Page 78 of Without Pride and Prejudice
She giggled. “I’m not sure, but I’ll definitely ask.”
Lydia and Kitty pushed their way in. To what must have been Lady Catherine’s distress, they were not using proper British accents.
“’Ello there! You doin’ awright?” Lydia asked.
“Much better now, thank you.”
“You sure took a fall,” Kitty said.
“Yes, I did.” I kept glancing at Macey, eager to speak to her. It was weird, but I was thankful for her presence as Jane in my dream. There had been something comforting about it. Though we hardly knew each other, she was one of those people I immediately connected with. She’d shown me so much kindness after my ill-fated rendezvous in the woods with Fitz. That seemed like a lifetime ago.
Lady Catherine took the opportunity to speak to Fitz while I was otherwise engaged. I wondered what she had to say, but it would have to wait.
Finally, I got my turn with Macey. We embraced for several moments.
“You look beautiful,” I complimented her.
“As do you.” She gave me one more squeeze before letting go.
“How was your week?” I needed to know everything. I noticed her Mr. Darcy lingering nearby, glancing at her often. “How did it go with Zane?” I added.
She bit her lip. “Better than expected.” Her tone implied that it was much, much better.
I pulled her closer to me. “Spill the tea.”
She laughed. “I don’t know what to say. It was good. So good, it doesn’t seem real.”
I knew that feeling. “Uh-huh.”
“Well, how about you?” She nodded toward Fitz.
“Oh, him?” I teased. “He speaks greatduke. Like, really good.”
Macey giggled. “I’m happy for you. The man does know how to write a good letter.”
“Yeah, he does.”
“Ooh, I do have some news you might find interesting.” She leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, “You’ll never believe who Zane and I caught making out in the stables.”
“Who?” I was more than curious.
“Your ex and Lady Winnifred.”
My eyes bugged out, and for a moment, I lost the ability to speak. “No way! Are you serious?”
“Totally serious.” Macey looked as shocked as I felt. “But,” she lowered her voice, “even more interesting is that Kitty overheard Tony telling a staff member he only came here because he’d been trying to make the park refund the money he’d paid them for your honeymoon, but they said it was impossible. Somehow, though, he’d charmed someone involved with the park, and they hatched a plan for him to come work here. Whoever this person is told him lots of rich women pay to come here and play a part and they are always looking for love.”
My mouth fell open. “So, he came to catch a rich woman?”
“Sounds like it.”
“Oh my gosh. He’s such a Wickham. How did I miss that?”
Macey patted my arm. “Don’t beat yourself up about it; he obviously knows how to charm people and make them believe he’s someone he’s not.”
Still. I felt icky. And even if I was a little giddy to know that Winnifred had made out with a plumber, I knew I needed to warn her about Tony. No one deserved that—not even Winnifred. Why she even wanted him, I didn’t know. Wasn’t he a commoner like me?
Regardless, I had to make sure Winnifred stayed clear of him and made sure the park knew what was going on. The question was, who was Tony working with at the park?
