Free Never Marry a Stranger by Gayle Callen Page B

happy marriage you cannot even remember?”
    He touched her chin, lifting it. “I want to remember. I will remember. You captivate me, Emily.”
    For a moment she thought he might kiss her, right in the corridor while his family waited luncheon for them. She wanted him to. She needed him to be captivated.
    But she didn’t want him to remember.
    She smiled and touched his chest. “I am besidemyself with curiosity. Did you find answers to all your questions when you spoke to your father? Or am I still a mystery to you?”
    He smiled. “My parents are very fond of you. But I hear they weren’t totally surprised when you showed up on their doorstep. They said they had received a letter from your parish vicar in anticipation of your arrival last year.”
    Tension contracted her stomach, chasing away all the pleasurable feelings he’d inspired. “Yes, I hadn’t known the dear man was sending it.”
    “Was he the man who married us? I could not remember his name, and neither could my parents.”
    “He was.” She wanted to stroll to the windows, try to find air to breathe, but didn’t dare give evidence of retreat. “Mr. Tillman. He’s dead now,” she said impassively, and she saw the flash of memory as a pillow was held over his face. She could not control her shudder.
    “I am sorry to remind you of such sad tidings,” Matthew said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
    “You couldn’t have known.”
    “Was I supposed to remember?”
    The faint pain in his voice made her look at him again. “No, this is nothing you’ve forgotten. He died just before I arrived here.”
    He held out his arm to her. “Let’s put such sadness behind us. Shall we rejoin my family?”
    She nodded, hiding her relief.
     
    During luncheon, Matthew found himself watching Peter Derby, who did his best to not even glance at Emily, and any time Peter looked at him, it was a tentative glance. Matthew made it a point to smile at him, to let him know that his past behavior toward Emily was understandable.
    “What have you been doing with yourself these past few years, Peter?” he asked.
    “The usual social engagements, of course. I accompany my mother when she needs me, and assist my brother with the management of our lands. Although right now, as I explained earlier to Lady Rosa, I am more idle than usual, as my mother and brother have gone north to visit her sick aunt. I stayed behind on my brother’s behalf.”
    Lady Rosa inclined her head to Peter. “And so I told him he should not stay at home alone. He should spend several days here with us.”
    She was not very good at hiding the look she gave each of her daughters. Both of them smiled politely.
    “This is very gracious of you, Lady Rosa,” Peter said, his eyes bright. “Matthew, I would enjoy hearing all about your time in India.”
    Matthew smiled. “Of course.”
    Peter turned to the Leland sisters and opened his mouth as if to speak, but Rebecca interrupted.
    “Did you see the abundance of mail we receivedtoday?” she asked, too brightly, of the entire room.
    Lady Rosa smiled. “Did you receive any special correspondence, Rebecca?”
    She blushed. “Nothing unusual, Mama. Just an invitation to tea with Lady Brumley.”
    “Ah, and isn’t her son handsome?”
    Matthew watched his sister smile and shrug, and it could have been a coy move, but…it wasn’t. For a brief moment he thought she seemed uninterested. Wasn’t she supposed to be the sister eager for marriage? What had been going on here the last two years? he wondered with mild disbelief.
    Rebecca continued, “Emily, I set your letter beside your plate.”
    Matthew’s gaze shot to Emily, who only smiled.
    “All of the newest invitations also included Matthew in the address,” Rebecca added.
    “Then the whirlwind has begun,” the professor said dryly.
    Matthew smiled at Rebecca. “Who are they from?”
    She listed the invitations from various families to breakfasts, dinners, and even a ball there in the