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  Mrs. Vaughan turned to her next. “We are so pleased to see you again, Sarah. It was a pleasant surprise to receive the invitation to your wedding.”

  Sarah smiled, hoping that her unease wasn’t evident. “I’m glad you and Mr. Vaughan were able to attend.”

  The fact that she hadn’t mentioned Robert didn’t go unnoticed. The look of compassion on Mrs. Vaughan’s face almost killed her, and she had a frantic moment of worry that her husband would realize the other woman was trying to communicate her sympathy. She might not love James, but she did respect him, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to disparage him. Not like she had on their wedding day when he’d overheard one of her cousins extending sympathy on her marriage.

  She was prevented from responding when the butler announced another arrival and James drew them away. Her husband was almost immediately swept away by a group of men eager for the opportunity to befriend the new Viscount Hathaway.

  As she watched James walk away, she couldn’t help but compare him to Robert, struck anew by their differences. James was tall, broad across the chest and shoulders and dark haired, while Robert was the complete opposite in nearly every way. The only thing they had in common was their height, but James was still a few inches taller.

  Robert was more like the old viscount in appearance—fair-haired and slim. She’d once thought him the most handsome man of her acquaintance, but somehow his appeal had dimmed. When she looked at him now, the yearning she’d expected to feel was absent. She could only attribute it to the fact that her eyes had been opened as to his selfishness in the most blunt manner possible when he’d casually dismissed her feelings for him because of her lack of fortune.

  She refused to believe there was another reason for her lack of emotion toward the man she’d once expected to wed.

  Sarah introduced Emily and Mrs. Hathaway to several of their neighbors. Emily was in her element, unable to hide her enthusiasm at attending her first ball, and Mrs. Hathaway seemed to overcome her shyness with every person who greeted her warmly. But Sarah didn’t miss the way her mother-in-law frowned whenever she happened to glance at their hostess, confirming that she had caught the other woman’s slight toward James.

  The moment he entered the ballroom, awareness that he didn’t belong settled over James. He didn’t look like a typical gentleman, being both taller and broader than any other man in attendance. He could hide his work-roughened hands inside the gloves he wore, but could do nothing to conceal the fact that he’d spent countless hours toiling under the sun.

  The awareness that everyone was sneaking glances at him, judging him, reminded him, yet again, that his uncle had thought him unworthy of inheriting his title. James did his best to push those negative thoughts to the back of his mind where they usually resided, but as he was discovering more and more lately, those doubts about his suitability were no longer content to remain buried.

  It didn’t help that the Vaughans and many of the other guests seemed to be going out of their way to impress him. He wasn’t sure what they expected from him. He couldn’t tell if they believed that he thought himself better than them. Certainly his uncle had held that belief, and from everything James had learned, the former viscount had rarely interacted with his neighbors. Or perhaps they saw through his facade, seeing him for the ordinary man he was, and were waiting for him to embarrass himself.

  Whatever the case, he couldn’t shake the sensation that he was on display. It certainly wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every man present had approached him and attempted to monopolize his time.

  The dull throbbing of his jaw made him aware that he was clenching his teeth, and he had to force himself yet again to relax. He wanted nothing more than to walk away from the incredibly dull duo that was bragging about improvements they’d recently made to their respective estates, each one trying to outdo the other by going on about how much money they had spent. He tried to feign interest even as he became aware that the small group of musicians playing in one corner of the room was coming to the end of yet another set. He’d made it a point to see if Sarah was dancing, but so far she’d remained by his mother’s and sister’s side. He’d hoped to dance with her that evening, to show her that she hadn’t married someone who was completely without manners.

  When the dinner bell rang, he made good his escape. He inclined his head to the two men and turned to the right, where he’d last seen Sarah. But before he could start toward her, Mrs. Vaughan commanded his attention. It took him a moment to realize that as the highest-ranked guest present, he would be seated next to her during dinner. That was just another of the annoyances that came with inheriting his title—he could no longer choose who he sat next to at dinner.

