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she’d heard about herself in town. Which was preposterous. She’d been the object of whispers for many years. She should be used to it by now. But she wasn’t. Well, she was used to it, but it still bothered her. Which she hated.
    Gritting her teeth, she said, “We will not be moving to London for me to work at the lending library.”
    “ So we are moving to London, then?”
    Though she knew he was only teasing, Lucy had the strangest urge to rap her son’s knuckles with a wooden spoon. Instead, she settled for a playful tap on his backside and told him to go outside until it was time to come in for dinner.
     

 
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    Two days later
     
    Giles had just about worn a hole in the large plush rug in his sparsely decorated study. Ever since he’d returned from Shrewsbury, he’d taken to pacing like he did when he was a young lad who couldn’t make sense of everything. He pulled to a stop and gripped the hearth. Why did it matter so much what she thought of him? Because he hadn’t meant to shame her! He tightened his grip on the edge of the hearth until his knuckles went white and he let out a savage growl. It doesn’t matter. Yes, it does.
    With a grunt of vexation, he pushed himself away from the hearth then let out a heavy sigh. Why did he have to say such a stupid thing and then not even be able to say the right thing to clarify? He hated it. Hated himself at times for this…this…idiocy of his.
    “Is something troubling you?”
    Giles jerked and slowly turned around to face the brown eyes of his longtime friend Sebastian, Lord Belgrave, from where he stood just inside the door. “You startled me.”
    “Sorry,” Sebastian murmured. He walked over to one of the wing-backed chairs near Giles’ spotless desk and made himself comfortable. “When did you come back to Town?”
    “ I left the day after you.” He folded his arms over his chest and leaned his hip against his desk. “Simon was injured.”
    “ Injured? How?”
    “ Beaten. Robbers, I suppose.” He shrugged. Simon hadn’t exactly been interested in speaking to him that night in Shrewsbury any more than he had before or since.
    “ I take it that it’s Simon who’s put that troubled expression on your face.”
    Giles instinctively ran his hand over his face. Was it possible for Sebastian to tell he was concerned about something? Could one tell that by looking at someone’s face? He couldn’t. “What do you mean?”
    “Most of the time you wear a blank expression, Giles. One that would suggest you’re disinterested. Today you don’t seem quite so tranquil. Your brows are furrowed and your jaw is clenched. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were worried about something.” He paused. “Are you?”
    Giles dropped his gaze to study the floor. He could trust Sebastian. He was one of the only people he’d ever met who hadn’t judged him or treated him harshly. But how did he explain what had happened?
    “Giles?”
    “ Sebastian?”
    Sebastian chuckled. “If it makes it any easier for you to know, you’re not the only one who has been affected by these recent events.”
    Giles’ head snapped up. What did Sebastian know? Before he could find a way to ask without giving himself and his vulnerability away, Sebastian continued.
    “ When Simon was trying to court Belle at the house party, he kept getting distracted. By you.”
    An odd mixture of relief and irritation coursed through Giles. “I don’t see why.”
    “I think you do,” Sebastian said quietly.
    Giles shrugged and made his way to a chair on the other side of his desk. “Where is your wife?”
    Sebastian bared his teeth in a look Giles had once heard described as a grimace, then lowered his lashes. “I’m not sure. We didn’t part on good terms.”
    “ And you say I’m troubled.”
    Sebastian twisted his lips and nodded. “Indeed. But I do have a plan.” His face went back to normal. “I just hope it works.”
    “It will.”
    “ I