Hattie reluctantly followed her into the hall. “I am no longer employed by the viscount, Lila. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Do you know that you and Lord Abbott are the two most intractable,stubbornpeople I have ever known? Hattie—do you love him?”
Hattie’s mouth dropped open. She felt a wave of nausea roil through her. “What?”
“You heard me. Do you love him?”
She couldn’t answer. Of course she loved him, more than anything—but love could not overcome her family. They were insurmountable. She wouldn’t have a dowry, and she wasn’t even sure she could gain her parents’ blessing.
“Just tell me the truth, please. I’m trying desperately to help you both.”
She wanted to dissemble, to make up some reason she did not. But she remembered she was not going to be demure, to say things people thought she ought to say instead of what she truly felt. She squared her shoulders. “Yes, Lila, I love him. With all my heart. More than I thought was even possible. Which is why I left! I can’t bear to see him marry the person I thought was my friend. There you are—are you happy now?”
Lila clucked her tongue. “She was never your friend,” she said. “Flora is in love with someone other than Lord Abbott.”
Hattie gaped at her. “That’s not true. She wants to marry Teo.”
“Teo,” Lila said with a smile. “I like that. And she may want to marry him for all the benefits that would bring, but trust me, she loves someone else.”
Hattie was stunned. She thought back through all the times she and Flora had been together. She couldn’t think of a single gentleman Flora might have mentioned or noticed.“Who?”
“That will come later. For now, I need to know if you love the viscount. If you want to be with him always. If you are willing to live in Santiava, away from your family.”
Hattie laughed bitterly. “Of course I do. But it’s impossible. You saw my home. You met my parents. My father would find a way to extort money from him. And if Teo ever were to meet my family? He would run, as anyone with half a brain would.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Lila said airily.
“Rather easy for you to say.”
Lila suddenly cupped her face. “Darling...you deserve love. You deserve happiness. Believe that, and it will come to you.”
Tears suddenly sprang to Hattie’s eyes, embarrassing her. “I don’t trust anyone,” she said. “Not anymore.”
Lila smiled sadly and caressed her cheek. “You really are a dear. All right, at least trust that you will attend one last soiree.”
Hattie shook her head.
“You will, because I hope that things will be made clear, for all parties involved.” She reached into her reticule and withdrew an invitation. “It’s a soiree. Have you ever heard the name Emma Clark?”
Hattie shook her head.
“Lady Dearborn rarely comes to London. But when she does, she hosts the most delightful parties.” She winked. “I’ll see you there. And now, I really must be off. I’m to meet Mr. Donovan shortly. We have some work to do.” She turned and hurried down the hall.
Hattie watched her go, clutching that last invitation. She didn’t want to get her hopes up just to see them dashed. Did she really deserve happiness?
“Miss Woodchurch!” Lady Bradenton called. “Where are you?”
Hattie slipped the invitation into her pocket with a sigh, then trudged back to the scriptures.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
MATEODIDNOTwant to attend this soiree with yet another roomful of people he didn’t know and didn’t want to know. He’d already received a note from Lord Raney asking him to call at his earliest convenience but had managed to put that off.
His decision had been made. The estate had been sorted, and he was prepared to leave it with the stodgy Mr. Callum. He was departing London without a bride or a marriage match. He would call on Lord Raney—he was not a coward—but he was putting it off as long as he might. The man would not be pleased to know he would not be making an offer.
Still, Lady Aleksander had insisted he come to one last event, that she thought the tables would turn in his favor. When he asked what that meant, she was elusive. But she said, “I think Hattie will be in attendance.”
He went.
