A Little Bit Sinful(18)

Why was she so annoyed that he was here? She liked him, he was a family friend. She enjoyed his kisses, though certainly that would not happen again. Still, there was no reason to be irritated with him simply because she was frustrated with her recent discovery of being in a bridal competition with Franny Cooper. Clarissa smiled warmly. “Thank you for coming to welcome back my brother and his bride,” she said louder than was necessary.

He nodded. “I came only to see you,” he said in a low voice.

She schooled her features not giving in to the shock of his admission. Ella jabbed her elbow into Clarissa’s side. She yelped, and smiled awkwardly to the rest of the table. “Hiccups,” she said. Then she leaned closer to her friend. “What?” she whispered.

“Oh good heavens, Clarissa, you never told me he was so very handsome,” Ella said dreamily.

“It didn’t seem important.”

“He’s so handsome,” Ella said. She leaned forward and smiled at Justin seated on the other side of Clarissa, then leaned back. “I know you said he looked like a pirate, but I was expecting him to be dirty and hairier. But he does, in fact, look like a pirate. As if he could swing down from a mast and take the helm.”

It was Clarissa’s turn to jab her elbow in Ella’s side. “You cannot lean forward in such a way, he’ll know you’re staring.” What was it about him that made one think of a swashbuckler? She positioned herself so that her body blocked the two people on either side of her from seeing one another. “I don’t want him to think we’re talking about him.”

“But we are talking about him,” Ella said. She looked at Clarissa with a frown.

Clarissa’s heart thundered in her chest. It occurred to her, with alarming clarity, that one of the reasons she found it so distressing that he was here was because the very last time she’d seen him, he’d kissed her. She felt her cheeks grow warm and knew a blush stained her face. Thankfully the soup course was served and she had something she could focus on besides reliving that kiss again and again. Not that she hadn’t already done so.

“He’s really dashing,” Ella whispered again. “Honestly, Clarissa, look at him”

“I will not. I am quite aware of how handsome he is. If you find men such as him attractive. Which I do not.”

Ella held up her hand. “Clarissa, I swear, if you say anything about George, I will vomit in my purse.”

“George is very handsome.”

“No one ever argued that point, but you are wasting your time on him. That man is never going to marry you. Good heavens, you’ve been waiting for him to propose for nearly three years. And now we find out there are at handful of other women who have been waiting right along with you. You should be furious.”

Clarissa wanted to argue, wanted to say that George would in fact propose. But she didn’t know what to believe anymore. “Let us not fight about this again. You and I see George very differently.” She wasn’t even so certain she wanted to marry George, but she knew that was who Rebecca had chosen for her. Rebecca had impeccable taste. Clarissa, on the other hand, was known for making questionable judgments. Like when she’d fallen for Christopher Reynolds, she’d been so smitten, Rebecca had told her he wasn’t to be trusted. She’d learned that the hard way when he’d deserted her and stolen several pieces of her jewelry.

“I thought you should know I’m looking into Mr. Wilbanks’ claims of owing me money.” Clarissa nearly choked as she swallowed her soup. “Do you mean to tell me that you were mistaken and that he does, in fact, owe you money?” she whispered.

He shook his head. “No, I was not mistaken. He does not owe me anything. I am merely looking deeper into the situation. I should like to know whom he does owe money, if in fact any part of his story was true.”

It was on her tongue to argue that point, to tell him that George Wilbanks was an honest man, but the words died in her mouth. Clearly George had not been honest. About his debt and about his intentions towards her. He might have a perfectly reasonable reason for lying to her, but that remained to be seen. She couldn’t very well praise his virtues when he’d so blatantly lied. What would Justin discover in his investigation of the matter?

“Will you tell me?” she asked.

“Tell you what?”

“Whatever you discover about George or this situation, will you give me the details?”

He nodded. “I will.”