“Evelina, please believe me,” Margaret stumbled forward. “It was nothing. My gown broke, I came in here to fix it –”
“She needs no such explanation from you,” Theodore explained coolly. Not seeing the pain of responding vehemently, he returned to the glass of wine he had brought with him into the library and took a gulp. “Gabriel will have told her I am no rake.”
“I thought you had no interest in a connection with any other human.” Evelina’s interested voice made him frown all the more.
“That’s because I don’t,” he assured her. “Least of all your sister.”
“By this light, what are we going to do?” Lady Margaret complained, still wrapping his tailcoat tightly around her. He wished she wouldn’t grip so tightly onto it. It was a rather distracting thing to watch her do.
Do not give way to such thoughts.
He set his eyes on her face instead, noting the fear in her expression. Those green eyes, rather large above pink cheeks, were endearing in their expressiveness. Even if they were now contract in terror.
“Get her out of here and to her chamber,” Theodore ordered swiftly. “I’ll leave at once.”
“What? Already?” Evelina said, laying a hand on her chest.
“Send Gabriel to my carriage if you can. I’ll explain all to him. I’m afraid nothing can be done to stop Lady Sedgwick talking now.” He marched toward the door, intimating with a flick of his hand for Evelina to step out of the way. “She’s quite right. It will probably be in the scandal sheets by tomorrow.”
A groan of frustration left Lady Margaret’s lips. Theodore glanced back at her once, then he swept out of the room, as fast as he could.
Marching down the hallway, he cursed under his breath.
I need to marry. I know that. It’s just… this is not the way I ever thought it would happen.
“This is some jest. Some hoax. It has to be.”
Margaret could not remember seeing her father so angry before. James stood before the fire, his hands shaking around the scandal sheet. Emblazoned in printed black ink across the paper were the words,Ruined Viscount’s Daughter.
It had spared no expense in detailing exactly how Margaret and the Duke of Thornfield were caught together, even describing Margaret’s torn dress.
“Tell me this is not true!” James thundered, turning around and addressing them all.
Margaret flinched in her seat. Behind her, Evelina who had called on them that morning, laid a hand on her shoulder, protectively. Their younger sisters were all gathered around them. Louise had hold of Margaret’s hands, as Penelope and Alexandra clutched onto one another, exchanging worried glances.
“Evelina!” James barked again. He must have startled the maid who was coming to bring them tea, for there was a clatter of crockery in the doorway. The poor maid quickly scuttled away as the housekeeper came to tidy the broken pieces away. “You assured me that this party would be a chance to find a match for Margaret, to see her married at last. Instead…thishas happened.”
He waved the scandal sheet in the air. With a dramatic and furious flair, he threw the paper into the fire where it took light, burning in great long yellow flames.
“Her dress came undone,” Evelina said calmly.
Margaret was relieved she was the one doing the talking. She was not convinced she could keep her voice level at that moment.
“It is a dress she has had to wear countless times before. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that there is no money left for her to buy a new dress.”
“Don’t you dare blame me for this!” It was as if thunder rocked the walls. His rounded stomach shook as he drew himself up to stand tall.
Margaret looked at the doorway. She saw the housekeeper now run away with the broken pieces of crockery as a footman mopped up the spilled tea. Rather wisely, she thought, they made no intimation about trying to bring tea again.
We are best left alone to our father’s anger.
“She was seen in the company of a man who is thought the devil on this earth.”
“Father,” Evelina said tiredly, gripping Margaret’s shoulder tightly. “He is Gabriel’s friend. He cannot be all bad.”
“You think a man who is spoken of in so ill a fashion will propose to her now?” James threw a hand at Margaret. “You think he would deign to marry a ruined woman? He’s a duke! He can pick any woman he wants.”
“Father, please.” Evelina released her and walked around her, pleading with their father. “Save this ire for an emotion that is better spent. Let us wait and be patient. The Duke of Thornfield may yet prove himself a good man and come to propose.”
