The Earl looked down at her whimsically. “My dear, you are very anxious to be rid of me, are you not?”
Horatia’s eyes lifted quickly to his, brimful of sudden tears. “N-no, I am not! Only I—oh, I c-can’t explain!” she said wretchedly.
“Horry,” said his lordship, gathering her hands into his, “once I thought you trusted me.”
“I do—oh, I do!” cried Horatia. “Only I’ve been such a bad wife, and I did m-mean not to get into a scrape while you were away, and though it w-wasn’t my fault it n-never would have happened if I hadn’t d-disobeyed you and l-let Lethbridge be a f-friend, and even if you b-believe me, which I d-don’t see how you can, because it’s such an impossible story, you w-won’t ever forgive me for having m-made another d-dreadful scandal!”
The Earl retained his hold on her hands. “But, Horry, what have I done that you should think me such a bugbear?”
“You aren’t a bugbear!” she said vehemently. “But I know you’ll w-wish you’d never m-married me when you hear what a scrape I am in!”
“It would have to be a very bad scrape to make me wish that,” said his lordship.
“W-well, it is,” replied Horatia candidly. “And it’s all in such a m-muddle I don’t know how to explain it.” She cast an anxious glance towards the archway. “I d-daresay you are wondering why I am in this place all by m-myself. Well—”
“Not at all,” said Rule. “I know why you are here.”
She blinked at him. “B-but you can’t know!”