My Wicked Little Lies Part 33

Evelyn stared at her friend. "How did you-"

"When did you-"

"Just now." She nodded toward the desk, "My notes to Sir are in his desk. When did you-"

"Last night," Celeste said, "I overheard Lord W and Max. I came to the masquerade to find Max because Davies reported your abduction. An abduction orchestrated by Max and your husband."

"Ah-ha!" Evelyn scoffed. "It's no wonder the men who took me seemed so professional. They obviously worked for the department. My only question is why?"

"It's my understanding that Lord W had decided it was time for Sir and Eve to meet in person."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Oh, he had, had he?"

"This part is a bit confusing but apparently Max thought kidnapping was the plan while Lord W thought Sir would simply meet you at the masquerade." Celeste shook her head. "I'm not entirely clear on how it was all supposed to work, but then Max didn't seem very clear about it all either."

"And yet I find it very clear."

"Do you?" Caution sounded in Celeste's voice.

"Oh yes." A grim note sounded in her voice. "Last night's was not the only masquerade."

"Evelyn-"

" 'No price is to high for you, my love.' " She paced the room. "That's what he said. 'I would have no life without you,' he said. 'If anything had happened to you,' he said." She resisted the urge to clench her fists and scream. "Apparently the greatest danger I was in was from a head cold as result of wet feet!"

Celeste studied her. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Evelyn thought for a moment. "But it should be something appropriate. Something involving, oh, I don't know, deception?"

"You could simply be honest with him and tell him you know the truth," Celeste said slowly.

"Yes, because he is so adept at honesty himself," she snapped. "Oh, no. Honesty is entirely too easy for Lord Waterston. Or Sir, for that matter. Besides he has forfeited the right to honesty from me." She glanced at the other woman. "Will Max tell him you know the truth?"

Celeste shook her head. "Absolutely not."

"Are you sure?"

"There's not a doubt in my mind."

Evelyn studied her closely. "There's something else, isn't there? What else have you not told me?"

"Nothing of importance." She rolled her gaze toward the ceiling and sighed. "I am seriously considering marriage."

Evelyn stared. "To whom?"

Celeste winced. "To Max."

"Why?" Evelyn scoffed. "He is no better than his friend."

"Given that you have been quite happy with his friend until recently and you will, no doubt, be quite happy in the future if, of course, you both survive, that is not a bad endors.e.m.e.nt. Besides ..." She shrugged. "I could do far worse."

"You could do far better."

"Yes, but I don't seem to want far better, I seem to want him." Celeste shook her head as if she couldn't believe it herself. "It makes no sense, it's completely impractical, totally irrational, and he's never seemed the kind of man one would wish to keep around forever."

"And?"

"And nonetheless, I do."

"You might wish to reconsider," Evelyn said grimly.

Celeste stifled a smile and turned to answer a knock at the door. Evelyn paced. The other woman was right. She and Adrian would be happy in the future if they survived this. In doubt, however, was whether they could survive.

It was as if their entire marriage had been nothing but a sham. Yes, she had long felt guilty for keeping the truth of her past from him, but as he already knew all, it seemed to her that was no longer even a lie of omission. Whereas his lies were ones of ... of ... deception!

"Stewart says you have a caller." Celeste paused. "Lady Dunwell. She's in the red salon."

"How perfect for her," she muttered and started for the door. "And what perfect timing she has."

"You're not going to confide in her, are you?"

"I'm furious, Celeste, not insane. Regardless of anything else, revealing my husband as the former head of a secretive government department is something I would never do." She narrowed her eyes. "However, there are few women I know that are cleverer than Beryl Dunwell when it comes to seduction. Or, I suspect, settling a score."

"Well," Beryl said the moment Evelyn stepped into the room. "Who was he? What happened?"

"You were right after all." She shrugged. "It was Adrian."

"Really?" Beryl's eyes widened. "Odd, I don't remember him being that tall."

"He's grown."

"That would explain it," Beryl murmured, then shook her head as if to clear it. "How terribly romantic of him to try to seduce you as another man."

Evelyn froze. "Another man?"

"A masked stranger, of course." She studied Evelyn carefully. "Whatever is the matter with you today?"

"It was a very late night."

"Yes, of course." She stared for a moment, then realization dawned in her eyes and she nodded. "Oh, now I understand."

