Page 60 of Broken

“Yes, I wouldn’t want Pixie irritated myself. Ettington would take me to task for disappointing his new wife.”

Carrington glanced Lilly’s way. “Will you be attending, Miss Winter?”

“No.” Lilly pressed her napkin to her mouth, and then placed it over her half-full plate. “My father has little to do with the marquess. A marquess is quite beyond my father’s circle of acquaintances.”

Hearing the men plan future entertainments in her presence to which she would never be invited accounted for the bite to her remark. Giles had a great life, he had many friends beyond this peaceful estate. A life filled with excitement, a large circle of acquaintances willing to laugh at his jokes. In comparison to Giles’, Lilly’s Christmas would be bleak.

Giles cleared his throat. “Where will you be for the Christmas season, Lilly?”

When she glanced at Giles, she could see a deep frown across his brow. She managed a half smile. “Wherever my father chooses to spend it? I believe last Christmas was spent in London.”

The most charming man in London wore a puzzled expression. “You believe?” Carrington laughed. “Don’t you remember?”

What must it be like to be as popular as Lord Carrington? Never questioned, always accepted. Lilly couldn’t imagine that kind of life. “No, my lord. I do not.” Lilly rose to her feet. “If you gentlemen would excuse me, I would like to retire and allow you both to enjoy your evening. Good night to you.”

Both men stood as she left the room, Atticus trailing at her side.

“You blinkered idiot, Carrington,” Giles whispered furiously behind her. “Must you distrust everyone?”

Lilly didn’t stay to listen to anything else.

She hadn’t chosen to come here and her attempt to make a good impression on one of Giles’ closest friends had failed quite spectacularly.

Footsteps echoed loudly in the hall.

“Lilly, wait.”

Giles caught up her arm and dragged her against his side. “Darling, Lilly, I apologize for Carrington.” Lilly stiffened. “He doesn’t know you and sees deceit in every female. He thinks to save me from enduring a similar fate as his own.”

A second set of footsteps echoed in the hall and Carrington came into view. His face held an odd expression. If Lilly had to bet, he was worried. She pulled her arm from Giles’ grip and stepped back.

“Carrington. Wait for me in the drawing room.” Giles raked his fingers through his hair as the younger man departed. “I had hoped you two might have become better acquainted, but I don’t think I want knives flinging across the table.”

When she could no longer hear his friend’s steps, Giles gathered her in his arms. “I’m so sorry he touched on a sensitive subject. Christmas must have been lonely for you.”

Lilly shrugged. Christmas might be lonely, but it was just a single day in the empty life ahead of her. “You are hardly to blame for the past.”

“I know I’m not to blame, but I do regret I never stirred myself to confirm the words your mother uttered.”

Pulling away from his embrace proved difficult. It seemed he was far less worried about the risk of scandal than he should be. Carrington could come back at any moment. “You were free, Giles. Why would you have bothered to discover what became of me?”

“Lilly, if I had realized that you existed in such pain, I would like to think I could have made your life far more comfortable than it has been. I could have made you as well as you are now.”

Lilly stared at him. He was serious. He would have done everything in his power to see that she didn’t suffer. Too bad she’d had to go through all her suffering in order to learn that the Earl of Daventry would have made an admirable husband, if fate had chosen a different life for her.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Taking breakfast in Lilly’s bedchamber was the perfect way to start the day as far as Giles was concerned. Since the discontinuation of the medicine, Lilly’s appetite had returned to what he considered healthy for a woman her size. He had not once considered the appetite of his past lovers as a requirement for his own happiness, but in this case, it seemed it was.

“Won’t Lord Carrington expect to see you this morning?”

“It’s too early to consider killing Carrington.”

Lilly’s face wore a sweet, worried frown. But after yet more sarcastic questioning last night, Giles feared he might strangle his friend if he started up again. He would let the viscount cool his heels a while before they spoke again.

“I don’t understand why he should dislike me so. I don’t resemble his intended in the slightest.” Lilly pursed her lips and blew across her hot chocolate before taking a delicate sip.

Aroused by the sight, Giles shifted in his chair. “Carrington will come around in time. He’s considered very charming.”