“Don’t ask, Dorothy. Allan is a man of the world.”
“Ew.” Dorothy wrinkled her nose. “On second thoughts, you’re right, I don’t need to hear what woman you had a rendezvous with.”
“The point is,” Allan spoke quickly, not wanting this discussion to continue for much longer, “I came across her, and we started talking. I know she’s been missing for this last year.”
He paused at this moment to judge the fact Dorothy’s cheeks were pinkening. She also looked rather guilty. She was fidgeting an awful lot.
“I wanted her to go and speak to her parents, to let them know she was alive and well. She refused. I took her hand then released her, and she… she tripped at the top of the stairs. I reached out and caught her, and that’s when we were seen.”
“No wonder people are saying you were embracing then,” Stephen said with a heavy sigh. “And she wasn’t exactly missing, Allan. Dorothy knew where she was.”
Allan glowered at his sister, who wriggled all the more in discomfort.
“Charlotte and I both knew,” she muttered. “But it was for the best. To escapehim.”
“Who?” Allan leaned forward abruptly. When Dorothy wasn’t forthcoming, he pushed on, “Dorothy, I returned just three months ago, and all I have heard is that Frederica vanished very suddenly after some gossip was spread. What exactly was this gossip?”
“Scandal.”
“Stephen!” Dorothy snapped at him. “I think I know better than you, don’t I?”
“At least I was giving an answer. You’re just sitting there very quietly.”
“No more arguing, please.” Allan held up his hands, rubbing his temple again. “My head can’t take it. Dorothy, what exactly happened to Frederica?”
“She turned up at Charlotte’s house in the middle of the night a year ago.” Dorothy spoke very fast indeed. “Her parents had been pushing her into the grasp of a gentleman — a man whom Frederica loathes. She was refusing his suit, and then he tried to force her to kiss him at a dinner party at her parents’.”
Allan leaned forward, feeling rather sick. The idea of anyone forcing Frederica into a kiss disgusted him. His hands balled into fists so suddenly that his knuckles cracked, something that Stephen plainly noticed, for his eyes rested on Allan’s hands.
“Charlotte helped her to escape. She has been hiding in the countryside with a relative. As to why she came back last night,” Dorothy shrugged, “I have no idea.”
Allan scratched his jaw in thought.
“She kept asking after your welfare,” he said slowly. “Are you well, Dorothy? Have you told Frederica in any letters that you are unwell at all?”
“What? I am perfectly well.” Dorothy frowned deeply. “Surely you do not mean she came back to London to ask after my welfare?”
“That I do not know.”
“Anyway, what has happened has happened.” Stephen sat back, with his brow creased. “The point is that Lady Frederica is now a lady who has suffered two scandals. You can be certain her parents will be rushing her into the quickest of marriages.”
Allan found himself looking around for that brandy glass again, but Dorothy must have sensed what he was thinking, for she snatched it away and placed it on a table closer to her instead, out of his reach.
“What are you going to do, brother?” she asked. “You were caught in scandal as much as Frederica was last night.”
“Men can survive scandals,” Stephen reminded her quietly. “Women… they do not do so well.”
“I’m surprised you need ask what I’m going to do next.” Allan stood from his seat with his mind made up.
* * *
Allan pounded on the door of the townhouse. There must have been some commotion and noise inside, for in the end, he had to knock three times before the butler came to the door to answer it.
The poor man looked rather harassed and flustered.
“My apologies, sir.” He bowed and backed up. “Come in. The household is a bit… well, never mind.”
“Please, do not worry.” Allan closed the door behind him, handing his top hat to the butler though he chose to keep his frock coat on. “I will not be staying long. Would you take me to the gentleman of the ho —” He did not get chance to finish the question.