"Understand what?"

"I could be wrong, of course."

"One can only hope."

"Well, a man who bursts into a hotel room to catch his wife in a compromising position and then flirts with her incognito, well ..."

"Well?" Impatience rang in Evelyn's voice.

"He's a man who needs to be taught a lesson." Beryl nodded firmly.

"My thoughts exactly."

"Do you have a lesson in mind?"

"Not yet." Evelyn studied the other woman for a moment. "I was hoping you might be able to help me come up with something."

"Perhaps." She paused. "Although I have always found a good biscuit to be most conducive to clever planning."

"I have already ordered tea and biscuits."

"Oh, you are a good friend."

Evelyn bit back a smile. "I do try."

"Now then." Beryl settled on the sofa and thought for a moment. "Whatever you decide, it should fit the crime."

She nodded. "I have already thought of that."

"But you don't want to be too harsh with him."

"Why not?" Evelyn drew her brows together. "Harsh is the very least of what I want to be."

"No doubt." Beryl considered her cautiously. "Oh dear, you are that angry then?"

"That angry and more."

"I see." She paused. "Still, I would hate to see you take any step that he might consider unforgivable."

"Then we would be evenly matched."

"Yes, of course," Beryl murmured. "Last night, I said you and Adrian were an example to the rest of us."

"But not to you."

"I do think of myself as being above that sort of thing," she said in a lofty manner, then sighed. "Apparently, I was wrong."

"You?"

"I find it difficult to believe myself but ..." Beryl drew a deep breath. "I have decided to reform."

Evelyn raised a brow.

"It might not be permanent, mind you," Beryl said quickly. "But I do intend to try."

Evelyn stared. "Why?"

"Other than those pesky questions of morality?"

Evelyn nodded.

"I am quite envious of you, you know. Oh, not because you have Adrian," she added quickly. "But because of what you and Adrian have." Her brow furrowed. "I am not used to feelings of envy or jealousy. I find them quite distressing." She heaved a resigned sigh. "Nonetheless, your life has made me consider mine." Her gaze met Evelyn's. "He's a good man, you know. A bit pompous, overly ambitious perhaps. . ."

Evelyn shook her head in confusion. "Who?"

"My husband, of course, Lionel."

"Oh, I see."

"He's certainly not a saint. His morals are no better than mine but ..."

"But?"

"But, well, I think he deserves better." She raised her chin in a resolute manner. "As do I."

Evelyn stared.

"And as I cannot change husbands, I have decided to work with what I have," she said firmly. "As has he. We had a long talk last night. We have both agreed to forgo liaisons with others. He is going to give up his flat and I ..." She smiled weakly. "I shall never again visit Room 327, or any room, at the Langham or any other hotel." She met Evelyn's gaze. "Do you think I can do it?"

"I daresay you can do anything you set your mind to," Evelyn said firmly.

"You would say that, you are my friend. Still ..." Beryl smiled in a sheepish manner. "I am grateful for your confidence." She paused. "And your friends.h.i.+p."

"And I am grateful for yours." She cast the other woman an affectionate smile. It seemed the day was to be filled with revelations. Who would have thought Beryl Dunwell ... "Beryl," she said thoughtfully. "Room 327?"

Beryl cast her a knowing look.

"Is that the room where Adrian discovered you?"

"It's a lovely suite," Beryl said firmly. "Nicely appointed with a comfortable sitting room." A regretful expression crossed her face. "Extremely comfortable."

"I see." Evelyn thought for a moment. "The punishment should fit the crime, don't you think?"

"The punishment?" Beryl's brow furrowed, then her eyes widened with understanding. "Why, Evelyn Waterston, we do have a great deal in common." She smiled in a wicked manner. "Do you need any a.s.sistance?"

"No, but I am grateful for the offer." Evelyn's smile matched her friend's. "I'm quite certain I can manage this myself."

Adrian's jealousy had started this and it seemed only fitting that jealousy play a part in ending it.

It struck her this was the denouement of a play between them that had started years ago. A play in which the unwitting heroine, having at long last uncovered the wicked masquerade perpetrated on her by the hero, no longer had to choose between two competing heroes but, as they were one and the same, could have them both.

Of course, first she would make him pay.

Both of him.