Page 18 of A Devious Secret

A bright smile came to her aunt’s face. “She is doing well and has just married for the fourth time.”

“She is on her fourth husband?” Gemma asked.

“Yes, but she was married, widowed, and married again long before she was your age,” her aunt shared. “She is not someone that likes being alone.”

“Does anyone like being alone?” Gemma questioned.

As her aunt answered her question, Gemma snuck a glance at Mr. Wycomb. He was sitting rigid in his chair, and he appeared as if he would rather be anywhere else but here. She had surprised herself when she had engaged him in conversation, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. He was hurting, just as she was, and she felt a kinship towards him. Which was ridiculous. She hardly knew the man.

So why did she have a nagging feeling to learn more about him?

It was still early in the morning as Gemma exited her bedchamber and headed down the hall in her dark grey riding habit. A door opened and a pale-faced Dinah stepped out into the hall.

A relieved look came to Dinah’s face as she said, “I am pleased to catch you in the hall. Unfortunately, Nathaniel had business he had to see to this morning, and I am not feeling well. I’m afraid I won’t be able to join you for a ride.”

“I am sorry that you are not feeling well,” Gemma said. “Should we call for a doctor?”

Dinah shook her head. “I have had bouts of nausea in the morning lately, but it usually subsides if I remain perfectly still in my bed.” She paused. “At least until early evening.”

Gemma opened her mouth to respond when Dinah’s hand flew up to her mouth. A panicked look came to her face as she hurried back into her bedchamber, closing the door behind her.

Her aunt’s voice came from behind her. “I have a suspicion as to why Dinah has been so nauseous as of late.”

“As do I,” Gemma said. “Should we tell her?”

“I think it is best if we let Dinah discover it on her own.” Her aunt perused the length of her. “Do you still intend to go riding?”

“I believe I shall.”

“Is there any way I can convince you otherwise since it is not prudent for you to be riding alone?”

Gemma smoothed down her riding habit. “You seem to forget that I am a widow. The same rules do not apply to me.”

“You can still damage your reputation if you are being too reckless.”

“A ride through Hyde Park is hardly being reckless,” Gemma contended. “Besides, I doubt that anyone of importance is awake at this hour.”

Her aunt looked unsure. “Just promise me that you will take along extra footmen on your ride.”

“I promise,” Gemma said. “Now, I should be going so I may return for breakfast.”

“Very well, then,” her aunt responded. “But I shall anxiously wait for your return.”

Gemma smiled at her aunt before she proceeded down the hall. She knew her aunt was only looking after her best interests, and she found it endearing. She had no doubt that her mother would have had the same conversation with her had she been alive.

Once she descended the stairs, she saw Balfour was standing in the entry hall. He had his usual stoic look on his face and he was patiently waiting for her to approach him.

Gemma came to a stop in front of him. “I wish to go riding. Will you inform the grooms?”

Balfour’s lip twitched. It happened so fast that she feared she imagined it. “Lord Hawthorne instructed me to prepare your horse and to see to two footmen accompanying you.”

Taken aback from her cousin’s thoughtfulness, she asked, “When did he do this?”

“Not more than an hour ago, my lady,” Balfour responded. “I see that he properly assumed you would go riding without him.”

“That he did,” Gemma said.

Balfour stepped over to the main door and opened it. “Your horse is waiting out front, and the footmen can direct you to Hyde Park.”