Free The Society Wife by India Grey

fairy tales were about. About quests that were seemingly impossible, where you had to follow your heart and fight for the things you believed in.
    And she believed in love. In marriage. In families and fairy tales. She always had. Raising her chin now, she met his bleak gaze steadily.
    â€˜No. If that’s how it has to be…we get married.’
    He flinched, very slightly, his eyelids flickering shut for a split second before the steel shutters descended again and that small glimpse of suffering and humanity was concealed.
    â€˜Right. If that’s your choice.’ His voice was cold, clipped, but contained a note of weary resignation. ‘Just for God’s sake don’t tell anyone yet.’
    â€˜But what about Scarlet?’ she protested. ‘I can’t lie, Tristan—’
    â€˜No? Then maybe we should drop this whole charade now,’ he said silkily.
    â€˜She’s my best friend.’
    His perfect, sculpted lips stretched into a sardonic smile. ‘Then I would have thought that you would be able to see that announcing your own shotgun wedding at her engagement party might not be the most tactful thing to do. You can tell people in good time. For the moment you have to behave in a way that means it won’t come as a complete surprise when you do.’
    â€˜How are we going to do that?’ she whispered hoarsely.
    â€˜Just follow my lead,’ he said coldly, turning on his heel and walking back towards the entrance to the castle. ‘You might not be able to lie, but I hope you can act.’
    For a moment Lily didn’t move, watching him walk away, his head bent and his shoulders held very straight.
    No. She couldn’t act, as the director of the perfume commercials would certainly testify. But the thing was, in this case she suspected she wouldn’t have to.
    Â 
    â€˜What’s going on?’
    Tom’s tone was as light as always but Tristan knew him well enough not to be deceived. Behind Tom’s affable, self-deprecating façade was a mind sharp and incisive enough to have earned him a first at Oxford. He wouldn’t be easy to fool.
    Leaning against the massive stone fire place, Tristan took a thoughtful sip of his drink and let his gaze wander around the room. ‘Nothing. Why?’
    The speeches officially announcing the engagement and welcoming Scarlet to Tom’s illustrious family were over, and the guests had stirred and reassembled them selves as fresh bottles of champagne were circulated around. Lily was standing over by the window, talking to Scarlet’s parents, who were finally beginning to lose a little of the terrified look they had worn all evening. The light from the fading, flame-streaked sky outside put roses in her pale cheeks.
    â€˜That’s why,’ said Tom gently. ‘You haven’t taken your eyes off her for the last two hours.’
    Tristan’s hand tightened around his glass. With some effort he tore his gaze from Lily and looked at Tom levelly.
    â€˜Come on, Tom. You’re engaged, not blind. She’s beautiful. Any man could be forgiven for looking.’
    â€˜As long as that’s all you do.’ Tom softened the warning with a smile. ‘Lily’s sweet. She deserves a nice steady guy who’ll buy her flowers and give her break fast in bed, not a man like you who’ll—’
    â€˜Buy her diamonds and give her orgasms in bed?’ Tristan cut in ruthlessly. ‘It doesn’t sound so bad to me.’
    â€˜Ah, well, that’s because you can’t see that there’s more to life than money and sex.’
    â€˜How little faith you have in me.’ Tristan took a swig of his drink and grimaced. ‘What if I told you I’ve decided it’s time to give up the one night stands and settle down?’
    Tom laughed. ‘I’d ask if it was just orange juice in that glass, or whether you’ve diluted it with vodka like you used to do in