The Vicar's Widow

Darien blinked. “You think I lied to you?”


Kate said nothing but continued to look at him with fire and hurt in her eyes. Anger swelled in his chest, and he twirled her roughly round the corner of the dance floor, catching sight of several guests standing off to the side as he did, watching them intently, and whispering to one another.

Darien suddenly realized that not only had Kate heard the rumors, she had believed the gossip that he would offer for Miss Forysthe. And therefore believed that he had used her. Silly, silly woman! Could she not see the way he looked at her? Could she not feel his longing?

He sighed wearily and shook his head. “How could you not believe me, Kate? Of course I never lied to you!”

For some reason, that made her smile sadly. “I know you didn’t lie, my lord . . . but perhaps you were very artful in the manner in which you spoke to me. Perhaps you chose your words carefully.”

Now the anger swelled like a rough sea in him. “You impugn my integrity, madam. I never lied to you, and furthermore, the truth will be revealed, here tonight, you silly little chit.”

She gasped with indignation. “Marvelous!” she said, tossing her head back and glaring up at him. “I thought as much, my lord! Miss Forsythe is a delightful girl. I am certain you will both be exceedingly happy. But you will not have me to warm your adulterous bed,” she whispered hotly.

Darien chuckled low and pulled her close. “Would you like to place a wager on that, Mrs. Becket?” he asked icily.

Her eyes narrowed. “You must be as free with your money as you are with your words.”

“I’m not free with either. I use them only when necessary and never frivolously. And before you say another unkind word, let me say that I shall look forward to the truth being revealed, and I will demand that you promise one thing.”

“Which is?”

“When you hear the truth revealed,” he said with a wicked smile, “you will acknowledge it as the truth, and do so graciously, like a lady ought.”

Her brows formed something of a furious vee above her glittering green eyes. “I vow to be as gracious as you are ever faithful, my lord.”

“Then you might do it with a smile. Grace is all the lovelier with a smile.”

“I would not smile if you were the last man on earth,” she said evenly, her eyes narrowing even more as the waltz drew to a close.

Darien chuckled and squeezed her hand before he let her go. “Before you stick your foot completely in your mouth, Kate, remember what I said. There is no one but you.” And with that, he dropped her hand, stepped back, and bowed deep.

Kate gave him a skeptical look, then turned and walked away from him on the dance floor.

Darien smiled at her departing back and strolled away in the opposite direction, in search of Emily.

He found her sitting with Miss Townsend on chairs that lined one wall. She tried to be coy as he approached, tried to pretend she didn’t see him, and very poorly pretended to be surprised when he clicked his heels before her and bowed low. “Miss Forsythe, how do you do.”

“Oh! You startled me sir!” she cried with a false laugh. “I do very well, indeed.”

“Will you do me the honor of giving me this dance?” he asked, extending his hand. “Unless, of course, you are already spoken for?”

Miss Forsythe looked at her friend, who was still staring at Darien as if she couldn’t quite believe he’d asked. “I’d be delighted,” Miss Forsythe said, and nudged her friend before rising to her feet and accompanying him to the dance floor, smiling broadly for everyone to see.

The dance was a quadrille, and Darien took his place across from her, bowing low. As the music started, he took his steps toward her and around her. “You look resplendent.”

She blushed.

“You must be expecting an extraordinary evening.”

The girl blushed again, looked a little nonplussed, as if she didn’t quite know how to respond.

“I know that I am,” he said, smiling. “An extraordinary evening.”

Now she beamed at him. “Oh dear, my lord, you are making me quite nervous! When will you do it? At the auction? Lady Southbridge said these sorts of things were always done at the auction in the past.”

“What sort of things?” he asked nonchalantly, and had to keep from laughing when the girl stumbled in her effort to retract what she’d said.

“I, ah . . . I’m not really certain what she meant.”

“I was rather surprised to know that Lady Southbridge knew of my intentions, frankly,” he said evenly, watching her closely.

The girl averted her gaze. “Were you?”

“Or your father, for that matter. How do you suppose your father knew?”

“Oh! I, ah . . . I suppose he, ah heard my mother speak of it.”