“My apologies, but you may not have heard my knock.” Lord Trevelyan dismissed the butler with a wave of his hand. “Coppinger, you have been hiding in here for four days now.” Planting both hands on Marcus’ desk, he leaned forward, looking him square in the eye. “You cannot simply retreat into your house forever.”
“There is no reason for me to be in amongst society,” Marcus said. “In fact,” he continued, speaking now on impulse, “I think I shall return to my estate.”
Lord Trevelyan shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“I hardly think that is a wise idea.” With a deep breath, he stood up straight. “I have been considering this, Coppinger, and have decided that we must not allow Lord Penforth to be victorious.”
“Then what can I do?” Marcus threw up his hands but remained in his chair. “I cannot see any way out of this situation. I cannot find a way to tell her all that we know of Lord Penforth without injuring her. In many ways, I care very little for myself, but to know her father will pull us apart for what will be the rest of our lives is deeply upsetting.” Letting out a long breath he pressed the bridge of his nose lightly. “If they were to become betrothed, then I would, of course, tell her all and then return to my estate, accepting the consequences – but for the moment, I cannot think what else to do. Even if she turns from him, I dare not confess the truth. Penforth would do what he has threatened anyway, out of spite.”
“I have been considering it also.” Lord Trevelyan began to pace about the room. “I think that you do her a disservice by refusing to allow her to make her own decision.”
Marcus blinked.
“A disservice?” This time he did hoist himself out of the chair, but only to make his way to pour two brandies. “I am doing nothing but treating Almeria with the greatest respect and consideration.”
Lord Trevelyan smiled and took the offered brandy glass from Marcus.
“I understand that you believe you are doing so.” With a shrug, he lifted both shoulders. “But the truth is, you are denying her the chance to hear everything and to make her own decision about it all. After some consideration, I do not think it is fair to her.” His lips pulled to one side for a moment. “I saw how troubled she was when you spoke to her some days ago.” Recoiling at the memory, Marcus turned away and took a sip of his brandy, praying that the liquor would lessen the pain which continued to shroud him. Lord Trevelyan sighed as Marcus glanced at him. “Forgive me for being so blunt in speaking to you of this. I have found myself quite lost these last few weeks with regard to Lord Penforth’s threats, just as you are now.”
“Have you thought of the fact that you also could potentially be injured by whatever I say to Lady Almeria?”
Marcus waited for his friend to react, but Lord Trevelyan only shrugged and spoke again.
“That may be so, but mayhap we do not give in to lies. I do not like to be threatened.” His jaw clenched suddenly. “Nor do I like being told that I must stay silent about some evil, simply because of some greater wickedness.”
Understanding what his friend meant, Marcus took another sip of his brandy and shook his head, still with a great sense of hopelessness wrapping around his heart.
“What else is there for us to do? If I tell Almeria the truth, then all will be lost. Lord Penforth will tell her, and all who will listen, that he saw me in the gambling den and, no doubt, will make up something utterly awful which he will bandy about society. Thereafter, his friends and companions will attest to it, and society will reject me. I will be pushed even further from Almeria than I already am at present, and that is almost too great a burden for my mind to accept.”
Lord Trevelyan nodded slowly but tilted his head.
“Are we not allowing his evil to overcome us then?”
Marcus winced, his whole being rebelling at the idea.
“I do not like it but–”
Lord Trevelyan tilted his head.
“We can fight it.”
Taking a moment, Marcus spread out one hand.
“And how precisely are we to do that? If you have a suggestion, I would be glad to hear it.” No idea of his own came to his mind, and thus he could only look at Lord Trevelyan, seeing his friend smile and silently praying that somehow, he knew exactly what they could do. “I confess I have very few ideas of my own.”
“Then allow me to suggest something for you.” Lord Trevelyan grinned. “Perhaps we might find one or two of those gentlemen who were at the same gambling den as Lord Penforth on the night when we stumbled in.” Lord Trevelyan paused for a moment, swirling his brandy. “Mayhap we might offer them something more than Lord Penforth has done.”
Considering, Marcus frowned.
“You mean to say that we should bribe them? Threaten them?”
“Bribe, of course.” Lord Trevelyan chuckled somewhat wryly. “I can see that the idea does not sit well with you, but it may be our only means to fight back against Lord Penforth’s attack.”
Considering this, Marcus took in a long breath, letting the air fill his lungs.
“I… I am not certain. I do not want to be a gentleman of disrepute. I do not want to be the same as Lord Penforth.”
“I can understand that – but this may be our only opportunity. Youhaveto tell Lady Almeria the truth, and we can only do so if we have the assurance that it will be only Lord Penforth to speak against us. If that should happen, I will be able to defend you, and you will be able to defend me. If he does not have the strength of these men behind him, then he has nothing but his own words.”
