuss her past even less than she wanted to discuss her future, so she replied, “Let’s try to forget about this morning and enjoy the afternoon.

” Weaving their arms together, she led Jane toward where Emmeline and the nursemaid were watching Arianna run around in circles.

“Promise you aren’t angry any longer?” Jane asked softly after a couple of steps.

“Promise.” Any residual frustration she harbored would surely dissipate if she ignored it.

Arianna shrieked and then tumbled head over heels in the grass, laughing heartily when she landed on her back. No one in their group could resist laughing with her, not even Belinda.

They didn’t speak about anything of consequence for the remainder of the outing.

Belinda tried to pretend everything was fine, but the lingering looks from Jane made her wonder if she was succeeding.

When they returned to the townhouse, they followed Arianna into her nursery and found Sebastian waiting for them.

“Papa,” Arianna shouted, launching herself at Sebastian without the slightest bit of decorum. “Park.”

“Park,” he repeated, lifting her off the ground and pointing at the grass stains on her shoulder and the leaves in her hair, before dropping a kiss on her forehead. “It looks as if you brought the park home with you.”

Arianna giggled. “I ran. I fell down.” Her tiny hands flailed around her face.

“I can see.” Laughing himself, Sebastian leaned over and dropped a kiss on Emmeline’s forehead. Arianna clambered out of his arms, ran in a circle, and fell dramatically to her knees.

“Fall down,” she shouted.

“Seems like she had an agreeable afternoon,” Sebastian commented.

“Hopefully she’s tired herself out.” Emmeline laughed quietly before nudging Sebastian with her shoulder. “Well, don’t leave us in suspense. What happened at the Duke of Avondale’s?”

Belinda tuned her brother out as she sank to the ground next to Arianna and let her niece crawl all over her.

Romping about with Arianna was a welcome distraction from her thoughts.

Disappointment from another failed kiss should not leave her distraught.

Neither should the rejection from the night before. Why was she suddenly so sensitive?

Sebastian prodded her with his foot. “Belinda.”

Startled, she sharply replied, “What?”

“Arianna needs a nap.”

“Oh.” She rose gracefully to her feet as Emmeline picked up Arianna and carried her into her bedchamber.

Sebastian ushered Belinda and Jane out of the nursery. Once they were in the hallway, he said, “You cannot say anything to anyone about Avondale’s true relationship to Emmeline and the rest of her family. It would unleash a scandal that benefits no one.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You weren’t listening?” he asked.

“I was entertaining your daughter.” And trying to distract herself from her thoughts.

“The Duke of Avondale is Emmeline’s brother,” Jane interjected, her voice full of excitement, as they walked down the stairs.

Belinda squinted at her brother. “How could that be?”

“Emmeline’s father and Avondale’s mother had an affair,” Jane replied.

Emmeline’s family was entirely respectable, so a bastard brother was unexpected. The fact that he was a duke made it all the more shocking. She could not fathom what he must be like. He’d been at the ball, but she didn’t recall meeting him.

“He’s coming for dinner tonight,” Sebastian added. “I’ve given him my word that we will keep his secret.”

“Who would I tell?” Belinda asked.

“Hopefully no one,” Sebastian replied.

“You don’t need to worry. My lips are sealed.” She wasn’t the sort to spread gossip.

“I won’t tell anyone either,” Jane said. “I know how to keep a secret.”

“Do you?” Belinda asked. Her sister loved to talk. It didn’t seem like a stretch to imagine Jane accidentally telling someone.

“Of course.” Jane’s hand fluttered in the air. “I can’t believe a duke is joining us for dinner.”

“It will be an informal meal. A chance for Emmeline and him to converse without an audience.” Sebastian rubbed his chest. “He’s not coming as a potential suitor.”

“That doesn’t mean he cannot become a suitor.

He is unmarried and a duke.” Jane twirled in a circle when they reached the landing.

“Did you know we danced last night? He seemed distracted, so I assumed he wasn’t particularly interested, but now that I know why he was preoccupied, I have another opportunity to catch his eye.

You do realize that I am eminently eligible to be a duchess?

” She spun another circle. “If he chose to marry me, he’d have an excuse to socialize with Emmeline as frequently as he wished.

No one would have any reason to suspect they were siblings.

” She spun a third time, her gaze snagging on Belinda again. “Imagine if I became a duchess.”

“Imagine,” Belinda echoed halfheartedly. She had no problem with her sister becoming a duchess, but it frustrated her how easily her sister assumed she was compatible with the duke. Could Jane successfully marry any gentleman of a certain standing?

Sebastian frowned at their sister. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. It’s only the day after your debut. You need to meet more gentlemen before you fixate on a particular one.”

“I’m not fixating. However, I refuse to ignore the opportunity to present myself to the duke again in a more casual setting. It would be foolish if I didn’t consider him as a potential husband. He’s a duke .”

While Jane kept chattering, Belinda walked away.

The last thing she wanted was to listen to her sister explain how to woo a duke.

* * *

“You should join us at dinner,” Jane said early that evening, stepping in front of the mirror in Belinda’s bedchamber and rotating her head from side to side as she studied her reflection.

“I do not wish to socialize tonight.”

If Belinda had her way, she wouldn’t be socializing now .

When Jane had breezed into her room without knocking, she had wanted to tell her sister to leave, but she hadn’t been able to make herself do it.

Why did the thought of upsetting Jane cause her such distress?

A month ago, she wouldn’t have even hesitated.

“Why not?” Jane asked.

“Because I’m tired.”

It wasn’t a lie. All afternoon it had been a struggle to pretend she wasn’t burdened by her thoughts. The revelation of Emmeline’s connection to Avondale had caused a spike of interest, but not the sort of interest that was useful. Under no circumstances would it be wise to try to kiss a duke.

Especially one who was related to Emmeline.

“That’s bollocks. You have to eat.”

“I’ll request a tray.”

Jane frowned. “I can’t imagine not wanting to attend. It doesn’t get more exciting than a duke at our table.” She paused in her inspection, her nose wrinkling as she flattened the hair on both sides of her head. “Is my right ear a touch higher than my left?”

“No one is looking at your ears.”

Jane gasped. “It is, isn’t it?” She tugged on the lobe of the offending ear. “If I were to loosen a curl or two on one side, it would be less noticeable. Do you think it is significant enough that I need to hide it?”

“No one is looking at your ears,” Belinda repeated.

Jane ignored her for a second time. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice before. Why has no one told me?”

Belinda tipped her chin down and raised her brows.

“Don’t say it,” Jane warned.

She almost chuckled. “You’re ridiculous. No one is?—”

A small pillow hit Belinda square in the face, and she couldn’t hold her laughter in any longer. It spilled forth as she picked up the pillow and threw it back at Jane. The tension she’d been holding all day lessened until it didn’t feel quite so suffocating.

Jane deftly caught the pillow and set it on the stool near the dressing table, looking mighty pleased with herself. “You laugh, but I need to look my best. In case you hadn’t heard, a duke is coming to dinner.”

“In case you hadn’t heard, he isn’t coming to see you,” she reminded Jane. Even though Sebastian had already warned Jane, Belinda couldn’t help assuming her sister would benefit from another reminder. Jane was quite fanciful when it suited her. And far too desperate to become a wife.