How could she have been so blind? That was probably the hardest thing of all. To have been in the dark and not known what was happening behind her back.
When had Cedric and Daphne fallen in love? What had they talked about behind her back?
Had they been laughing at her? Joking about how blind she was to what was happening between them?
The idea that they were mocking her the whole time cut deep.
Verity knew that Daphne had an unkind side. She relished in gossip and liked to talk about other ladies behind their back, but Verity was supposed to be her best friend. She never thought that she would be saying terrible things about her behind her back. Did that make her a fool? Did everyone else think that she was a fool? Was she the only person who did not know that she was a fool?
As the tears finally started to roll down her cheeks, Verity was sure that they would never stop coming. She allowed her head to fall in to her hands as the sobs wracked through her whole body. Without Cedric and their marriage, she had no idea what her future looked like. Everything that she had planned revolved around him. Her whole life was going to be him…
Now it just stretched out in front of her as a big black hole with nothing in it.
Nothing at all.
“I will never allow myself to be vulnerable again,” Verity muttered under her breath as a surge of determinationricochetted through her. “I will never allow myself to get close to another.”
She did not just mean in romantic relationships, although she was certainly going to keep her heart locked away, never to be touched once more, but in friendship as well. Clearly her judgement could not be trusted.
Instead, she was going to focus on what made her happy. She would find solace in her art… once she could get over this pain. She would throw herself in to her creativity because that was the only thing that she could rely on.
Romance was clearly not for her, but she would not let this betrayal define her life.
She was just going to have to find a way to break this terrible news to her family first…
CHAPTER 1
Present day,
London, Spring
The brush dangled in Verity’s hand as she examined her half-finished landscape as the upcoming Season flooded her mind.
She could not ignore the intense sense of trepidation that washed over her as she thought of what was to come. The balls, the musicales, the high society teas… Verity wasn’t looking forward to any of it. She had not done so over the last four years. Ever since her engagement had been called off she had hated to be under the scrutinizing eyes of the ton. Especially now, because she was considered a spinster and not worth even looking at.
It seemed like an utterly unnecessary waste of her time, with a terrible impact on her self-esteem, but still it was something she must do. She did not have any choice in the matter.
Knock, knock.
Verity spun around quickly to find the butler standing in the doorway in his typical stoic fashion.
“You have a visitor, Lady Sinclair.”
Those words always filled Verity with dread.
“Who is it?” she asked breathlessly.
“Lady Faye Barrington.”
Warmth spread through Verity as a smile crept up on her lips. A visit from her cousin was welcome news.
“Please, show her into the drawing room.”
As soon as she caught sight of her cousin, who was glowing with happiness and smiling widely, Verity beamed from ear to ear.
“Oh, Faye, how are you? You look wonderful.”
Faye grinned back. “I’m just fine thank you very much. You are looking lovely yourself, Verity.” She always complimented Verity’s appearance, though it was no question that Faye was the more attractive cousin. Verity appreciated the condescension, anyway, glowing under the praise of her beloved friend.
