Page 122 of A Devious Secret

“There is no ‘situation’,” Dinah said.

“I contend there is.” Marielle walked over to the settee and sat down. Then she reached for the teapot on the tray and poured herself a cup of tea. “I just want to see my brother happily settled down with Gemma.”

Her aunt added, “Trust me, no good would come from you interfering.”

Marielle brought the cup to her lips. “All right. I will just sit back and wait an inordinate amount of time for an offer to come,” she said dramatically.

“Thank you,” Gemma responded.

Her aunt went to sit down next to Marielle before asking, “Now what had Lord Hawkinge so upset with you?”

“He wanted me to return home with him and be his mistress,” Gemma revealed.

Stunned faces stared back at her and her aunt was first to recover. “He came out and told you this?” she asked slowly.

“I’m afraid so,” Gemma replied.

“The blackguard,” her aunt muttered. “You are his brother’s wife. The mere thought of that is inconceivable.”

Gemma bobbed her head. “I was rather repulsed by the idea myself.”

“As well as you should be,” Marielle declared. “Does my brother know what Lord Hawkinge asked you?”

“He does, and he wanted to challenge him to a duel,” Gemma said.

“It would be no less than he deserved,” Marielle stated. “The man has some nerve to even ask you such a question.”

“I do agree, but Nathaniel nicely asked Henry to leave and never come back,” Gemma said.

Dinah lifted her brow. “That doesn’t sound like my husband.”

“I daresay I was worried that Nathaniel was going to take matters into his own hands before Hugh and Stephen arrived,” Gemma remarked.

“Now that sounds more like my husband,” Dinah said with a grin.

Gemma glanced down at her arm and the memory of Henry’s touch caused her to shudder. “I am just glad that Nathaniel intervened when he did.”

“As am I,” Dinah said.

Her aunt leaned forward and retrieved her teacup and saucer. “We will send the coach to collect your things from the Dowager House and you will reside here.”

“At least until she marries my brother,” Marielle muttered under her breath.

Gemma smiled. “You are incorrigible.”

Marielle gave her an innocent look. “Did I say something wrong?”

Her aunt took a sip of her drink, then said, “I do wonder why Mr. Wycomb is biding his time on offering for you.”

“Et tu?” Gemma asked.

“It is obvious that you two care for one another,” her aunt responded.

Gemma walked around an upholstered armchair and sat down. “Can we talk about something else… anything else, perhaps?”

Dinah took pity on her and asked, “Who will be attending Lady George Wilcox’s soiree this evening?”

“I believe we all are, especially since it is to be the event of the Season,” her aunt replied.