  Instead of the curse that sprang to his lips, he greeted the older woman with a smile and offered her his arm. Again, he chafed under the realization that many of the guests were watching them as they made their way from the room.

  When everyone was finally settled around the long dining table, he wasn’t surprised to see that his wife was seated at the far end of the table, next to their host. Annoyance flared, however, when he saw that Robert Vaughan sat on her other side.

  He found it almost impossible to keep his attention from drifting to the pair and was only half listening to what their hostess was saying. But finally her words penetrated his preoccupation.

  “They make such a lovely pair, don’t you agree?” He glanced at Mrs. Vaughan then and saw that she, too, was looking at Sarah and her son. “We were so disappointed that things didn’t work out between them. Between you and me, I’m afraid that Robert broke Sarah’s heart.”

  Her voice faltered when he swung his gaze back to the older woman, incredulity mixing with more than a hint of anger. Surely she didn’t think it polite dinner conversation to tell someone that their wife was in love with another man.

  “But of course,” she rushed to add, “everything worked out in your favor.”

  He couldn’t tell if she was referring to her son’s thwarted relationship with Sarah or if she also included how much James had gained after his uncle’s death. In the end, it didn’t matter. He decided then and there that his uncle had the right idea in avoiding his neighbors. He wouldn’t go so far as to ignore everyone, but he couldn’t foresee a time when he would cross over the Vaughans’ threshold again.

  For now he chose to remain and act as though he wasn’t the brute many no doubt thought him to be. While he wanted nothing more than to drag Sarah away from the slim young man who seemed intent on capturing his wife’s attention, he wouldn’t embarrass her by making a spectacle of himself.

  But that didn’t mean his temper wasn’t boiling beneath the surface. He took a small measure of satisfaction in turning away from their hostess, focusing his attention on the older woman seated at his other side. Mrs. Vaughan’s soft sound of distress when he continued to ignore her soothed his pride only a tiny fraction because he couldn’t turn a blind eye to what was happening at the other end of the table.

  The younger Vaughan made a great deal of effort at first to engage Sarah in conversation, but his wife demurred and seemed to concentrate on her food. James couldn’t tell if she was trying to dissuade Vaughan from conversation or attempting to be coy.

  James had just managed to convince himself that his wife didn’t want the other man’s attention when he saw her eyes narrow at the way Robert was speaking to Emily, who was seated next to them. Sarah continued to watch Robert carefully as he spoke to her sister-in-law, and James almost snapped the stem of the glass he raised to his lips.

  He realized that he didn’t know his wife very well… aside from the fact that she’d been vehemently against marrying him of course. It was true that she came alive in his arms at night, but their relationship outside the bedroom could only be considered cordial at best. Jealousy churned in his gut as he was presented with the very real possibility that his wife was still in love with another man.

  Chapter 8

  Supper had
been more uncomfortable than she’d feared. Sarah couldn’t imagine what Robert’s mother had been thinking to seat them together. He’d been charming and courteous to both her and Emily, which had made her more than a little uncomfortable. She was grateful, however, that Robert had acted as though they were merely acquaintances, treating her no differently than he did Emily.

  But every time she’d spotted James looking their way, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Guilt for doing nothing more than attempting to enjoy her meal. She hadn’t been able to eat more than a few bites of every course. Mrs. Vaughan had outdone herself with the sheer amount of food they’d served, and it had all been delicious. But at some point near the start of the meal, she’d become aware of the fact that James was angry. She’d spent the remainder of the meal with her stomach in knots.

  Now, standing at the side of the ballroom again with Mrs. Hathaway, she cringed as Robert approached. She sent up a silent prayer that he wouldn’t invite her to dance.

  He stopped before them and executed a deep bow. It took everything in her power not to roll her eyes when he straightened and smiled at them. It was always thus, though it had never bothered her before now. Robert was so used to everyone thinking the sun rose and set on his shoulders that he took it as his due that he had merely to smile at someone and they would fall at his feet.

