“Perhaps we should just let Mary’s past with Kilmartin alone. Maybe the man has changed,” Fanny said.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mary exclaimed.
“A rogue never changes his spots,” Honora said. Augusta nodded her agreement.
“I suppose,” Fanny relented, dejection in her voice.
“Fanny, you have the best heart,” Anne assured her friend. “He needs to be taught a lesson.”
Everyone nodded, and then, because she really needed to know the facts of what happened with Fanny now more than ever, she said, “About Rutledge…”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Mary snapped. “You’re like a dog after a bone. If you must know, Fanny encountered Rutledge on the terrace. He told her of a rare art book that was in the library. You all know how Fanny adores art.”
Anne nodded. Fanny was an exceptional painter and sketcher, and she would have loved to be an artist if her parents would have permitted such a thing.
“She went willingly to the library because of the book, didn’t you, Fanny?” Mary suddenly demanded, looking to Fanny.
Fanny had the strangest look of appalled fascination on her face. Perhaps hearing the tale recounted by another made her feel odd. After a pause, during which it seemed Fanny was trying to decide whether to agree or not, she nodded.
“Then Lord Rutledge closed the door and launched himself at Fanny,” Mary continued. “And that is when the dowager and her friend walked into the library. The rest you all know. Are you finally satisfied, Anne?” Mary asked, glaring at her.
Anne nodded. She supposed she was, though knowing Simon, the rogue, had intrigued her so much that he almost swayed her to his friend’s lies, did not make her happy.
“I don’t wish you to continue this campaign against Lord Rutledge on my behalf,” Fanny said, capturing Anne’s full attention.
“Whyever not?” Anne asked, noting that Fanny looked rather fearful once more. “Has he threatened you?”
“Yes!” Mary cried out.
“No,” Fanny said, shooting to her feet. “No, no! Most certainly not!”
“Oh, well, I thought you’d made mention of such,” Mary said. She did not appear at all regretful about what would have been a horrid accusation.
“I did not,” Fanny snapped. “I, well, you see, Anne, I did not consider Rutledge’s sisters when I agreed to this campaign, and my mother made mention this morning that she’d heard the servants gossiping that Rutledge might be in need of an heiress and he’d never secure one if the whispers of his character continue to grow.”
“Perfect!” Mary said with glee.
“It is notperfect,” Fanny replied sharply. “I know Lord Rutledge’s sisters. They are nice girls. And well—” Fanny glanced to her hands, which she still was twisting in her lap “—I do not think they should be made to pay for their brother’s mistake.” She sucked in a sharp breath and looked up. Tears were shimmering in her eyes. “And mayhap Lord Rutledge liked me, and so he kissed me. Mayhap he could not help himself. Mayhap he felt awful about us being discovered and wanted to ask for me but he could not, because he needs to marry for money. Everyone knows, of course, that I have none.”
Anne had a feeling that sweet, kindhearted Fanny actually had liked Rutledge. Poor, poor Fanny! Anne chose her words carefully so as not to wound Fanny’s tender feelings further. “Mayhap you are perfectly correct,” she said, though it seemed doubtful.
Simon’s warning that maligning Rutledge would hurt his family came to her mind. Though the rogue may have been trying to dissuade her from her mission simply to aid his friend, he had been correct in his argument that others, those innocent of any wrongdoing, would be hurt by her actions. She felt shamed to her core that she’d not thought about Rutledge’s sisters. Still, it was not fair that Rutledge should walk away unscathed while poor Fanny was now considered ruined. He had kissed her, after all. Just as it was not fair that Simon could have the pick of practically any woman he chose to wed while poor Mary had no virtue to give her husband, and therefore did not think she could ever marry.
There had to be a solution to both problems. Fanny was the most pressing problem, so Anne focused her thoughts on that. There had to be a way to make Rutledge accountable for what he’d done while also helping Fanny. If only a position could be secured somewhere for Rutledge that paid enough to aid his family and enable him to offer for Fanny to salvage her reputation.
How could she possibly convince the likely rogue to do the decent thing? An idea suddenly occurred to her. If she made him think she’d continue to besmirch his name unless he did the honorable thing and pointed out to him that his diminished standing in thetonwould harm the likelihood of his sisters making good matches, then perhaps he would take a position if she secured one for him. Of course, she’d be bluffing about continuing her smear campaign, which was a gamble, but it was one she was willing to take.
Anne ticked off a mental list of things she needed to do in her head. First, she would go to see her brother-in-law shortly and ask him if he could offer Rutledge a position. Harthorne could most definitely be trusted to keep Fanny’s predicament a secret, and since Anne could not go to her grandfather for help, her brother-in-law was really the only one she could ask. After seeing him, she would go to see Rutledge if Harthorne had a position to offer him. Then she would return Simon’s coat. She honestly could not think of a way to force Simon to pay for what he’d done to poor Mary, but hopefully something would come to her.
What else? She drummed her fingers against her leg as she thought. Oh! She needed to know if Fanny would even consent to marry Rutledge, though it sounded as if she would.
“Fanny, I know you don’t love Lord Rutledge, but what if he requested your hand, would you be agreeable to the match?”
“Yes!” Fanny exclaimed, her cheeks instantly reddening. “To salvage my reputation, that is,” she finished, darting a glance at Mary.
Anne beamed. It was as she had thought. Fanny did actually have a secret liking for Lord Rutledge. That was probably how the man had so easily convinced Fanny to follow him to the library!
“He’d never ask me, though,” Fanny said glumly.
