Lord Milton scowled at his plate and said nothing.
Duncan cleared his throat. “It’s a fine evening,” he said, and Valeria knew he was doing his best to change the subject. “I thought, Mother, that after we finished our dinner, we might all take a stroll in the gardens together.”
“That sounds lovely,” Aunt Alberta said quickly. “Lovely idea, Duncan. Yes, I think it would be good for all of us to get outside and stretch our legs. And it will give us more opportunity to socialize with one another as well.”
Valeria said nothing. She had been hoping to slip away when the meal was finished, hoping that her aunt would understand that after the terrible words that had just been spoken, she would need time to herself to recover.
She’s going to make me see the evening through to the end.
Perhaps, though, it was for the best. Now that she thought of it—did she really want to show these people that she could be so easily scared away? Wouldn’t they take that as further evidence of her guilt?
No, I’ve done nothing wrong. I refuse to act as though I have. I won’t hide. I’m a part of this family, after all.
She sat quietly through the rest of dinner, keeping her eyes on her plate, refusing to participate in conversation or even to look at those around her. She knew she was seeming rude, and that Aunt Alberta might be embarrassed about her behavior, but she just didn’t think she could stand to have any more accusations hurled at her. When it was time to leave the table and go for their walk in the garden, she would be able to put some distance between herself and the others, and that would likely make things considerably easier.
Finally, the last of the dishes were cleared away, and all the dinner guests got to their feet.
“If you’ll all just follow me,” Duncan said, leading the way toward the door, “there are some really marvelous flowers blooming right now. I know you’ll enjoy seeing them.”
He caught Valeria’s eye as he passed through the door and raised an eyebrow quickly as if to ask her whether she was all right.
Valeria inclined her head, even though she wasn’t sure it was the truth.
I’ll be fine. I just need a few minutes to collect my thoughts.
She stood and followed the others out into the garden.
As they passed through the door, she noticed that one of the gentlemen fall back a bit behind the rest of the group. He turned a little, and she saw that it was Lord Woodsford.
I wonder what he’s waiting for?
In no time at all, she had moved past him, out into the night air.
She couldn’t help but be aware of his presence behind her on the garden path. She could nearly feel his eyes on her as she walked along. And when she broke away from the rest of the group and turned down a side path, hoping to gain a moment of solitude, she was aware of the fact that he had turned as well, and was following her.
Chapter 7
“May I walk with you?”
Valeria turned and saw Lord Woodsford approaching her from behind. She felt a pang of disappointment. She had rather hoped his following her was coincidental, that he had just been interested in the flowers that lay down this path. Apparently, though, that was not the case.
He waited expectantly.
She did not know how to tell him no without being rude. “I suppose,” she said stiffly. “If you must.”
“No,” Lord Woodsford said quietly. “I don’t need to. If you aren’t feeling up to company, I’ll return to the main path and seek out your cousin’s company. Is that what you would prefer?”
“Well—” Valeria hesitated. He had been kind to her over dinner, after all. He had been one of the only people to defend her. “I suppose it’s all right, if this is what you really want.”
He nodded and fell into step with her, though he said nothing for a few moments.
She glanced over at him, wondering what he could possibly want.
He stopped beside a rosebush and inhaled the scent of one of the blooms, but still he did not speak. The silence was beginning to trouble Valeria.
“Is there some reason you wanted to walk with me?” she asked.
“I thought you might not like to be alone, after the way you were treated over dinner,” Lord Woodsford said.
