“And we’ll try to salvage the rest of Juliet’s Season as best we can,” Mrs. Beaucroft said.
The carriage fell silent. Forlorn, Kitty stared out the window, where a misty fog was pressing against the glass. Gryphon had proven himself to be the worst sort of person. He’d intended to take liberties and leave her in the garden without dignity or a marriage proposal. Thank heavens Lord Philip had been passing by! The memory of him, battered and bleeding, suddenly flashed into her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing someone could give her assurance he would be all right. When she sent a note of thanks to Lady Trestlebury in the morning, she would inquire after his health and express a sincere hope for his speedy recovery.
In the morning, Augustus went to Philip’s room to check on his condition. His brother’s body was covered with bruises, and he was struggling unsuccessfully to rise. In addition, he’d suffered a black eye and a cut over his cheekbone.
“What a mess.” Augustus sighed. “Three against one was badly done.”
“Don’t forget, Kirkham got a lick in at the end.”
“Be that as it may. Can you tell me what the fight was about?”
Philip waved his hand, dismissively. “The usual. Too much wine and too many insults.”
“I find that difficult to believe.” Augustus chose his next words carefully. “If you don’t speak, your reticence will allow Gryphon to make up any story he likes.”
“He can have nothing to say that won’t reflect badly on him.”
“We’re members of the same club. If you tell me the real reason, I’ll say a word on your behalf when I’m there for lunch today.”
“I’ve told you already and there’s nothing more to add.”
“All right. Why don’t you rest for a while longer? I’ll ask Eve to send up a tray.”
“You have my gratitude.”
Puzzled at his brother’s reluctance to confide in him, Augustus left the room and continued downstairs to breakfast. As he entered the dining room, he said good morning to Eve, Trestlebury, and Prudence.
“Philip is somewhat incapacitated this morning and won’t be down for breakfast,” Augustus said. “He conveys his apologies.”
“Poor fellow,” Prudence said.
“Oh, dear. I’ll have a tray of soft foods sent up.” Eve gestured to one of the servants to see to it. “The physician assured me there was no lasting harm from his injuries.”
“No, but he’s rather uncomfortable.”
“A drop of laudanum will prove efficacious,” Trestlebury said. “It does wonders for my aches and pains.”
“I believe the physician left a bottle on the nightstand,” Eve said.
Augustus nodded. “Yes, I recall seeing it when I was in Philip’s room just now.”
He noticed a pile of letters stacked on a tray next to his cousin’s plate.
“So much correspondence first thing in the morning must mean the ball was a great success.”
Eve gloated over the letters. “I was of a mind to be greatly vexed at Philip for his lack of self-control, but apparently the contretemps was red meat to the lions. All my friends found the brawl rather exciting.”
“Why blame it entirely on Philip?” Prudence asked. “My recollection is that Lord Gryphon, Lord Groton, and Mr. Miller were involved.”
“And Lord Kirkham,” Trestlebury interjected. “He couldn’t wait to wade into the fray, I’m told.”
“It was a good thing Lord Kirkham did intervene,” Prudence shot back. “His heroics saved Philip from another blow.”
“When it’s all said and done, my brother has a well-deserved reputation for being hot-headed, I’m afraid,” Augustus said. “Father is hoping marriage will settle him down.”
“Has Philip mentioned what started the fight?” Trestlebury asked.
“He passed it off as having imbibed too much, but I feel as if there’s more to it.”
Eve gestured toward the opened correspondence. “The gossips believe the fight between Philip and Lord Gryphon was over Miss Beaucroft.”
Augustus was taken aback. “I can’t imagine why. Did Gryphon say that?”
“Not directly, but everyone is aware of her somewhat surprising rejection of his proposal. Furthermore, I detected a partiality toward Miss Beaucroft on Philip’s part.” Her glance fell onto one of the newly arrived envelopes. “Aha! Here’s a note from the lady herself.”
Her eyes darted back and forth as she read the neat, feminine handwriting inscribed thereon.
