The rest of his family knew both of them well enough to pick up on the undercurrents. Joseph responded by withdrawing from the conversation and focusing on his food, Father did his best to keep the conversation engaging but inoffensive, and Adam decided to tell Josie stories the times Elijah had gotten into trouble.
“A goat? He stole a goat?” Josie’s eyes danced with mischief, though they were completely focused on Adam, and she did not even glance at Elijah. “I do not believe you.”
“Oh, yes. Stole it and delivered it to his professor’s office, where it ate everyone’s end-of-term papers.” Adam chuckled heartily, ignoring his eldest brother’s glare. Elijah wished they were seated a little closer, so he could give his youngest brother a kick under the table. He did not need his exploits repeated to his already willful and wild wife. This was going to come back to bite him.
“No one could prove who it was,” he retorted, pretending to be affronted when in reality, he was fighting back a grin at the memory.
It had been him, of course, as well as Rex, Lucas, and several other friends he had lost touch with over the years. Elijah had been the one who had done the actual stealing, but it had been Rex’s idea. Professor Pince had not been well-liked.
Elijah would never admit it, especially not in front of Josie.
Adam winked at her.
“Not denying it, is he?”
“Enough tormenting your brother,” Father interjected with an amused smile as Elijah bristled. “What is everyone doing tonight?”
“Josie and I are staying in.” It would be expected since their wedding had been yesterday. In a few days, they would rejoin the ton’s end-of-Season activities, giving everyone a good look at them before the departure from London commenced. It also would give Elijah some time to search for their elusive Frenchman the next few evenings.
To do something.
Tomorrow he would also attend the Society of Sin’s gathering. Lurking to see if there were any other traitors in their midst and questioning the rest of the members about their conversation with Collins, hoping they might know something. So far, none of them had been informed why Collins had disappeared, and the Earl of Carlisle had retreated back to his estates.
“I am joining some of my friends at Gentleman Jim’s.” Adam leaned back in his seat. As the youngest son and the least interested in the marriage mart, he was able to eschew theton’sregular amusements. Unlike Elijah, who would have to do the pretty with Josie until the end of the Season or invite all sorts of gossip, he would not countenance.
“And you, Joseph?” Father asked when Joseph did not immediately chime in. He jumped slightly in his chair as though he had been lost in thought.
“I am escorting… I mean, I am going to the Brockman’s ball tonight.” Joseph looked straight at Father as he abruptly changed what he was saying midsentence, yet he might as well have stared straight at Josie rather than avoiding her gaze completely. Now, Josie was not looking at Elijah or Joseph. Her expression was completely blank.
They all knew Joseph had been about to say he was escorting Miss Bliss to the Brockmans. Elijah ground his back teeth, watching his wife carefully. Did it hurt her to hear? It must, even after their wedding and last night’s passionate consummation.
Which hurt him.
He hated to acknowledge the truth, but there was no denying it.
Knowing there was a part of her that still had feelings for Joseph felt as if someone had stabbed him through the chest.
Bloody hell.
“Wonderful,” Father said with false cheer, probably wishing he had not asked. The air was tense around them, the awkwardness hanging like a sodden aura. “Well. Who would care for some port?”
Josie
After an exceedingly awkward end to dinner, everyone decamped, including her and Elijah. He took himself off to his study—again—leaving her to wander the house. Thinking about him. Thinking about Joseph.
Oddly, she had not thought about Joseph all day, not until she realized he was escorting Miss Bliss tonight. It had not hurt, but she did not know how she felt. How she was supposed to feel.
Sadness had been her first thought, but not the sadness of heartbreak. It was more like grief, yet not grief over Joseph. Grief over the dream she had held on to for so long. How lowering to realize her emotions had not been engaged in the manner she thought. Lowering, yet… freeing because she hadnotmarried him.
It would have been awful to have wed him, only to find her love for him was not what she thought it was.
Wandering to the foyer, she came to an abrupt halt when a man she did not recognize was standing there. He turned to face her. His clothing was well kept, though not expensive enough to be that of a lord’s, but the brazen way he ran his eyes over her showed he still had the arrogance of one.
“My lady.” He bowed, but there was something off about both the movement and his expression as if he was making a mockery of the genuflection. “Congratulations upon your wedding.”
Josie stiffened. The slyness in his voice made it clear he knew how insulting he was being. Polite society did not offer the bride congratulations. It was not said out of ignorance. He was insinuating she was a fortune or title hunter, one who had won the game, which was the only reason to choose that particular phrase.
“Thank you,” she replied coolly, lifting her nose and eying him like the slimy worm he was. Though he was rather attractive in a way, his manner made her skin crawl. “And you are?”