Free Tangled Betrayals by Lynn Wolfe

you and James, but no one heard! Yet, I was so happy you’d both arrived in London, especially you, and that you were coming to my wedding.
    “ But what a fool I’d been. I’ve done nothing for this past year but dream of my wedding and make my gown. It’s the most beautiful dress, too! I spent almost every Sunday for the past year in this shop making sure every bead was in place, dreaming of my life in America and thinking how wonderful it was going to be having you living close. I’m still remembering the promise we made, Thomas, the three of us together, forever.
    “For the past two weeks I ’ve gotten up early and prayed this would be the day James returned. I envisioned him greeting me at the docks and then receiving the emerald ring he promised. But what did I get? A cruel dose of the truth! I now know what a fool I was. Did you laugh at your silly, naïve sister who thought she had met the man of her dreams? How many nights did you make fun of me, Thomas? Tell Me! Was it worth it? Get out! I’m glad you’re returning to America. I’ll hate that bastard, James Parker, until the day I die! And you, why, you are just as bad!”
    As soon as the words left her mouth about Thomas, Mary wished she had not said them. But the words she spoke about James had been true. She hated acting mean. She sobbed openly. Let Thomas go back and tell James how distraught she was. She knew he wouldn’t care. Why should he? Right now all she wanted was for Thomas to leave her alone to her misery.”
    “Mary, did you really think father would keep your secret? I’m sure he took great pleasure when he wrote to James immediately after you eloped. Do you not know what delight he had in telling James you’d run off with another? Are you so stupid to think you could get away with such an evil deed and now pretend nothing ever happened? I was at the cottage, Mary, I know you’re living back home. Your marriage couldn’t have lasted too long for you to finish a wedding dress.
    “ James is not a fool, Mary, and neither am I! He would have found out you weren’t a virgin! Then what were you going to do?  He would never have forgiven you. You deserve no sympathy!”
    “Evil deed? You think I did an evil deed? How dare you insinuate I’m not a virgin! You’re trying to tell me this is over some letter father supposedly wrote. What English Nobleman could ever compare to James? How exactly, would I’ve had the opportunity to meet someone with a title? If I did, why would he consider a seamstress a fit wife? You’re an idiot! You’re speaking nonsense!”
    But Mary had a sinking feeling her father indeed sent such a letter to James. That was the only thing which made sense. James had foolishly believed whatever lies were in that letter. Why would James have doubted her knowing how much her father was opposed to their wedding? But the fact was, he had, and Thomas believed those lies, too. What fools! What stupid fools!
    To her horror, Mary now realized what had happened, how it happened and why it happened. But knowing the truth didn’t ease her pain or mend her broken heart. She could never love another, not after falling in love with someone as wonderful as James. And those two twits believed her father instead of trusting her. The one person, who Thomas should have known, would never intentionally hurt anyone, not now, not ever.
    To make things worse and add t o her bitter disappointment, she realized it hadn’t taken James long to find another to take her place. He couldn’t have had the deep love for her she had held for him. How could he have doubted her? Was she the only person who had the ability to stand on honor?

Chapter Eleven
    As Thomas watched Mary mulling over the situation , he was trying to come to terms with what she’d told him. He didn’t want to believe she had stated the truth. But what if she had? Mary would now be left to suffer, and suffer greatly for the remainder of her life, alone.
    Thomas knew his