“Of course. Miss Madeley. I am very much aware of the sort of gentleman that my friend purports to be. I do not doubt that you, as a lady of quality, have silently determined to stay far from his company and that, I concede, would be a very wise decision. The fact that he has now practically compelled you to not only speak to Lady Yardley on his behalf but to now introduce him means, to my mind, that he asks a vast amount from your kindness.” He lifted an eyebrow in Phillip’s direction and shame immediately pushed itself all the deeper into Phillip’s heart. “You have a compassionate heart.”
Phillip, listening to the exchange, felt his heart sinking low. It was foolishness to think that there could ever be something of importance between himself and Miss Madeley, especially when he had shown her such disregard in how he had behaved but, yet, there was something about the way she smiled at Lord Marchmont which unsettled him greatly.
“I am grateful to you.” He cleared his throat, catching the attention of his friend and Miss Madeley. “Perhaps you might…?”
Turning his gaze towards Lady Yardley, he saw Miss Madeley turn around immediately, leaving Phillip to follow her. The weight of his guilt still sat heavily on his shoulders, and he did not miss the sharp-eyed look Lady Yardley sent to him when he approached. Introductions were made quickly by Miss Madeley, who then turned her head away, seemingly disinterested in what he had to say. Was she to move away from them? Would she turn her attention elsewhere, or was there a chance that she would linger and hear his explanation? Phillip was not certain whether he wished Miss Madeley to hear his account, given the shame of it… but it seemed that he was to have no choice, for Miss Madeley remained by Lady Yardley’s side, regardless.
“I hear that you wished to be introduced to me.” Lady Yardley lifted an eyebrow “Is there any particular reason for that?”
Phillip immediately nodded.
“I have no right to ask this, I know. However, I come to seek your help.” His head dropped forward as he spoke, for he could not seem to look into Lady Yardley’s face, and certainly could not bring his attention to Miss Madeley either. “I have been caught in a situation of my own making, a trap I have, to some extent, set for myself. As I have said, I am all too aware of that. I have no right to ask for aid given my reputation, which is something I wholeheartedly accept. Nonetheless, I must beg of you for it, for if there is anything you can do to be of aid to me, it is not only myself you will be of aid to, but also to a young lady of quality.”
Lady Yardley lifted an eyebrow, but Miss Madeley merely rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced. Something like anger threatened to fill Phillip’s heart, only for him to then silently shake his head and chase the emotion away. He deserved this. He ought to have expected that she would not believe him, not after how he had behaved - not only towards her, but to so many others.
“Might you explain further?” Lady Yardley spread her hands. “I do not understand fully as yet.”
Phillip took a breath.
“Lord Anderton asked if I would take on a wager with him.” Knowing that he had to explain it all, he became aware of heat rising up in his face, but continued regardless. “I am ashamed even to repeat what I did, for Lord Marchmont warned me against taking on a wager against Lord Anderton, but I, in my overconfidence and arrogance, did so nonetheless.” Lady Yardley merely tilted her head. “There is an honorable widow, Lady Allanthorpe.” Hating that he was to discuss this in front of Miss Madeley, Phillip kept his eyes averted. “Anderton wagered that I would be unable to… embrace her.”
It was the simplest way he could put it, but all the same, mortification sent a fire burning through him.
“And you accepted this wager, believing you could do so.”
Nodding, Phillip swallowed hard as Lady Yardley shared a glance with Miss Madeley who, as yet, had said nothing.
“I will not go into particular details about exactly what took place, but I believed myself successful. Lord Anderton was nearby to witness it, telling me that he did not trust my word – something which I absolutely understood. But it was only when I went to collect my winnings from him that I realized the situation was not as I had thought it to be.”
Miss Madeley now turned her eyes to his.
“Then what happened?”
The fact that she had asked him a question was most surprising indeed but, all the same, Phillip dared not look at her.
“Lord Anderton stated that it was not Lady Allanthorpe I had pulled into my arms, but rather another lady, a young lady of some standing, I might add.” He took a breath. “The Marquess of Harrogate’s daughter.”
The swift intake of breath from both ladies was not entirely expected, but all the same, Phillip felt the weight of their shock settle on him.
“How could such a thing be? And how could Lord Anderton know of it?”
Darkness pinched the edge of Phillip’s vision.
“I approached Lady Allanthorpe in the darkness of the gardens after she had been led out by Lord Anderton. I believe now, that, in the midst of the crowd, he deliberately took Lady Gwendoline with him instead of Lady Allanthorpe and I, of course, believed it to be none other than Lady Allanthorpe.”
Miss Madeley closed her eyes.
“Good gracious.”
“And now I am being blackmailed.”
Lady Yardley let out a long, heavy breath as though she had expected such a thing, and Phillip nodded to confirm that what he had said was what she had heard.
“Then you are being blackmailed by Lord Anderton, after he set up the situation deliberately with that purpose in mind.”
Phillip ran one hand over his face, turning away slightly, as though even his body could not bear to face Lady Yardley directly.
“He has played me.” Even to his own ears, his voice was throaty and weak, and he gritted his teeth for a moment, frustrated with himself. “He states that unless I do what he wishes,wheneverhe wishes it, he will reveal to the Marquess of Harrogate that I have embraced his daughter in this dark fashion. I will say that the lady in question was very willing indeed to go into my arms, but I certainly would never have taken advantage of her had I known it was the Marquess’ daughter.”