“All the usual compliments about the evening, of course, but she ends by inquiring after Lord Philip’s health.” She giggled and exchanged a conspiratorial glance with her husband.
“Certainly adds fuel to the fire,” he said.
“I had intended to call on Miss Beaucroft this afternoon,” Augustus said. “I’ll let her know he’s on the mend.”
Eve beamed with satisfaction. “Aha! I suspected Miss Beaucroft might catch your eye.”
Augustus suppressed a smile. “Actually, it was Miss Juliet who drew my admiration at first.”
“The Beaucroft girls are quite lovely,” Prudence said. “I’ve no doubt both will marry well.”
Augustus arrived at his gentlemen’s club on Pall Mall by carriage. Many months had passed since he’d had the opportunity to visit, and he was looking forward to chatting with friends and having lunch. No sooner had he’d settled down in a wing chair with a newspaper, when he overheard his brother’s name mentioned in nearby conversation.
“Lord Philip Butler certainly got himself a good thrashing at the Trestlebury ball last night.”
“I wasn’t there, but to hear Lord Gryphon tell the tale, the argument happened because he stopped Butler from taking liberties with Miss Beaucroft.”
“No, not really!”
“That’s his story. If it’s not true, let the lady refute it. Unfortunately for Butler, Gryphon has witnesses to back him up.”
“Who, Groton and Miller? Those two reprobates might be counted upon to say anything for the price of a stiff drink.”
“Indeed, but not everyone will see it that way.”
“I never took Butler for a rake.”
“No, but perhaps the beautiful Miss Beaucroft brought out the wolf in him.”
Uproarious laughter followed the remark. Past annoyed, Augustus folded up his newspaper, stood, and confronted the gentlemen.
“Excuse me for interrupting, but Lord Philip Butler is my younger brother and a member in good standing of this club. He’s neither a rake nor a libertine.”
The men looked stricken.
“I say, Lord Elbourne, no offense meant,” the eldest one said. “You should know, however, I’ve heard the same story from several different sources. It’s all London is talking of.”
“Circulating such gossip is beneath you, sir. It seems Lord Gryphon is spreading malicious rumors for unsavory reasons of his own. I can assure you, I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
His appetite for lunch gone, Augustus left the club and visited his tailor instead. While he was being fitted for a new suit, he stewed over what he’d heard. Gryphon’s version of events made no sense at all and was undoubtedly self-serving. When I tell Philip what’s being said, he cannot fail to speak on his own behalf.
Although Kitty tried to distract herself with a book, her anxiety rose as the day wore on. Would Lord Elbourne call on her that afternoon or was it too soon? More importantly, Lady Trestlebury hadn’t yet replied to her inquiry regarding Lord Philip’s health. Despite the protestations she’d made to the contrary, Kitty believed Gryphon had attacked Philip for defending her, and his condition weighed on her mind like a millstone.
Juliet made it even more difficult to concentrate due to her lengthy and persistent practice on the piano. She played as if possessed by a hummingbird, and finally Kitty begged her to leave off.
“I know, let’s walk to the park.” She lowered her voice. “I feel as if I’m suffocating.”
Juliet’s eyes
darted toward her mother, who sat next to a window embroidering a screen.
“May we have permission to go to the park, Mama?”
“Yes, but one of the maids must come with you as a chaperone. This family needs no further scandal.”
After retrieving their hats and gloves, Kitty and Juliet stepped out of the house. They walked toward Hyde Park, with Kitty’s maid, Bridget, following several yards behind.
Kitty inhaled and blew out her breath in a gust. “Finally, a tiny bit of freedom. I thought I would scream if I stayed indoors another moment.”
Juliet glanced at her. “Something is bothering you, I can tell. Would it have something to do with how your hair became so mussed last night?”
“Was it that noticeable?”
“Only to me. I watched Bridget arrange your hair just so, remember? And you’ve got little bruises on your wrists and arms that weren’t there yesterday.”
