Page 50 of A Devious Secret

“If you must know, Mr. Wycomb’s sister is married to Lord Hugh.”

“Yes, his sister may be an upstart, but he doesn’t belong in high Society,” her father pressed. “He owns a shipyard.”

“I am well aware of his occupation,” Gemma said.

Her father narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t have you marry an earl only to watch you throw your life away for some shipbuilder.”

Gemma attempted to stay calm even though she felt her temper rising. “Mr. Wycomb and I are just friends.”

“Friends?” he huffed. “Friends do not dance the waltz in a sensual way.”

“Nothing about our dance was sensual,” she stated.

With a shake of his head, her father asked, “Do you even think of Baldwin anymore?”

Gemma pursed her lips together. “That isn’t fair of you to say.”

Her father wasn’t done with her, and he took a step forward, towering over her. “How do you think Baldwin would react to your shameful behavior on the dance floor?”

“I don’t know because he is dead, Father,” Gemma spat out.

Her aunt gasped. “Gemma.”

Gemma turned towards her aunt. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this,” she said before she started to walk away. She had to put as much distance between her and her father as she could. How did her father always manage to grate on her nerves? He was impossible, and she would never understand why he was so cruel to her.

She barely acknowledged her cousins and wives as she passed by them and headed out the French doors. She saw theirconcerned looks, but she didn’t want to stop and explain herself. She just wanted to be alone.

How dare her father ask her if she thought about Baldwin! What audacity he had. He had no idea of how much she missed him; how much it hurt to think about him.

Gemma hurried down the path of the gardens until she found a bench that was set back under the trees. She went to sit down and blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. For a brief moment, she had a respite from her grief when she danced with Mr. Wycomb, and her father found a way to ruin it.

As she swiped at her eyes, she didn’t think her father would let her have an ounce of happiness. He never did before, so why should he start now?