Austin was used to hearing such things about him. Perhaps not to his face but he didn’t put anything past judgmental ladies who thought they were above everyone else. Had he been alone, he would have ignored her. Or perhaps left a scathing remark that would show her just how ungentlemanly he could be.
But Lavender spoke before he could. “Austin was kind enough to accept me as his betrothed, my lady. It is me who should be grateful to him.”
“Certainly, certainly. A rowdy man like the earl is more suited to your tastes after all.”
“Yes, of course.” Her voice was quiet. “Please pardon me.”
Without waiting for a response, Lavender ducked her head and walked away in the direction of the house, leaving Austin with the sick feeling that he might have made a mistake.
Chapter Eleven
At some point, she couldn’t see where she was going. The tears that blurred her eyes didn’t seem ready to fall just yet, waiting for her to be safely locked away where no one could see her. She headed straight for the powder room, after receiving directions on how to find it from a maid. Locked within, everything came pouring out.
Lady Lively was just as ruthless as she remembered her to be. The worst thing was that the countess knew that she was untouchable, so much so that she could say whatever she wanted without receiving any backlash. No one would ever dare say such scathing remarks directly to someone else’s face. And yet the Countess of Lively did not hesitate. She’d gone out of her way, approached her directly, to reduce Lavender to the dirt under her shoe.
Austin had seen it all. He’d watched the countess approaching and hadn’t said a word about it even though he knew Lavender was avoiding her. Was that the reason he had touched her so tenderly? God, how could she have fallen for that?
Lavender held in her sobs as the tears ran down her face in rivulets. She wouldn’t dare allow anyone to see or hear her cry. But no matter how hard she tried to stop, the tears kept coming. She didn’t know how long she spent in there.
I have to follow through with this. I won’t allow her to stop me.
Lady Lively was right about many things. Lavender’s improper words at the last garden party, even though she had been trying to save the gentleman from embarrassment by pointing it out to him. Lord Derby’s rough demeanour that was quite unbecoming of a proper earl. And yes, perhaps on the outside it looked as if they were perfect for each other.
But she was more than her title—or lack thereof. At the end of that, everyone would know. She just had to keep going.
At last, the tears abated. Lavender wiped away what was left of it and pulled her shoulders back. She had to get back out there and put that smile back on her face, no matter how false it was.
As soon as she stepped out of the powder room, a large shadow fell over her. Lavender gasped when she saw that it was Austin.
“What are you doing?” she cried. “Don’t you know how improper it is for you to be so close to a ladies’ powder room?”
Austin scoffed. “You people and your rules,” he grumbled and grasped her hand. “Come. We’re leaving.”
“Leaving? What do you mean, we’re leaving?”
“Just that.” He pulled her down a path that would lead them back to the carriage. “We have no reason to be here any longer.”
“But we can’t just leave,” she protested. “We have to at least say goodbye to the host.”
“They will figure it out eventually.”
“But—”
“Do you want to stay?” he asked, stopping abruptly to face her. “After everything that had just been said to you, I thought you would jump at the thought of returning home.”
“I…” She was having a hard time wrapping her mind around what was happening. “You’re leaving because of me?”
“I don’t particularly enjoy being here either,” he grumbled.
Lavender didn’t know what to say. All of a sudden, she realized how red her eyes had to be after her crying but Austin said nothing about it. How long had he been standing outside the powder room waiting for her to finish crying?
“I can’t leave,” she said at last. “I want to, but I have never been a coward and I won’t start now. I won’t let Lady Lively believe that she chased me away.”
He only stared at her for a moment. If she didn’t know better she would think that the look in his eyes was one of admiration.
“Very well,” he conceded at last. “But if you insist on returning to the party then you should at least wipe your face properly.”
He fished out a handkerchief from his waistcoat and handed it to her. Lavender gratefully accepted. “Thank you. And thank youfor trying to rectify the situation you’ve caused. Don’t think I didn’t know that you were aware of Lady Lively approaching us.”
