“Who is saying such a thing?” Miss Simmons whispered, one hand at her throat, her eyes wide and staring. “Who would dare suggest-?”
“I do not know.”
Hugh swallowed hard, then dropped his head as he let out a heavy breath. There was nothing that he could say in answer to this, nothing that he could do to prove that hewasthe legitimate son of his late father and mother.
“That is a strong rumor to place upon my shoulders. Someone must have a great deal of audacity to say such a thing as that of me.”
“Indeed.” Lord Elmsford shook his head. “I cannot imagine who would have the gall to say it – but what troubles me the most is that there are those who will believe it, those who will be content torepeatit, and those who will continue to hold such an idea tight to their minds. Some may even give you the cut direct.”
“I must find out who is responsible.” A buzzing began to go around and around in his head as he fought to remain steady, to try to find a way to discover who it was that was speaking such dark things of him. “This cannot be allowed to continue.” Turning, he looked down into Miss Simmons’ eyes, a heaviness within his heart as he saw tears glistening there. “Miss Simmons – Rachael, if you wish, you may separate yourself from me. I do not want you to feel as though you must linger by my side.Yes, we have said that we are betrothed, but this rumor is so very significant, that it could damage you a great deal. If you wish it, we can separate, we can put an end to this betrothal, and no one would think less of you for doing so. After all, someone who is considered illegitimate by thetonwill forever have questions about their family and their name.” Ignoring the cry of his heart, a cry which demanded that he retract all he had just said, and cling to Miss Simmons, Hugh squeezed her fingers gently. “If you wish it, Miss Simmons, I will release you and take full responsibility for it. After all, it was my haste which had us betrothed in the first place!”
Miss Simmons searched his expression, her eyes still gleaming with gentle tears. She did not speak for some time and when she did, it came with a slow, shuddering breath.
“No, Blackmore.” Swallowing his surprise, Hugh let out something between a huff and a gasp of relief, his fingers tightening on hers again. “No, I will not have you step away from me.” Smiling, she lifted her free hand and pressed it to his cheek, sending fire rippling down through him. “Nor shall I step back from you. We are betrothed, are we not? And that means that we shall face whatever it is that comes next. You were willing to do what you could for me, when the rumors from last Season still clung to me, were you not?” Her fingers trailed down his neck, to his shoulder and then fell to her side. “What sort of person would I be if I stepped back from you now? No, Lord Blackmore, I will not end our betrothal. I will not be afraid of what is to come. Rather, I will stand beside you and show society that we do not accept this rumor, that we are not in the least bit afraid of what might be said.” Her smile began to grow, her eyes brightening, and, with that came a confidence within Hugh himself that tore down the wall that fear had built up within him. “We shall succeed, Lord Blackmore. I am certain of it.”
Hugh smiled at her and, after a moment, looked to Lord Elmsford.
“It seems that we are to continue as we are,” he said, seeing his friend nod, though he did not smile. “Come now, let us return to the ball so that I might dance with my betrothed.” Turning his head, he lifted Miss Simmons’ hand and pressed a kiss to it before looking back into her eyes, seeing the gentle flush of her cheeks and the softness of her expression. “Should you like to waltz, my dear Miss Simmons?”
“Yes, Blackmore,” came the whispered reply. “I should like to waltz in your arms again very much. I do not think I have known a happiness like it since the first time we stepped out together.”
“Then I will do my utmost to make it all the more wonderful,” he promised, before settling her hand on his arm and turning towards the door. Taking a breath, he made his way back to the ballroom, Miss Simmons on his arm and his head held high. He was not about to lose her, was not about to have her step away from him and that brought him more relief than he was able to express.
All he had to do now was survive this devastating rumor - and quite how he was to go about that, Hugh had very little idea.
Chapter Twelve
Rachael’s shoulders dropped as her father cleared his throat gruffly.
“A very bad business.” Setting the paper down, he looked keenly across the table towards her. “I do not believe a word of it, of course.”
“Thank you, Father.” With a small smile, Rachael looked to her mother who reached across to squeeze her hand. “I am disappointed that it has made its way into the society pages. Something like that ought to be ignored, ought to be pushed aside, given the severity of the rumor.”
“I quite agree, but society feeds upon gossip as though it is a starving animal, and something like this will satisfy it for some days,” her father replied, giving her a sympathetic smile in return. “But you will be happy nonetheless, I am sure.”
“Of that, you can be quite certain.” Speaking with a little more firmness, Rachael took a deep breath. “I am looking forward to the day I shall marry.”
Lady Grant smiled.
“I am glad to hear you say such a thing, my dear. I do think that Lord Blackmore is an excellent fellow, despite what is said of him.”
Lord Grant coughed and then shook his head.
“It seems to me as though there is something – or someone – doing their utmost to ruin him. This is the third or fourth rumor which concerns him, is it not?”
Rachael held her father’s gaze, relieved that he too could see the strangeness of all that had been thrown at Lord Blackmore.
“It is. Last Season, I believe, someone sought to ruin his good name and brought my own into the rumor also – though quite whyIwas chosen, I do not know! Lord Blackmore originally planned to stay at his estate for this Season, but was brought back to London by a friend, who encouraged him to linger for a short while. Within only a few days of his return, however, it seems as though this person, whoever they are, decided once more to spread a rumor about him which might have sent a weaker man scurrying back to their estate!”
Lord Grant nodded and rubbed one hand over his chin.
“It is all rather strange. Why would someone wish him to return to his estate? Why would they wish him to be ruined in the eyes of society, even though he has never done anything worthy of such censure?” His hand went back to the table. “It seems to me that Lord Blackmore has an enemy, and my advice to you, my dear, is to discover the identity of this person before you wed. Not because I believe that you ought not to marry him, but because it would be wise to understand this situation fully before you become his bride.”
“He is doing his best, Father.” Rachael offered a small, sad smile. “But if nothing should change between now and the day of our wedding, I will still stand up and take my place beside him. I want nothing more.”
“I quite understand,” her mother answered her, softly, as Rachael’s heart swelled with even the mere thought of standing up to make her promises to Lord Blackmore. “You have found a good husband, Rachael, and we are both very happy for you.”
Rachael smiled and picked up her teacup, her happiness growing despite the circumstances they had been discussing. When she and Lord Blackmore had spoken to Lord Elmsford at the ball, she had felt the connection between herself and Lord Blackmore increasing in strength, and when he had taken her hand and gazed deeply into her eyes, she had wanted nothing more than to pull herself into him, to feel his arms encircle her waist and to breathe in the very essence of him.
