Always (23 page)

“
Are you still friends with him?”

“
Ah,” he clicked his tongue happily, “Lucas is married now with little ones of his own. I hardly think he’d be up for any of our old pranks now.”

I was shocked at his words. I would have guessed Kyle to be my age, but if he’s school friend was old enough to have children of his own, he must be older. “Children of his own? Really?”

His eyes widened with pleasure. “Yes, Miss Claudia, I am much older than I appear.”

I flushed guiltily at the reminder of Marcus. He had spoken similar words to me once upon a time. “How much older? A thousand years?” I teased even as my insides twisted.

“
Not quite,” he looked at me sharply. “Maybe I appear old, then?” He rubbed daintily at the hair on his face.

“
No,” I leaned forward in laughter, “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“
Eight and twenty.” I looked up to see if he was joking, but he seemed serious enough. “Have I shocked you?”

“
Eight and twenty isn’t old.”

“
I suppose I might still be a strapping young man.” He twitched his body comically.

I covered my giggles again.
Maybe I shouldn’t be talking so freely with a man I hardly knew
, I thought fleetingly. But that thought was chased quickly away by my merriment. It had been far too long since I had truly laughed.

“
Will you be in London long?” Kyle asked.

“
I’m not sure; another few days at least.”

His face fell slightly. “Then we’ll have to see you again. You and the Conner’s, of course,” he amended quickly.

“
Sylvia has promised to fill my nights,” I smiled. “So I am sure we will meet again.”

Being with Kyle was both natural and awkward. Natural because we got along so well: He made me laugh and when I was with him, I was happy we were in London.

But it was awkward as well. I was a married woman, and I needed to remember that. It was wrong that Kyle made me forget how distant Marcus and I had become. It was wrong of me to laugh and dance with another man when my husband was so obviously in trouble.

I just wished that Marcus would talk to me. I hardly even saw him anymore. I took a small amount of comfort from that. He would never know anything about Kyle, so he wouldn’t get upset over my new friendship.

I stayed close to Sylvia while we were leaving the Westryn’s that night. Maybe it was better if I didn’t get too close to Kyle.

“
Are you going to the Swanson’s card party tomorrow night?” he asked Sylvia.

“
We did receive an invitation,” she answered happily.

“
Did you accept it?”

She looked once at me, but quickly reverted her attention to Kyle. “I believe we are going. Will we have the pleasure of meeting you and your lovely sister there?”

“
Oh, yes,” he nodded, “we wouldn’t miss it.”

The room was filled with the putrid smell of smoke and strong drinks. As soon as I went into the room packed with tables, I felt the need to get some fresh air.

“
Are you alright?” David asked me quietly.

“
It’s hard to breathe in here.”

He took a hold of my hand and led me to a smaller room that was filled with even more people. Every time I turned around, I was running into someone else. Sylvia pressed herself closer to me, but her eyes held a strange glint.

“
Sylvia Letrell,” I heard a loud voice call from above the crowd.

I pressed myself as close as I could into Sylvia’s side. “Who is that?” I hissed.

“
Her name is Lady Gabon; used to be poor as a church mouse until her husband unexpectedly inherited the title.”

“
She knows you?”

“
Of course.” She smiled wide and waved back to an extremely tall woman whose dress was at least three inches too short.

“
It’s always good to see you here, Sylvia,” the lady spoke even as she approached us.

Once she was close enough, she pulled Sylvia into a one armed embrace. “Good to see you, too, Eliza,” Sylvia murmured politely.

“
It’s been awhile since we’ve had the pleasure of your company,” she spoke just as loudly up close as she did across the room.

“
We left town for a while.”

“
Couldn’t stay away, huh?” She thumped her brutally on the back.

“
The city does have its charms.”

“
And who is this little beauty?” she cast her beady eyes towards me.

“
This is Claudia Letrell. She just recently married my brother-in-law, Marcus.”

Her eyes widened unattractively. “Marcus Letrell? Didn’t think I’d see the day that old boy got himself hitched.”

I took a deep breath, preparing to respond, but was saved the further embarrassment by a familiar face that had just arrived.

“
Kyle,” I exclaimed happily. My hand shot out to greet him before I could even think about what I was doing.

“
Claudia,” he beamed happily over my offered hand, “I’m so happy to see you again.”

“
It’s nice to see you again too, Mr…” I stopped at the look he gave me and backpedaled, “Kyle.”

If it were possible, his smile grew wider. I glanced guiltily to Sylvia, but she wasn’t looking at me. She was whispering to David. I watched in amusement as his face transformed into a wide grin.

From where I stood, watching them, I had to admit that David could be an extremely handsome man. His dimples only showed when he smiled, which wasn’t often enough, but they gave him an almost boyish appearance.

He leaned down and responded to whatever she said, making her laugh. The sound carried sweetly to where I stood, still just staring. I realized with a small jolt that I was painfully jealous of the couple.

Marcus should have been there with me, sharing in these moments with his wife. I worked the inside of my cheek between my teeth, shredding the delicate skin there.

