— You certainly know how to please a woman! Even without a bed… — The husky feminine whisper, mingled with muffled moans, drifted from behind the screen, confirming the rumors Lady Leona Berkeley had hoped were mere gossip. Until this very moment, she had clung to the belief that they were unfounded. And now, at this reception where she and Viscount Austin Haywood were attending as a couple, she had decided to follow him to prove he wasn’t betraying her. She had trusted him, even when other ladies cast suggestive glances his way. After all, he had assured her of his devotion. And she had naively believed him. Until now.
— I’m ready to bring you pleasure again and again.
— But aren’t you getting married soon?
— That changes nothing, my dear, — Haywood replied, his voice slightly breathless, shattering Leona’s heart and her dreams of a happy marriage in one fell swoop.
Biting her fist, she leaned against the wall, trying to comprehend why he had done this to her. After all, it was he who had come to their estate and broached the subject of marriage. It was just before the Season, which would have been her second. But with her father’s illness and her brother’s absence, she risked missing it entirely. A marriage to the Viscount was not only her ticket to the Season but also a gateway to high society. Where doors were closed to a baron, they swung wide open for a viscount. True, she had missed much of the Season, as neither she nor her mother were prepared to travel to the capital right away. The trip was delayed until their wardrobes were ready.
Upon arriving in the capital, Leona and her mother, Baroness Cecil Berkeley, stayed at an estate rented by the Viscount. Her father had initially objected, but eventually agreed that no better arrangement could be found. For the sake of her future father-in-law’s peace of mind, Austin even invited his aunt to reside at the estate. During the entire time they lived under the same roof, he behaved with impeccable gallantry and restraint. Not a single inappropriate gesture or word. Only the socially acceptable signs of attention: walks, shared meals, polite conversation, flowers, and small gifts.
At various events, Leona occasionally caught surprised glances from other ladies, but she attributed them to her lower rank. That is, until one of her newfound friends let slip about the Viscount’s escapades. Naturally, Leona refused to believe it. But now… The one time she set out to prove everyone wrong, she had stumbled upon the bitter truth. And who knew how many times this had happened while she was blissfully unaware, floating on cloud nine?
— Shouldn’t you be returning to your fiancée? — The stranger’s words snapped Leona back to reality.
Wiping her face, which she realized was wet with tears, she hurried into an adjacent room. As luck would have it, it was the ladies’ retiring room, and to Leona’s relief, it was empty.
After composing herself and steadying her breathing, Leona emerged from the retiring room and made her way to her mother.
— Darling, are you alright? — the Baroness asked, her voice laced with concern as she noticed her daughter’s pallor.
— I’m afraid not. My head is splitting. I suspect it’s from the lack of fresh air. There’s too little space and far too many guests here.
— My dear, you need to lie down and have some mint tea, — Aunt Melinda chimed in with a worried tone. That was how Viscountess Haywood had asked to be addressed. — It’s truly too crowded for so many guests. And these exhausting daily soirées! — She rolled her eyes dramatically and pressed a hand to her chest, coaxing a faint smile from Leona. At times, Leona thought Melinda had an unrealized talent for the stage. Or perhaps such theatrics stemmed from not having children of her own. — You need more walks in the fresh air! Thankfully, the Season is nearly over, and we’ll soon return to the quiet life and spacious country estates.
— I’d love nothing more than to return to the estate and lie down. But I’m afraid it’ll be nearly impossible to find Austin in this crowd.
— Don’t worry! You and the Baroness go ahead, and I’ll find my nephew and return with him.
Leona managed a restrained smile and, alongside her mother—who, with lips pressed tight, kept casting anxious glances her way—headed for the carriage. Thankfully, her mother didn’t press for more details, and they rode to the estate in complete silence.
Barely holding back tears in her mother’s presence, Leona waited until they reached the estate. Then, she hurriedly retreated to her room. Once inside, she quickly changed out of her gown and sent the maid to assist her mother. Alone at last, she collapsed onto the bed, buried her face in the pillow, and sobbed bitterly.
Her heart ached from her own naivety and her fiancé’s betrayal. Her mind kept replaying that room and the screen. She dreaded even imagining what she had witnessed. How could she marry Haywood now? How could she live with him, constantly wondering if he would betray her again? If only William were here—he would have offered advice and stood up for her. But now, she was alone in this city. Although… if she thought about it, there was someone who, despite her parents’ disapproval, was as close to her as William. Realizing she needed to meet with him, Leona shifted her focus to figuring out how to arrange it.