“I give you credit for your powers of observation.” Kitty tugged her gloves higher on her wrists to cover the petal bruises. “It was quite a horrible scene, actually. I took a turn in the garden with Lord Gryphon last night—”
“Alone?”
“He lied and told me Papa gave him permission to speak with me. Anyway, he’d been beastly earlier in the evening and said he wanted to apologize. Then he…he attempted to take liberties.”
Juliet’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“I tried my best to get away, but he wouldn’t let me go. The only thing that saved my honor was the timely intervention of Lord Philip, and I suspect that’s what led to the brawl.”
“Merciful heavens. You must tell Papa!”
“Absolutely not! If Papa found out, he’ll have me drawn and quartered for shaming the family. Then he’ll ship whatever is left to Grandmama. You’d have to carry on in the shadow of my infamy.”
“But it’s not your fault Lord Gryphon tried to impose himself on you.”
“In the world we live in, it’s always the girl’s fault, Juliet. I believed his lie and went off with him, willingly.”
“I’m embarrassed to have been led astray by Lord Gryphon’s angelic looks. He’s not at all handsome underneath the surface. What will you do?”
“I’ve no choice but to pretend nothing ever happened. Lord Philip is too much of a gentleman to reveal my secret, and if Lord Gryphon should speak of it, I’ll deny everything. He’ll be regarded as a cad and a scoundrel.”
“You’re greatly in Lord Philip’s debt.”
“Indeed I am.”
“If you marry Lord Elbourne, nobody will hold anything against you.”
“Yes. I do hope he comes to call.” For her sister’s sake, Kitty feigned enthusiasm. Her feelings for Lord Elbourne were far from passionate. Nevertheless, she was determined to do the proper thing for her family—Juliet in particular. If a marriage of convenience was in her future, so be it.
“Lord Elbourne asked to be introduced to me last night,” Juliet said. “We danced together.”
“Yes, he mentioned that to me. Do you like him?”
“He’s wonderful. As soon as he saw you, however, his interest in me waned.”
Kitty stole a glance at Juliet’s downcast expression. “Oh, no. I hope you’re not too disappointed?”
“Perhaps a little, but it can’t be helped.”
As midday approached, Philip felt a great deal more restored. After he’d dressed, he sought out Eve to explain (as much as he could without involving Miss Beaucroft) his part in the melee. Unfortunately, everyone in the family was gone. Augustus and Trestlebury were lunching at their respective clubs, and Eve and Prudence had been invited to lunch with friends. Philip had a bite to eat alone in the dining room and then went into the library to seek out something interesting to read.
Kirkham came to call in the afternoon. The butler showed him into the library, where Philip greeted him with pleasure. They shook hands, even as Kirkham winced in sympathy at Philip’s injuries.
“You’ve looked better, I must say.”
“Indeed I have. You got off a round and came off unscathed,” Philip replied.
“Not quite.” Kirkham flashed his bruised and lacerated knuckles.
“Sorry. I certainly hope Gryphon isn’t rabid.”
“Ha! I’m not taking bets on that. Three against one was certainly poor form. What the devil came over Gryphon?”
“Gryphon is a devil, if truth be known.”
“If that’s the case, then Groton and Miller are his minions.”
They laughed.
“I couldn’t agree more. Why was Gryphon pounding you?”
“He and I never got along at Oxford, as you know, and things between us have not improved. One thing led to another, I suppose.”
Kirkham’s grin was wry. “A lady is involved, obviously, and you’re protecting her. I’ve always liked your style.” He paused. “Is the family at home?”
“Everyone’s gone out, I’m afraid.” Philip chuckled. “How are things coming along with Prudence?”
“Quite well, actually, but I don’t like being underhanded. I’d hoped to see Lord Trestlebury today, to test the waters.”
“What will you do if he forbids the match?”
“Prudence and I might elope.”
Philip frowned. “I hope not. She deserves better than to be stolen away in the middle of the night.”
“Yes…quite so.” His shoulders drooped. “Prudence deserves far better.”