“
Claudia?” Kyle reclaimed my attention.

“
Yes?” I asked, not sure what he had just said.

“
You would?” He seemed so excited, I didn’t want to disappoint him.

“
Yes, of course,” I agreed readily, although I wasn’t sure what it was that I was agreeing to.

“
Is there going to be dancing, then?” Sylvia spoke up to save me.

So, I had agreed to dance? Well, why not. I tilted my chin dramatically. Just because Marcus wasn’t interested in having a nice time didn’t mean I had to stay locked up in the house with him.

Kyle and I danced three dances before the party was declared over. I was breathless from my exertion, but happy with how the night had turned out.

Sylvia watched us from afar, but never once looked at me with disapproval. In fact, every time she caught my eye, she smiled wide, giving her silent encouragement. I couldn’t be doing anything wrong with how much attention Kyle was giving me if Sylvia was happy about it, I told myself repeatedly.

As the night wound to a close and everyone was filing out to their different carriages, Kyle linked our arms together and walked with me. Sylvia and David walked too far ahead to be with us, but I kept her dark hair in my sight.

“
Claudia,” he almost whispered my name.

“
Yes?” I couldn’t help but to whisper in return.

“
It’s a shame, really.”

My breath caught in my throat when my eyes raised up to meet his. “What is?” I was almost afraid to ask.

“
That you are a married woman.”

I pressed my lips tight together. It wasn’t a shame, I told myself firmly. I loved being Marcus’s wife; I did. I didn’t want to examine the way my heart reacted to his words, though.

***

“
Did you have fun, Claudia?” David asked with a wink.

“
I did,” I nodded enthusiastically.

“
Did you even play cards?” Sylvia asked lightly.

“
Not one game.” I ducked my head and smiled widely, almost breaking into a full laugh.

“
That Kyle sure is taken with you,” Sylvia glanced sideways at me while I blushed to the color of my hair.

“
We’re just friends.”

“
Oh,” she tilted her head, “I know you’re just friends.”

“
Much to the disappointment of young Kyle,” David declared.

My eyes popped out of my head with indignant shock. “Stop it you two. I am a married woman.”

Sylvia laughed, but David let it drop. “I’m glad you had a good time,” he commented sincerely.

“
I did,” I sat back with a contented sigh.

The last few days had been almost perfect. Of course, they would have been better if Marcus had been the one to show me around the city. Then again, maybe not. I wouldn’t have been able to talk with Kyle like I had if Marcus had been there.

I felt guilty almost as soon as the thought entered my head. If Marcus had been there, I wouldn’t have wanted to be with Kyle. It would have never even entered my head that I was missing something.

“
We’re home,” Sylvia’s soft voice interrupted my disturbing thoughts.

“
Mmm,” I stretched high above my head. “I’m so tired.” I hadn’t even realized I was so exhausted until then.

“
Well then, get yourself up to bed,” David teased.

“
And no dreaming of Kyle Duncan,” Sylvia wagged her finger at me.

I didn’t even turn around to acknowledge her words as I went up the few steps to open the heavy doors. A male servant was waiting to take our coats and be sure we didn’t need anything.

“
Will you send someone up to help me change?” I asked him.

He nodded, but David stepped forward with a worried frown. “You better wait a few minutes, Owen.”

“
Why?”

“
Better get on up there,” he nodded his head in the direction of the steps. The teasing that had been in his eyes was gone now.

I already knew what I would see when I opened my bedroom door, but it still shocked me when I saw the dark form standing by my bed.

“
Hello, Claudia,” Marcus spoke from the shadows.

Chapter
Twenty-Five

Marcus ran his hand along the headboard of the bed slowly. His eyes remained down cast, but I saw the muscle in his jaw working. The small smirk on his lips didn’t portray amusement.

“
Marcus,” I began awkwardly, “I thought you would be out.”

“
Surprise, surprise,” he said in a low voice.

I walked slowly to the vanity and put my purse on top of it. I needed to buy a little time to calm my nerves before I faced him. I peeled the three rings from my fingers and dropped them into a shallow metal dish. The clank seemed to echo in the room.

When I turned around, Marcus was still standing by the bed. “Did you have a good time?” he asked without a smile.

“
We had a pleasant evening, yes.” I smoothed my hands along my skirt.

“
Hmm.” He nodded slowly.

“
What about you? What did you do?”

“
Did you dance many numbers?” He asked instead of answering me.

“
I…um…” I brushed at the loose strands around my ears, but refrained from actually pushing it back. “I can’t really remember. A few, I guess.”

“
A few?” His eyes widened in mock surprise.

Kyle’s face flashed in my memory; the Kyle from that very evening as we laughed and told stories to one another. I had felt twinges of guilt then, but that was nothing compared to the heavy weight of the guilt I felt now with Marcus watching my every expression.

“
At least you enjoyed yourself.”

“
Mmm-hmm,” I crossed my arms, but then let them fall back at my sides.