Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,77

Quintina, and Clara had seen her talking to a number of handsome young men. “Yes, I did, and it looked like you were having a good time as well. Who was that man with the red hair? He always seemed to be smiling when he spoke to you.”

“That was Stanley Scott. His father is a baron from the north, so dear Stanley is only a mister. He seems young, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know. I thought he looked very nice.”

Gillian rolled her eyes. “Nice, and limp in the head.”

Clara didn’t know what to say to that. She picked up her tea and took another sip.

“I noticed that you barely left Seger’s side,” Gillian mentioned a few minutes later. “Don’t you trust him?”

The question caught Clara off guard, and she set down her teacup. “Of course I trust him. We simply enjoy each other’s company, and there were a some people he wanted to introduce me to.”

“Like Mrs. Thomas?” Gillian replied. “I saw her talking to you. Well done, Clara.”

Clara felt her insides begin to churn. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

“I saw you shake her hand. You were very composed. One would never know.”

“Never know what?”

“That you must have been seething inside. I would have been, too, in your position.”

Clara closed the newspaper and sat back. “I was not seething.”

Gillian gave her a look. “Please. You don’t have to lie to me. I know how it is with Seger and all the women who want him. But you were very good last night. You’re just the kind of wife he needs.”

Clara tried not to choke on her tea. “Gillian—”

“I’m not sure I could do what you do,” she continued, “especially being an American. I’ve heard you people have different expectations about marriage, that a man who strays is frowned upon.” She returned to her breakfast.

“Gillian, I don’t like what you are insinuating.”

Gillian stopped chewing and stared at her. “Oh, my goodness. It does bother you, doesn’t it. I’m so sorry. I can be so tactless sometimes.”

Clara swallowed over the agitation rising up within her. “Nothing bothers me, because there is nothing going on. Seger was very apologetic about Mrs. Thomas’s behavior.”

“Of course he was. Pretend I didn’t say anything.” Gillian watched Clara pick up her newspaper but did not take the hint. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all. I see how you look at him.”

Clara set down her paper again. “I’m not going to get hurt.”

“I just know how I would feel if I were his wife. He is such a handsome man. It would be difficult not to be possessive.”

Clara felt like she was going to blow a gasket.

“Permit me to offer you some advice,” Gillian said. “You must try to remember that you are an Englishwoman now, and English wives look the other way when their husbands take lovers. If he were my husband, that’s what I would do. I wouldn’t think twice about it and I’d be the perfect wife for him because he’s worth it. Not only is he a marquess, but he is handsome and charming as well.”

By this time, Clara’s blood was boiling in her head. “You’re telling me it wouldn’t bother you if he was unfaithful?”

Gillian sipped her tea and tossed her head. “No. I’d be happy that he chose me as his wife above all the rest—especially when no one thought he would ever marry, because of Daphne. He loved her very deeply. If only you could have seen them together…. I thought they were made for each other. They were kindred spirits, the best of friends. Some say that kind of love comes along only once in a lifetime.”

Everything—from the tabletop to Gillian’s mouth moving clownishly as she chewed—turned Clara’s vision red. She had not expected this from Gillian, who had been very sweet up until this moment. Why in the world was she saying these cruel, hurtful things, and reminding Clara that she was not the great love of Seger’s life?

Then it dawned on Clara, like a gaslight exploding brightly inside her head.

Gillian was in love with Seger.

Chapter 17

That night, while waiting for Seger to come to her, Clara couldn’t stop thinking about what Gillian had said to her that morning. She tried to tell herself that she was jumping to conclusions about the young woman’s feelings, but it did no good. She couldn’t get over how Gillian had suggested that she would be the perfect wife for Seger because she would turn a blind