When I finally awoke, most of the morning had already passed, and the sun was high in the sky. Despite my oversleeping, my body felt wrung out by the events of the night before. It took a few minutes for me to slough off my fatigue, but once I did, memories of the storm and spending it with Halstead resurfaced.
A nervous thrill shot through my stomach at the thought of seeing him today. After last night, would things be different between us? My cheeks grew warm, and I shook my head and quickly pulled back the covers as something struck me. What would it be like when I saw Robert? Would he be able to sense the tempest of uncertainty that left me so thoroughly confused?
The thought of seeing anyone overwhelmed me; I needed to escape. Instead of calling for Betsy, I hurriedly dressed myself and pulled my hair back into a knot. A glance in the mirror gave me pause. Though my appearance was hardly passable, my eyes were bright, and with a bit of color in my cheeks I looked a great deal like my father did after he returned from one of his sea voyages—invigorated. Happy. I turned away, not wanting to give it too much thought.
A quick peek out the window told me that although the sun shone brightly, a stiff wind blew, and the air would be brisk. The thought didn’t deter me; a walk out in the cold air would do me good and give me time to get hold of my emotions. I tied my pelisse as I hurried down the stairs, my steps light and quick, my shoes echoing up to the cavernous walls of the castle’s main entry.
On my left the door to the drawing room was open. Voices, both familiar and unfamiliar, reached my ears. Visitors, perhaps? I glanced around, hoping to slip out unnoticed. The last thing I wanted to do this morning was make trivial conversation in the company of strangers I would likely never see again. The butler stood by the front door, his craggy features impassive. Something about him made me feel as though I was a disobedient child trying to sneak out. My shoe caught on the rug, and I tripped, barely keeping my feet.
“Miss Graham, is that you?” Lady Ellen’s ring of authority was unmistakable.
I groaned inwardly, a hand going to my poorly done hair. Much as I wished to dart for the door, I shrugged out of my pelisse, grudgingly handing it over to the butler. As I entered the drawing room, all of its occupants immediately turned in my direction.
I smiled at Lady Ellen first, though I was immediately aware of Halstead and the growing warmth in my middle from just being in the same room with him again. I forced myself not to look at him as three unfamiliar faces caught my eye.
“Miss Graham, allow me to introduce you to Lord and Lady Wollerton and their daughter, Lady Margaret.” Halstead’s mother looked me up and down, an expression of disapproval marring her brow.
I felt myself deflate. The smile that had come so easily only a few seconds before now took a great deal of effort to maintain. I’d forgotten about the visitors the dowager duchess had told me of only a few days before. But how could I? Lady Margaret was Halstead’s intended.
I nodded, keeping my thin smile in place, venturing another glance at the new houseguests. Lord Wollerton was a distinguished-looking man, with jet-black hair that had begun graying at the temples. His wife had a gentler look about her, with twinkling eyes and rosy-red cheeks.
“Miss Graham, what a pleasure to meet you.” Lady Margaret stood just next to her mother, a soft smile on her face, nothing like the stuffy and haughty woman I had envisioned. Tall and willowy, she wore a dress of pale blue that perfectly complemented her strawberry-blonde hair and creamy skin.
There before me, in perfect elegance, stood the reason why Halstead could never know my heart and why I could never know his. Why Robert, dependable Robert, was the future I ought to latch on to. Time stopped for a moment, as unwilling tears fought for release, my smile requiring ever more effort.
Thank goodness we were leaving in less than a week.
“Miss Graham?” The soft-spoken Lady Margaret repeated.
The slight tremor of her voice surprised me. With her hands clasped together in front of her and the way her glance flitted about, it almost seemed she was as ill at ease as I.
I curtsied. “Lord and Lady Wollerton, Lady Margaret. The pleasure is all mine.” My facade was fading quickly, and I stepped back, taking the open seat next to Robert.
“Where have you been this morning?” he asked. The conversation among the others resumed, the soft clink of china and muted voices filling the room.
Lady Ellen passed me a cup of tea, giving me a look that said she hoped to have a word with me later. I could feel Halstead’s gaze on me, but I couldn’t bear to look at him.
I turned to face Robert. “The storm kept me awake until all hours of the night. I am afraid I overslept.” Though I spoke to Robert, my attention remained on Lady Margaret, who was answering some question about their journey. Everyone laughed, and she blushed deeply. Yet the deep timbres of Halstead’s laugh were noticeably absent.
At last I lost the battle and looked toward him. He sat a few feet away from Lady Margaret, though he was angled toward her. I could see the two of them now, the Duke and Duchess of Halstead. He glanced up and caught me staring.
Humiliation funneled through me. I could hardly breathe past the lump in my throat, and I turned away. How could I have been so foolish last night? Though I hated to admit it, I had begun to let