  He turned to Mrs. Hathaway, making a remark about the weather and asking her if she was enjoying the evening. In truth, Sarah was barely paying attention to him. Her eyes followed her husband as a group of men that included her father drew him away from the room. She knew her parent well, and since the Vaughans normally set up a card room, she imagined they’d enticed him to join them in a game.

  She wasn’t worried about James. From everything she’d learned, he could well afford to play and not worry about going into debt. And truthfully, from the successful horse-breeding business he’d run before inheriting, she imagined he was good with money and would never wager more than he could afford to lose.

  Her father, however, was another matter. He’d already been on the verge of losing everything before bartering away her hand in marriage. Was he hoping that James would continue to finance his penchant for wagering money he didn’t have?

  She knew James had paid all her father’s gambling debts and that he hadn’t cared that she’d come to the marriage with no dowry. She hadn’t seen the actual marriage contract, however. How much money had James given her father? And how much more would he continue to give him?

  She struggled with the unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. In truth, it wasn’t just the money that concerned her. Her father always drank liberally when he played, and if he lost, it would put him in a foul mood. A mood that would have him heaping verbal abuse on her mother all the way home.

  Robert caught her attention again when he said, “I know your daughter isn’t out yet. This is just a small Christmas celebration, not even a country ball really. But I couldn’t help being charmed by Miss Hathaway’s enthusiasm over supper. I thought she might like to join me for the next dance.”

  “Emily is only sixteen,” Sarah said.

  Robert’s smile remained in place as he glanced at her before turning his attention back to Mrs. Hathaway, but she hadn’t missed the way his jaw tightened. Good, let him be annoyed, she thought.

  Emily turned a look of pleading on her mother.

  “I don’t see the harm,” Mrs. Hathaway said with a smile.

  Sarah could only look at her in surprise. No harm? James would be angry. He was no longer in the room, however. Perhaps he wouldn’t learn of Emily’s dance with Robert. Almost as soon as that thought occurred to her, Sarah realized that Emily wouldn’t be able to stop talking about her first dance. James would definitely find out about it.

  Despite her misgivings, she said not a word as Robert smiled down at Emily and held out his arm. Emily didn’t hesitate to take it, and Sarah was struck by just how pretty her sister-in-law looked tonight. Her stomach tightened further when Robert had the temerity to wink at her before leading Emily out.

  “James won’t be happy,” Sarah said when the pair was no longer within hearing range. She wished he were here now to put a stop to what was happening. In that moment, she realized that she was also disappointed her husband hadn’t stayed in the ballroom and asked her to dance.

  Mrs. Hathaway made a small noise of impatience. “James is far too protective. Emily isn’t the only girl not yet out who is dancing.”

  Her mother-in-law was correct of course. In fact, it didn’t seem all that long ago when Sarah used to look forward to the Vaughans’ annual Christmas gathering for just that reason.

  The opening strains of a quadrille began to play, and she watched as Robert bowed to his partner. Emily’s smile widened as she curtsied, and it occurred to Sarah to wonder just how large Emily’s dowry would be. Worse, she realized Robert might be hoping to ensnare the girl’s interest since it was almost certain Emily would come to her future marriage with a sizable settlement.

  Her mother approached them then, and while Sarah managed to keep track of the conversation between her mother and Mrs. Hathaway, her gaze kept drifting back to Emily and Robert. The young woman moved with a grace that shouldn’t have surprised Sarah. It might have been Emily’s first ball, but it was clear she had practiced her dancing. What concerned Sarah most about their dance, however, was the way Emily was looking at Robert. She feared that James’s sister was in danger of developing feelings for him.

  “Sarah, you’re distracted,” her mother said, peering around Mrs. Hathaway to see what her daughter was looking at. When she spied Robert and Emily, she released a soft “Oh dear.”

