Page 23 of Hooked

“Because I did not want to.”

“What is wrong with him?” she asked, her voice still calm and quiet, a foil to my racing heart and panicked movements. “I realize he is a good deal older, but it must be more than that.”

More? Yes, there was more. “His first wife.” I swallowed and my hands shook. “She died.”

“Spouses sometimes do.” Her voice was heavy with emotion, though I couldn’t tell which ones. The death of Marilee’s first husband had set her free.

“Yes, they do sometimes.” I licked my lips, my mouth dry. “But then his second wife died.”

This time it took her longer to respond. “An unfortunate coincidence?”

I finished her ties and then stepped back. “He had a third wife as well.”

She turned to look at me, horror layered over compassion on her face. “Oh, Cecily.”

I gave a little shrug, determined not to become overly emotional.

“Your mother knew this and still agreed to the marriage?”

I nodded.

“Why?”

“My mother was beholden to my uncle. My uncle needed the money. Captain Huckley offered it.”

“But surely there were other options. To marry you to a man who had three dead wives…”

I lifted a shoulder. “I was a drain on his resources.”

She just shook her head, her eyes misting. “I’m so sorry, Cecily.” She reached out and hugged me. “You could have told me, you know.”

“I know.” And I did. “But I wanted to leave that behind.”

***

Marilee left to go downstairs, and I stayed to straighten the room. I gathered her hat and gloves, opening the wardrobe to put them away with shaking hands.

“Who is he, Cecily?”

Somehow, Falstone’s abrupt words didn’t startle me; they just made me pause, then I slowly closed the wardrobe doors and turned to meet his eyes. “Why aren’t you with Her Highness?”

“She told me to stay with you. Who is he?”

“I don’t—”

“You wouldn’t have reacted that way if you didn’t know him,” he said before I could finish my lie.

Fine. The truth, then. “I was barely more than a child the last time I saw him.”

“He doesn’t look at you like you’re a child now.”

I went to straighten the bed which didn’t need straightening. “It would be odd if he did, since I am not a child now.”

“You know what I mean, Lady Wendolyn.”

I gave an exhausted sigh as I tugged at the coverlet. “I would greatly appreciate it if you would continue to call me Cecily.”

“Is that your name?”