In the Garden of Deceit (Book 4) by Cynthia Wicklund Read Free Book Online Page A

you.”
    “You’re
leaving?”
    “I
promised you and James the townhouse for tonight. Yes, I’m
leaving.”
    “You
needn’t bother,” Amanda replied coolly. She supposed he
would understand her meaning.
    He
did. Her father advanced back into the room, for the first time
appearing angry. “Amanda, it’s time you grew up. You’re
spoiled, used to having things your way. You have ahead of you a life
most young women only dream of. Know when to be grateful.”
    “I
should feel grateful for being deceived by that man?”
    He
shook his head, disappointment radiating from his black eyes. “I
don’t propose to tell you how to feel, my dear. But understand
what you are discarding before you discard it.” He turned
toward the door again, this time stopping at the threshold. “Manda?”
    She
stared at him dully, unable to respond.
    “I
approached the earl,” he said, “asked him to meet my
daughter. I wanted you to marry well, Manda. Don’t blame James
for my machinations.” The door clicked softly behind him.
    On
a sob, Amanda slipped to the floor, her green satin gown pooling
around her. Surely, her father’s last words were meant to
absolve James from any blame, but his confession had had the reverse
effect. She pressed a hand to her mouth, swallowing against the
sudden bile that rose in her throat.
    James
had known from the beginning, had agreed to meet her with the
intention of wooing her regardless of his own feelings. In fact,
feelings evidently had not been a part of the equation, only the need
to mend his circumstances.
    What
an actor he was, and she a fool, believing he could care for her. How
he must have laughed at her provincial pride. Unfortunately, she had
none of that pride to sustain her at the second, for she had freely
exposed her emotions to him. To her humiliation, she loved James and
even now wanted him.
    What
was she to do? Papa would not support her if she forced an annulment.
And that gave her few options indeed. Was she to follow James to
Lonsdale like a whipped puppy, tail between her legs? Was she to be
his wife in all ways despite his treachery?
    This
last caused her the most anguish of all, because she could not
imagine lying with him when she felt his interest was only aroused by
obligation and the aristocratic need to produce an heir. Not when her
heart was painfully attached, not when she wanted so much more.
    And
what of Papa? she wondered, stricken to the core. The one person she
had always counted on for protection had conspired against her, used
her like a pawn. Amanda doubted she could ever forgive him.
    It
took a few moments of grappling with nausea before she was able to
regain her feet. She stood reeling in the middle of the library,
unsure what to do next. The happiest day of her life had become a
nightmare.
    She
could hear the last of the guests leaving, knew that soon it would be
only James and she in the townhouse. Amanda wanted to flee rather
than face him but was surprised to discover at least some of her
pride remained. Avoiding him was cowardly, and she had never been a
coward. She would confront her new husband, head held high, and
proceed from there.
    If
only she knew where “there” was.

    ***

    “How
in God’s name could you have let this happen?”
    Archibald
Campbell, sequestered with his son-in-law in the drawing room, strode
the length of the floor and back again, hands gripped behind him, his
wrath filling the air like a noxious mist. The tirade had gone on for
some minutes, and James had remained mute, waiting for an opening.
    The
old man paused in his pacing, leveling on James an icy stare. “Well?”
he barked.
    Unprepared
for the sudden attack, James looked back, disconcerted. “It was
unintentional, sir, I swear. I had no idea my cousin would do such a
spiteful thing.” He hesitated, ashamed that he was forced to
explain himself like a wayward school lad. “Derrick placed a
rather nasty implication on the affair. I can hardly blame Amanda