Ironic that now she was ready to take the plunge, he’d changed his mind.
It was her own fault. Had she had more courage, she might have had it all: marriage to James and the glory of going to bed with him. But she’d chosen to become his mistress instead, and now she had to live with her choice. And she would, according to her new principle to live by: no regrets.
She’d had four glorious days and nights in James’s arms. And she didn’t regret them in the least.
***
Gerald’s grandmother, Lady Stornaway, was a bit of a surprise. She’d obviously been a beauty in her day, and was still very good-looking in a plump-old-lady way. Her silver hair was swept up in a stylish arrangement, and she was simply but fashionably dressed.
She welcomed them warmly and, once they’d refreshed themselves after the journey, settled them down in a comfortable, elegantly appointed sitting room with sherry and biscuits.
“Congratulations on your betrothal, dear boy,” she said to Gerald. “I suppose Almeria is delighted.”
“Not exactly,” he admitted.
“Not at all,” Lucy said.
The old lady turned to Lucy with a faint frown. “My daughter doesn’t approve of you?”
Lucy grimaced. “Your daughter despises me.”
Lady Stornaway brightened. “Really?”
“Yes, really. And also, Gerald and I are not betrothed, not really,” Lucy said, making a clean breast of it.
“Wearebetrothed,” Gerald insisted. “And it’s still official as far as society is concerned.”
Lady Stornaway gave them a shrewd look. “Quarreled, have you?”
“No,” Lucy said. “It was never a proper betrothal in the first place. It was a... a stratagem. And I didn’t want to lie to you about it.”
The old lady sipped her sherry. “Fascinating. Tell me more.”
So Lucy explained. She didn’t leave anything out, not her lack of family, her irregular upbringing, her many schools and her time as pupil/maidservant to Frau Steiner and the comtesse. From time to time, Gerald interrupted to add something, but for the most part he let her tell her own story.
She’d just reached the part about her father’s blackmailof Alice and her consequent entry into the ton, when the butler announced dinner. With the old lady’s encouragement, she related that little episode over the soup.
“And you say my daughter dislikes you,” Lady Stornaway said when Lucy had finished.
Lucy nodded. She didn’t like to stress how much.
“Most edifying,” the old lady said. She turned to her grandson, “Now, Gerald, you mentioned in your letter that you had decided to enter the diplomatic corps. How is that going?”
While Gerald explained, Lucy ate her dinner. She was rather taken aback. The old lady had barely reacted to Lucy’s confession and had simply moved on to the next topic of conversation as if it were perfectly normal to hear about blackmail and deception.
Bemused, Lucy caught Gerald’s eye and raised her brows in a silent question. He simply shrugged and went on telling his grandmother about his plans for his future career. And then he filled her in on the news of various acquaintances she had in London.
And at the end of the meal, the old lady rose from the table and said, “A most interesting meal, thank you. Now, I expect you’re very tired after your long journey. We keep early hours here, so I’ll bid you both good night.”
She left. Lucy looked at Gerald, totally bewildered. “I don’t understand. She didn’t even react.”
Gerald shrugged. “No one can ever tell what Grandmama is thinking. Just go to bed and try to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Which was no help at all.
***
The following morning after breakfast, Lady Stornaway invited Lucy to go for a drive around the estate. Just Lucy, she said. Gerald could entertain himself.
