“Heath?” Giselle prodded.
Fortunately, just at that moment the music ended. They had no time to say anything else to each other before he had to stop, bow to her while she curtsied to him, and then return her to where Evan waited to whisk her off for her next dance.
He watched her go with his heart in his throat. God, how could he explain Lily to Giselle?
Sliding a surreptitious glance in Lily’s direction, he examined the woman he’d once intended to spend his whole life with. The years of bearing children to a wealthy merchant had been oddly kind to her. Thin and blond when he’d fallen in love with her—or thought he’d fallen in love, anyway—Lily was now fuller and a little less blond, but still pretty in that way certain women had of keeping their looks despite their age.
Yet she had a pinched look about her eyes and mouth. Had that come from being unhappy with her rich husband, the man she’d chosen instead of him once she’d realized Heathbrook might not come home for a while? Or had resentment over her situation eventually made her that way?
Why the devil was she even here? She had to know he wouldn’t wish to be around her after what she’d done to him. If she didn’t, he would make that quite clear to her.
He waited until the next dance began, and then through another one so he could avoid any gossip. Then, looking as if he merely wanted another glass of champagne, he strolled over to where Lily stood in the shadows, picked up a nearby glass, and said, “Choose another door to the terrace, but follow me. We need to talk. Dotrynot to be noticed by anyone.”
Without a word, he went on and waited for her outside. Making sure no one had come after them or was watching, he took her down some steps and out to the gardens before rounding on her angrily. “Why are you here, Lily? I thought I made it perfectly clear that I didn’t wish to see you ever again.”
“Ingram, please—”
“Not Ingram anymore. Heathbrook. TheEarlof Heathbrook.You could have been the Countess of Heathbrook if you’d bothered to wait for me.”
“Wait for you! And what was I to do all those years? How dare you criticize me when you left me to your mother’s tender care?”
“It wasn’t my choice, as you know perfectly well.”
She sighed. “I know.” She stepped forward to lay her hand on his rigid arm. “But once you returned you wouldn’t see me—or even invite me to this. As if we meant nothing to each other. So, I sneaked in when your staff were busy with the receiving line.” Her tone turned sarcastic. “You’d think you would at least make time for your ‘one true love.’”
He winced as she threw back at him the words he’d written to her years ago.
“But I couldn’t just sit around,” she went on, “and twiddle my thumbs waiting while you—”
“So that is who she is to you?” said a voice he recognized only too well.
His stomach sank. Oh, God, Giselle. Damn.
He whirled to find her staring at them both, eyes wide.
“She is your mistress,” Giselle said in a heart-wrenching voice.
“Of course not!” he told her. “It’s not how it looks.”
Lily faced Giselle with a haughty demeanor. “This is none of your concern, Miss Bernard.”
Damn the woman for not denying it. “Giselle—”
“How can it not be my concern?” The hurt in Giselle’s voice cut him to the bone. Then she gazed at him. “Heath, you should at least have had the courage to tell me what she meant to you instead of lying to me about it and telling me she was nobody. If I had known the truth when we first began this, I would never have agreed to become …”
She caught herself in time. “Well, I do not know what I would have done, but you must realize I cannot continue … I will not …” She folded her arms over her waist. “Never mind. I should not have followed you out here at all.” Turning on her heel, she hurried away from them.
“Giselle, wait!” he cried, but she had already disappeared inside. Only then did he realize Lily still had her hand on his arm.
He snatched his arm away. “Damn you, Lily, now look what you’ve done.” He started to head after Giselle.
“Wait,” Lily called after him, “you and I need to talk. It’s important.”
“Notnow,” he snapped. “I have to—”
“Yes, of course,” she said coldly, “please go tell your wife-to-be that I am a respectable married lady and not your mistress. But I still have to discuss a matter of great importance with you.”
He gritted his teeth. “Fine. Come tomorrow evening, and I’ll see you then. But only if you leave now, do you hear? I won’t have anyone speculating about your presence here.”