Page 31 (1/2)
Chapter 1
After nearly an hour in the Countess of StClaire’s drawing roo-suppressed words finally stu’s lips “He’s alive”
Conversation halted and all heads swiveled to gape at her Astrid s hand over her fadedif there ht have been a more prudent way to introduce the topic that had burned on herafter she retired to bed last night
“Bertra to clear her throat “Bertram is alive”
The rooton and Lord and Lady St
Claire—continued to stare at her as if she had sprouted a second head Only Lord and Lady St
Claire’s baby, bundled on the lap of herloose several happy shrieks, incongruous to the charged silence
Lady St Claire was the first to gain her voice “Bertram lives?”
Astrid nodded to Jane as she bit into a savory tart If she dined now, she would not need to eat later, which meant more food for the servants
Cheeks full, she chewed slowly, the flaky crust and burst of pungent truffles and ue Unfortunate that she could not appreciate the fine fare Her own cook was good, but she could only do so ave her for ht No sense worrying over what could not be helped
“Bertram?” Lord St Claire echoed beside his wife, his expression politely inquiring
Jane sesture inti in a way that eness and unfaenuine affection between a man and a woman, struck her as…odd
“Astrid’s husband, dear,” Jane explained in a hushed voice, looking Astrid’s way aletically—as if she kne rieved her
Husband Unfortunately, she could not deny it She was in fact ed to pretend she was not
Perhaps it was insensitive, but she found it easier to believe Bertram dead than the cold truth of the matter—that he lived his life blithely unconcerned of her and the family he left behind
Only a part of her always knew he lived And now she possessed a letter indicating her instincts were correct
“How do you know he’s alive?” Lucy, the Duchess of Shillington, asked “It’s been a long time—”
“Five years,” Astrid quickly replied, the number e years she had waited Even knowing he would never return Not for her Not for his responsibilities And certainly not for the hangery
She had waited, clinging to a thin thread of hope The hope that perhaps ho hiht
With shaking fingers, she loosened the tattered strings of her reticule and removed the anonymous letter she had read countless times since its delivery yesterday Without a word, she handed it to Jane, then reached for another biscuit
Jane accepted the letter, transferring baby Olivia to Lord St Claire’s arms He tickled one of the rolls beneath the infant’s chin and she le
The sound was bittersweet Astrid closed her eyes against it, against the reht have been At nine and twenty, the prospect of hearing her own children’s laughter winked dully, a gem without life or luster
She opened her eyes and schooled her features into the familiar mask she had mastered over the years Even before she had married Bertram, she’d h Eyes straight ahead Keep the eood reason Emotion led people astray and ruined lives A lesson learned hen her mother abandoned her for the ar instructor
Hiding had becoue s A Drury Lane actress could give no better performance
“No,” Jane gasped, her hazel-gray eyes wide as they lifted from the missive “Bertram’s in Scotland?”
First Astrid gave a single nod, sing the last bit of her biscuit The emptiness in her belly still there, she plucked another tart fro an indelicate bite, she chewed as Jane passed the letter around, per her husband and Lucy to read the words that had reverberated through her head since yesterday
“Engaged!” Lucy cried in affronted tones “That—that wretch! He’s wedding an heiress under an assumed identity?”
“A Sir Edated the man, she elaborated,
“A prosperous gentleman in possession of quite a bit of land in Cornwall Coal mines He spends most of his tilish soil in quite some time”
“A prime identity to assume,” Lord St Claire murmured dryly “No one likely recalls the fellow’s face”
“He er in the direction of the letter
Astrid dabbed at her lips with a napkin “I agree,” sheherself in a mantle of calm lest she beconation “If in fact Bertram is this Powell fellow That must be the first matter established”
“How can you be so self-possessed?” Lucy asked with a shake of her head “I would be an utter wreck”
Because I’ve been an utter wreck before
When Bertram left she had surrendered to ee, betrayal, desperation, fear She had lost her head And co a deep breath into her lungs, she shoved the memory back down, the taste bile in her throat
Lord St Claire lowered the letter and gazed at her with unflinching intensity “When do you leave?”
She inclined her head, respecting his ability to know her mind Likely because an honorable man such as he would not let such an affront slide past