“Think carefully before you act, and never forget you’re a gentleman. Whatever your decision, it ought to be the proper thing for Prudence.”
He nodded. “Agreed.”
“If there’s ever anything I can do, let me know. I feel as if I owe you a debt of gratitude for defending me last night.”
“Thank you, my friend, but I’m sure you would have done the same for me.”
Kirkham took his leave. Philip had no sooner settled into a chair with his book when Augustus appeared. His brother wore an uncharacteristically grim expression.
“Is something amiss?” Philip asked.
“A report of an alarming nature has surfaced, involving you and Miss Beaucroft.”
Baffled, Philip stared. “I’m sorry, but I’ve no idea to what you may be referring.”
“Lord Gryphon has let it be known why his encounter with you came to blows. According to him, he prevented you from imposing yourself on her.”
Shock made Philip gasp. “That’s a bald-faced lie!”
“Furthermore, he claims it required him, Lord Groton, and Mr. Miller to dissuade you from compromising the lady’s virtue.”
“A complete fabrication in every regard! I would never treat a woman so.”
“I believe you, Philip, but this is serious. You must tell me the truth if I’m to help.”
“I…” Philip trailed off, in a quandary. If he admitted to seeing Miss Beaucroft alone with Gryphon, her reputation would be compromised irreparably, but the alternative would be to compromise his own.
“What I’m about to divulge is in the strictest confidence. I do so only because it pains me for you to have any doubts as to my character. Have I your word as a gentleman and my brother that you won’t speak of it to anyone?”
Augustus nodded. “You do.”
“The truth is, Gryphon lured Miss Beaucroft to the garden with the intent of taking liberties. I happened upon them as he was forcing his attentions on her and intervened so she could return to the house. He took umbrage at my interference, and is now seeking to revenge himself upon me with his scurrilous tale.”
“You must speak out, Philip, or be branded a bounder!”
“I can’t. To do so would be to put Miss Beaucroft in an irretrievably unflattering light. This I won’t do.”
“Not even to save your own skin?”
“Not even then.”
Augustus passed his hand over his face, clearly nonplussed. “Your chivalry does you credit, but as your elder brother, I can’t allow you to take t
he blame for Gryphon’s transgressions.”
“Miss Beaucroft will refute the story and all will be well.”
“She may do so, but Gryphon has two additional witnesses—Groton and Miller—on his side.”
“Nobody will believe them. They’re idiots.”
“You and I must call on the Beaucrofts this afternoon, and hear Miss Beaucroft’s version of events before we decide how to proceed.”
“I’ve no doubt—none whatsoever—the lady will gladly clear my name.” Philip paused. “She’s blameless in this business, Augustus. I hope this won’t affect your good opinion of her.”
“Of course not, but I’m wondering how Gryphon could have lured her to the garden alone. Is it possible she’s still besotted with him?”
“No. She was almost fearful of him earlier in the evening.”
“He may have overstepped the mark, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t encourage him to begin with.”
“Nonsense.”
Augustus pursed his lips. “Truthfully, I don’t know enough about the situation to draw a reasonable conclusion.”
“I wish now I’d hit Gryphon twice as hard.”
Chapter Four
The Ruse
AFTER RETURNING FROM THE PARK with her sister, Kitty went to her room to change into a tea gown with full lacy sleeves long enough to cover her wrists. She’d just finished her toilette when she heard her father’s voice from downstairs, bellowing her name. Alarmed, she opened the door to the hallway.
“Coming, Papa!”
Her sister emerged from her bedchamber. “What’s wrong?”
Wide-eyed, Kitty shook her head. “I’ve no idea what I’ve done, but Papa sounds angry!”
Their mother met them on the stairs, having ascended from the floor above. “Why is your father shouting for you, Kitty?”
“I don’t know.” She gulped. “Perhaps something untoward happened at his club today?”
Mrs. Beaucroft shooed her along. “Best not to keep him waiting. You know how your father is when he’s in a mood.”
Ruse & Romance (The Beaucroft Girls Book 1) Page 4