It only further infuriated Marina to discover that Phillip had no real need to lie to her about Emma. The situation was not what she had imagined at all. If they had met for the first time at the ball, and he had spoken to her only of his marriage, then there was nothing keeping him from telling her the truth when she asked.
Was lying that easy for him? Did he find it necessary to conceal his life from her? He may not be bedding other women, but it was apparent to her that he would have no problem hiding it if he did one day feel tempted to betray her.
What else could he have hidden from her?
“She seems like a lovely girl. I wish the two of you all the best. Please, if there is anything further that I can do for her, let me know.”
“And what of you, Your Grace? How do you fare these days?”
Marina stopped walking and gently pried her arm from his, turning to face him with her face set in a hard line. “Whatwas the meaning of your previous visit? The one which enraged Phillip so?”
“Ah, yes. I have to be frank, Your Grace. I did hope we would one day get another chance to speak.”
“On what?”
“Your husband. I had…a measure of concern for you at the time, but now that I have been looking after my niece, and I see a bit of you in her personality and her inclination to dedicate herself to those she loves, my concern has grown in great measure.”
“What is it, then? This concern?”
“I fear that you do not know particularly well whom you have married.” Marina stared at Emmanuel, her eyes focused and sharp as she waited for him to continue. “There are certain truths about him which you do not know. And while my dear nephew is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a child of my own, I must admit his faults when they are present. I now think of you, too, Marina, as my own. You are a Hayward, now, and therefore my family. It is too late for you to deny his proposal, of course, but perhaps you will rethink your current situation if you know the truth.”
CHAPTER 33
It was all that Marina could do to keep her composure beneath Emmanuel’s pointed gaze. She felt as though her worst nightmares were about to be confirmed. Had Phillip already stepped out of their marriage less than a full year into it?
“What could you mean?” she asked, steeling her expression and retaining her even, polite tone. Regardless of what his uncle had to say, Marina was Phillip’s wife. It was her duty to stand beside him whether his behavior was poor or not. She resolved to listen to what Emmanuel had to say and to decide what to do only after he had taken his leave. Her only hope was that whatever he had to tell her would not leave her beside herself with hysteria.
Emmanuel appeared to hesitate for a moment, sitting back in his chair while he weighed his words carefully. “I loved my brother’s son as my own the moment he was born. I am sure that it is no secret that I have supported him in many ways. I must admit, Your Grace, that I have given much thought to whether or not I should tell you the truth.”
Marina’s breath hitched in her throat. “The truth?”
“Yes.” Emmanuel nodded solemnly. “It would appear, my dear girl, that my nephew is, in many ways, the very same man his father was. I cannot sit idly by as Phillip sends you to your own ruination as my brother once tried to do to me.”
Marina felt her heart race but remained composed as Lord Glastonbury leaned forward to look sympathetically at her. “You must understand. I now consider you my family and as such, feel quite protective over you.”
“What could Phillip have done to warrant such a prelude?” Marina asked, her voice soft but strained. “I am aware of his past, My Lord, if this is what you mean.” She hoped, desperately, that this was what he meant.
“I am afraid not, dear girl,” he answered her. “My nephew’s faults are numerous and difficult to swallow. Perhaps now is not the time. Have you had anything to eat?”
Marina felt panicked. She needed to know now whether Lord Glastonbury would confirm her suspicions or not. She shook her head a tad too enthusiastically and realized immediately that she had already broken her image as the devoted wife. “I want to hear it.”
“I think that is wise. You are brave,” Emmanuel said kindly. “You may not recall, as this business dealing would have happened while you were still a child, but my brother and your father had a falling out. Before the late duke passed, he and the Linfieldswere sworn enemies. I will not trouble your fair mind with the details, young lady, but your husband was aware of this. I am sure that you have considered the speed of your engagement?”
Marina was silent, her eyes watching her conversation partner closely. She could hardly believe what she was hearing, nor make sense of it all. But he was right—she had brought Phillip’s sudden proposal into question—and Emmanuel took her silence as confirmation.
“I thought as much. It has been talked about in the ton as well. Philip had returned to London no more than one night before asking for your hand, and the two of you nor your families had prior arrangements in place. It is even well-known that your father skipped over another such arrangement in favor of Phillip’s. I am sure that you are a smart girl, Duchess. The two of them were eager to make the match because they share a vendetta against the late duke. Phillip first sought this marriage as a way to seek the revenge on his father that he was not able to seek in life.”
“With all due respect, My Lord, my father would never agree to a marriage for the sake of vengeance. Perhaps your memory of him is colored poorly due to the past you say he had with your brother, but he is not that little of a man,” Marina answered boldly. She was sure of her father, yes, but was she so sure of Phillip? Lord Glastonbury nodded, knowingly, as if he had expected this response from her. He gave her a pitying look as if he felt bad for her for being so fooled.
“No, I am positive that your father was also thinking of you and your family when he agreed to Phillip’s proposal. But it is not his intentions which are of import here. There is more, Marina. Do you want to hear it?”
She did not. Marina wanted to go back to the minutes before this conversation took place when her doubts about her husband were all her own and less complex than these, but that was not possible. She had to hear the rest now that it had begun. She gave a quick nod, averting her eyes so she did not have to look at him feeling sorry for her any longer.
“You mentioned his past before.”
“I did. What of it?”
“It is apparent that Phillip has…struggled to adjust to married life. There are murmurs about the ton that he has been visiting with other women when he is not here at home.”
