Page 21 of Wallflower Gone Wild
Mac held his hands up in surrender. “Letty, I can explain everything. At first, yes, I did accept his offer, but then I refused?—”
“Did you? I don’t recall that part.” Cedemoor laughed, before continuing. “You can stop performing now. You should really consider the theater, Meriweather. You even had me believing that speech for a moment. Well, done.” He clapped again, loudly. “I will pay you what I owe. I’ll have plenty to spare once my father hands over the brat’s inheritance to me.”
A loud gasp escaped Letty, her body jumping away from his as if he’d burned her.
Mac shook his head. “Letty, please?—”
SLAP!
The sharp sting to his cheek was nothing compared to the absolute devastation on Letty’s face. She ran away, her sister running behind her and calling her name.
CHAPTER 8
The following evening, Letty lay in her bed, the exorbitant number of pillows cocooning her in a false sense of safety. In one night, she’d lost her dreams and the man she loved, all because of her brother. A brother who thought she was robbing him of his birthright by simply existing.
Her brother’s treachery was no surprise; it was Mac’s behavior that really gutted her. Pretending like he loved her, even practically proposing marriage.
Was it all a farce only to gain funds for his print shop?
The horrid truth was it didn’t feel like a charade to Letty. Everything about Mac felt real, like he was hers and she was his. From the moment they met at Crestview, there had been a connection, a meeting of like minds, and passion. More passion than she ever imagined.
A sniffle escaped her, and she cursed under her breath—hang it all—she had cried herself to sleep the previous evening, and then awoke and cried some more. Letty was done with that nonsense. Now she was enraged beyond measure. She was angry at Bertram for being a jealous bastard. Furious with Mac for convincing her that he actually loved her, and most of all she was incensed at herself. For one glorious moment, she thought she could have her magazine and the man she loved. How foolish she had been.
‘I never imagined that I would become so hopelessly in love.’
She closed her eyes, remembering his words—remembering his touch—and still finding it hard to believe that he had deceived her.
No, she wouldn’t let herself get swept up in the memory of what she thought was real. He didn’t love her. He loved his print shop. So much so that he took payment from Bertram.
To hell with Mac Meriweather! She was already ruined, so why should she abide by anyone’s rules any longer? It was time for Letty to do exactly as she pleased. And she knew just what she wanted to do.
Letty rose out of bed, throwing the white duvet aside. No more sulking. Walking over to the bell, she rang for her maid, Penny, to assist her in dressing. The family would be sitting down for dinner soon, and that would be her chance to leave.
“I came to warn you,” her sister said, entering her rooms without knocking.
The bright yellow gown she was wearing made her skin shine, enhancing her beauty. Her thick dark hair was swept in an elegant chignon—their mother’s insistence, of course.
“I’m leaving. I need you to make an excuse with mother and my father for me—” Letty rushed over to wardrobe, flipping through her many gowns.
“Leaving? Where are you going?” Cleo walked over to her, placing her hand on Letty’s.
She removed a deep red gown with a plunging neckline that she had purchased in secret when her parents were traveling to celebrate their anniversary and held it to her body.
Smiling triumphantly, she said, “Pleasure House.”
To her credit, Cleo took several moments to respond, her dark brown eyes waiting patiently for Letty to retract her words. She wouldn’t. It was time that she experienced life, and what better way to do that than to attend a scandalous event at one of London’s most wicked establishments?
Releasing a weary sigh, Cleo finally spoke. “I know you’re hurting, but being wild is not the answer. Besides, you have no experience with such things,” Cleo reminded her, taking the gown out of her hands.
Letty loved her sister more than anything, but she didn’t need sensible Cleo in this moment.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m already ruined, I’ve lost my inheritance and my dowry.” She counted each statement with her fingers. “And the man I thought loved me was lying the entire time.” Letty swallowed down the emotion that tried to break free.
No more tears.
She was done being a fool.
“I know men, and I do not believe that Mr. Meriweather lied about loving you. He seemed sincere. Perhaps you could speak with him and find out the truth before you do something you’ll regret.” Cleo placed the gown back into the wardrobe.