  Mrs. Hathaway frowned. “What is the matter? I know Emily is still too young for a proper ball, but since we are informal here and there are others her age dancing, I didn’t see the harm in allowing her the liberty.”

  Her mother looked at her, and Sarah gave a small shake of her head. The very last thing she needed was to have her mother discussing her past disappointment—how she hated that word—with James’s mother.

  “It is nothing. I was merely curious. Is there…” Her mother hesitated, and Sarah braced herself, unsure if her mother would reveal her past connection to Robert. “Is there something more between Emily and Robert?”

  Mrs. Hathaway’s brows lifted at the question. “Of course not. Why would you think there was?”

  “No reason,” her mother said before glancing over the other woman’s shoulder. “Oh, I see Mrs. Henderson. If you’ll excuse me, I must speak to her.”

  After watching Sarah’s mother scurry away, Mrs. Hathaway turned to her. “Is there something I should know?”

  Sarah waged an inner debate and, in the end, decided that she couldn’t lie to the woman. But that didn’t mean she’d tell her the entire truth. She certainly wouldn’t tell her that Robert had broken her heart. “At one time, people thought that Robert and I would make a match. But of course that never happened.”

  She’d meant to keep her words light, but the other woman must have detected the hint of anger she’d been unable to disguise.

  “I see,” she said simply.

  If she wanted to know more, she was too polite to ask, something for which Sarah was more than a little grateful. The last thing she wanted to discuss with her current mother-in-law was her former feelings for Robert Vaughan. Fortunately, she didn’t have to search for a way to change the subject. Her husband’s attendance was the most exciting thing to happen at the Vaughans’ Christmas ball in years, and that meant the company of his wife and mother would be sought out by all their neighbors.

  When the current set came to an end and the pair she’d been unable to keep herself from watching returned, Emily’s cheeks were flushed in a most becoming fashion. She kept glancing up at Robert with something akin to rapt adoration on her face. The way he looked down at Emily left Sarah with no doubt that he was doing everything in his power to encourage that feeling.
It took a great deal of effort on Sarah’s part to keep from frowning.

  Instead of excusing himself, Robert stayed with their group, engaging her companions in light banter. With each passing minute, Sarah realized that her suspicions about his intentions toward Emily hadn’t been an overreaction on her part.

  “I’m quite thirsty,” Sarah said when she couldn’t stand it any longer. She had to put an end to Robert’s schemes. “Would you mind fetching a drink for me?”

  Robert hesitated only a moment, but after meeting her gaze, he excused himself with the promise that he’d return shortly. They’d done that in past years when they’d wanted to spend some time together, inventing an excuse to meet for a few minutes of privacy. She watched his progress, and when she saw him slip from the ballroom, she knew he’d understood her intent.

  The last thing she wanted was another secret meeting with him, but it couldn’t be helped. She had to speak to him in private, convince him to turn his attention elsewhere. Emily was still two years away from coming out, and she could say with certainty that her husband wouldn’t welcome any advances from potential suitors until that time.

  She made a vague excuse to Emily and Mrs. Hathaway, whose attention had already been ensnared by another of their eager neighbors. As she slipped from the room, it only then occurred to her that it was possible Robert had misconstrued her intention. She quickly shook off that thought. Even if she were the kind of woman to betray her husband, Robert knew her well enough to realize that her pride would never allow her to make a fool of herself over any man. Especially not one who had so little regard for her feelings.

  She moved past two rooms, grateful that she didn’t have to pass the card room on her way to the library. Relief swept through her when she reached her destination without encountering anyone. She slipped into the room and closed the door behind her.

  The lighting in the library was much dimmer than it had been during their meetings in past years, a solitary lamp on a low table providing the only illumination. She realized in that moment that Robert had made a point to prepare the room ahead of time for one of their Christmas interludes. Clearly, he was hoping that tonight they would go much further than whispered words and a few kisses.