“In what way?”
Lady Tabitha’s lip curled.
“In spreading these rumors about you, she is placing herself to be your only viable consideration when it comes to matrimony.”
“I have done no such thing.” For the first time, Miss Simmons spoke up and when Hugh looked at her, her face was white, her eyes sharp but her voice steady and firm. “You have made that up solely from your own thoughts,” she continued, her voice cutting through the air clearly, though many of the young ladies sneered and tossed their heads as if dismissing her words without thought. “From the beginning, my name has been pulled into this and–”
“If you are speaking about yourdisgracefrom last Season, then I must interrupt you,” Lady Joceline stated, her face pulled into a mask of dislike. “Youchose to behave in such a way as that, Miss Simmons, and for whatever reason, thetonmistakenly believed that it was Lord Blackmore’s townhouse from which you escaped. We know now it was not his townhouse but some other gentleman’s and yet, you continue to deny that it was you! Surely it would be best to be honest about the situationandyour attempts now to coerce Lord Blackmore into marrying you by making his disgrace seem to be the same as yours!”
“That is all nonsense.” Miss Simmons took a step forward and, though her hands were tight, her voice was measured if not a little louder than before. “I did not step into any gentleman’s townhouse alone, nor did I leave it in the early morning! I have no intention of trying to coerce Lord Blackmore into anything and I certainly have not said a single word against him.”
“No, she has not.” Hugh spoke up again, his anger beginning to burn at the way these ladies were speaking to Miss Simmonsand at the disgrace they were throwing at her when there was nothing that she had done which was wrong. He had to say something, had to make it quite plain that he did not agree with anything they said about the lady. “Miss Simmons and I are well acquainted, and I can assure you that she has not taken part in any rumors or any gossipmongering as yet.”
Lady Josephine smirked.
“You are a little foolish, Lord Blackmore, if you believe that a lady could not be sweetness when they are in your company and thereafter, speak ill of you in private.”
“I know Miss Simmonds,” Hugh retorted, firmly. “And I have not even a single thought in my mind that she would do such a thing as that. You may think that you have the entire matter making sense in your own minds, but I can assure you, you are nothing short of mistaken.”
Another murmur ran around the group and Hugh glanced at Miss Simmons, catching the faint hint of red which now ran into her cheeks. He offered her a small smile, but Miss Simmons did not return it. Perhaps her emotions were already much too overwhelmed.
“Are you trying to state that there is more between yourself and Miss Simmons?” Lady Tabitha moved closer to him, keeping her eyes trained on his face, though there was a slightly pinched look about her expression. “I will admit to seeing you in conversation with her on one or two occasions, and confess myself to be a little surprised about such a thing. After all, why would a gentleman such as yourself be eager to speak with someone whose name has been connected to their own in such a way?”
Hugh kept his gaze steady, feeling the weight of the group’s eyes upon him and all too aware of Miss Simmons’ presence beside him. His heart began to thunder as he took in a slow breath and gave what he hoped was a measured response.
“The reason I would be glad to speak to Miss Simmons is because she has done nothing wrong,” he said, his words crisp through the clear afternoon air. “She did not step out of my townhouse, nor out of anyone else’s townhouse. She has no desire to trap me in matrimony and has no interest in spreading any rumors. Indeed, the only thing she seeks – as I do also – is to remove this burden from our shoulders. We do not want thetonto view us with blurred vision, to see us through the lens of lies and whispers – lies and whispers which have been perpetrated by those who are willing still to spread them without consideration.” With a slight tilt of his chin, Hugh narrowed his gaze just a fraction, seeing Lady Tabitha’s face flush hot. His point was quite clear. “I will speak to whomever I please, Lady Tabitha, and that shall include Miss Simmons because she is just as much a lady of society as many others. Indeed, I find myself greatly enjoying her company and I look forward to continuing in that connection, regardless of what anyone else might think of it.”
Lady Tabitha’s eyes flashed angrily.
“What I think of it, Lord Blackmore, is that you are ensnared by Miss Simmons, a lady who seeks to lie and to whisper and to deceive, all so that she might attract the attention of the only gentleman she might be able to marry.”
“Then you are wrong,” Hugh responded, his anger burning now. “She would not need to do so – no need to do anything like that at all.”
Her arms folded across her chest, Lady Tabitha laughed mockingly, shaking her head at him.
“And what reason would that be, Lord Blackmore?”
“Because we are already betrothed!”
The words flew out of his mouth before he had a chance to stop them. Breathing hard, he saw Lady Tabitha recoil, herhands falling to her sides, her eyes wide and staring, mouth slack and color pulling from her cheeks in only an instant.
“Upon my return to London, I saw how thetontreated Miss Simmons in comparison to how they treated me,” Hugh continued, giving himself no time, no opportunity to think about what it was that he had said, but rather forcing himself on regardless, “and I felt it my duty to offer her my hand. After all, she has done no wrong, and yet thetonchose to dismiss her, to push her to the very back of society, whilst treating me as though there was nothing amiss!”
Swallowing, he dared a glance at Miss Simmons, but she had gone very still, her head dropping forward as she stared down at her hands. He could not get even a glimpse of her expression. “I have not spoken of it before now, because I wanted to do everything that we could to try to free Miss Simmons from the burden thetonhas placed upon her. If she was able to be restored, then our betrothal would come to an end, and she would be free to marry whomever she wished. Now, however, I see that such a hope is never to be ignited and thus, I do not need to keep this back from anyone any longer.”
Taking in a deep breath, he lifted his chin and looked around the assembled group, seeing now that it had grown a little larger. Evidently, his proclamation had garnered the interest of others. “Yes, I am betrothed to Miss Rachael Simmons, and we are to be married by the end of the year. So, Lady Tabitha, Lady Joceline, and Miss Wilson, there could be no reason for Miss Simmons to do or say anything akin to what you have suggested. She is not responsible for any sin against me. She has not gossiped, whispered, or tried to pull my reputation away from me. That would be foolish, would it not, as she is to be my wife?” With a small smile, and ignoring the pain which came with the thundering of his heart, he offered his arm to Miss Simmons, praying that she would take it. “When you speak illof my betrothed when you place guilt upon her shoulders which she does not deserve, you can be certain that you injure me also – and I will not stand to hear such words against her. I do hope that is now quite clear to you all.”
Tentative fingers touched his arm and, turning, Hugh began to walk away from the small group, relieved when Miss Simmons’ hand rested all the more firmly on his arm. A glance behind him told him that Lord Kelling had begun to follow, though it was not until they were some distance away from them that Lord Kelling began to speak.
“Good gracious, old boy! I did not know… my heartiest congratulations!”
Hugh could barely bring himself to glance at Miss Simmons, his own heart beating furiously, sweat breaking out across his forehead as he realized not only what he had done, but also what this now meant for both his andherfuture.
“My mother is just there.” Miss Simmons’ voice was tight, and she did not look at him. “Thank you, Lord Blackmore. I am able to make my way to her myself.”
He put her hand over hers as it sat on his arm, effectively pinning her to him for a moment, forcing her eyes to meet his.
“Miss Simmons, there is much we must discuss.”
