by Alec, Joyce
“There he is.”
Miss Martin’s hiss caught Louisa’s attention at once. Lord Williamson strode into the room, his shoulders back and his head held high.
“Good evening, Townend,” he boomed, his voice filling the room and causing practically everyone to turn towards him. “Thank you for the invitation.”
At once, murmurs of consternation rolled about the room, making Louisa all too aware of the rumors and whispers that were running amok through society at this very moment. Her heart pounded as a light sheen of sweat began to form on her brow. This could all go disastrously wrong.
“You are most welcome,” Lord Townend replied with a broad grin. “You know that I do not give credence to any such rumors, do you not?” His voice was loud also, and given that there was near silence in the room, there was no difficulty in hearing what was being said. Looking all about him at the rest of his guests, Lord Townend spread his hands out towards them. “In fact, ladies and gentlemen, I can prove to you that Lord Williamson was not at the bawdy house, as so many of you believe.”
One gentleman cleared his throat and stepped forward, his brow furrowed low and his hands held tightly by his side. “If you will forgive me for speaking bluntly, Lord Townend, I do not think that we should hold your words in high regard, for it is well known that you are closely acquainted with Lord Williamson and, therefore, it is understandable that you would wish to defend him.”
Louisa held her breath, knowing that this was what Lord Townend and Lord Williamson had intended, but still finding her anxiety building rapidly.
“Again, my apologies for speaking with such honesty in front of your guests, Lord Townend,” the gentleman finished with an inclination of his head.
“I quite understand,” Lord Townend agreed as Lord Williamson looked across the room to where Louisa stood, his eyes catching hers and filling her with such an overwhelming longing for him that her breath was taken from her lungs. Miss Martin’s hand grasped hers and she held it tightly, aware that her companion, too, felt a good deal of tension.
“I could produce my butler, my cook, and my footman to tell you that Lord Williamson was here on the night in question, I suppose, but given that they are my staff, I must presume that you would not accept that either.” He spread his arms wide and looked across the room, evidently seeing the nods of heads and hearing the murmur of agreement. “I could also produce a note from the lady who runs the bawdy house, stating that Lord Williamson was not there, but you would not accept that either, for it is well known that such ladies are easily manipulated with a decent amount of coin.” He arched one eyebrow and looked directly towards Lord Montague, who stiffened visibly. “Is that not so?”
Another gentleman cleared his throat, the tension in the room rising with every moment. “I do not understand what you mean by this, Lord Townend,” he said, drawing everyone’s attention. “If you wish to have Lord Williamson here as your guest, then none of us can protest that.”
Lord Townend nodded sagely, as though this was the most remarkable piece of advice. “That is true,” he agreed, his voice soft but yet seeming to fill the room. “The reason I have invited you all here this evening, however, is not merely to enjoy an evening of conversation, music, and the like, but rather to ensure that you each understand and believe that Lord Williamson is not the guilty gentleman that you believe him to be. His reputation is not stained, as you might think it. He is innocent of the slurs thrown at him.”
Louisa closed her eyes momentarily, hearing the full weight of Lord Townend’s words and knowing that those words alone would not convince anyone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you will permit me, I wish this evening to have a few minutes of your time to show you that I am, as Lord Townend has said, entirely innocent of this vicious rumor.” Lord Williamson spoke up, taking a few steps forward, as a few ladies sank down into chairs, their eyes wide and yet taking everything in. Louisa knew full well that this evening would give the gossip mill more than enough to run on for some weeks, no matter the outcome. Both she and Miss Martin sought out a place to seat themselves, sinking down onto plush chairs and praying that all would go well. “I am not the sort of gentleman who would even consider visiting such a place.”
“And yet you were seen,” another gentleman replied, gesturing towards Lord Montague. “The very gentleman who told us of it is now standing before you.”
“Then I must ask,” Lord Williamson replied, “why his reputation does not bear the same stain as mine.” His words were sharp and thrust from him, making a murmur of voices rise louder. “Why does he not bear the same shame as I, given that he was in the very same place?” He turned towards Lord Montague, who pushed himself away from the wall, his expression malevolent.
“I was merely playing a hand of cards, that is all,” Lord Montague replied, his voice thick with anger. “You need not try to convince the beau monde that I was in a similar state of disgrace.”
Silence ran through the room for a moment or two and Louisa gripped Miss Martin’s hand a little tighter, seeing how every eye was fixed upon Lord Williamson and Lord Montague. The truth was soon to come out, but whether or not the ton would believe it, she did not know.
“I was not present that evening, Montague,” Lord Williamson said softly, turning towards the gentleman. “You have made that story up and used your coin and your influence to ensure that some of the ladies who work at such an establishment will confirm your words. I have sought them out and confirmed this with them.” He tipped his head just a little. “Although that will not be evidence enough, of course.”
Lord Montague said nothing, although a smug smile began to form on his lips, sending a wave of anger crashing through Louisa. She wanted to rise to her feet, to demand that Lord Montague admit to everything he had done so that Lord Williamson could be freed from his disgrace, but instead she had to merely force herself to sit quietly. Now was not the time for her words.
“Lord Mercer,” Lord Townend said quickly, shattering the silence. “A bet was supposedly made by my friend Lord Williamson on the evening that you were present at White’s.” Gesturing to a footman, he waited until the fellow had brought him over the piece of paper and, accepting it, unfolded it and read the bet aloud to the gathered crowd. Louisa’s stomach tightened as a few gasps came from the assembled ladies, aware of how they glanced at her and feeling heat climb into her cheeks.
“Might I ask, Lord Mercer, whether you were aware of Lord Williamson making this bet?”
Lord Mercer cleared his throat and shifted from one foot to the other. “I was present but not fully aware of what was going on,” he replied in a slightly haughty tone, as though he wanted to cover up the fact that he had been in his cups. “I did not see Lord Williamson make this bet, however, no.”
Lord Townend inclined his head. “I thank you. So Lord Williamson was not in White’s when you were present?”
“No, he was not,” Lord Mercer admitted as a few murmurs caught up into the air. “I did not see him present.”
“And you were at White’s that evening for a good few hours?”
Again, Lord Mercer cleared his throat, still looking rather uncomfortable. “I was,” he admitted slowly, “but I did not see Lord Williamson attend during that time.”
“The fellow was asleep!”
Louisa’s heart leapt up into her throat as Lord Montague’s voice rang out across the room, making everyone turn to face him. Lord Montague, whose outstretched hand had been pointing towards Lord Mercer, dropped his arm quickly and began to bluster, his face going scarlet as Lord Williamson turned towards him, an expression of keen interest on his face.
“You say, Lord Montague, that you were present at White’s that evening?” he asked as a hush fell on the gathered crowd again. “You were with Lord Mercer at White’s when this bet was made?”
Lord Montague cleared his throat and nodded jerkily, perhaps aware of just how foolishly he had behaved. “Indeed. And… and I saw Lord William
son make that bet.”
“How interesting,” Lord Townend interrupted in a quiet voice. “First, you are present at the time that Lord Williamson makes this rather inappropriate bet, which no other gentleman can verify, it seems, and next you are the only gentleman to see Lord Williamson at the bawdy house.” He paused for a few moments, allowing the significance of his words to fall upon each person’s mind. “And then we come to Lady Burton.”
At this, Louisa noted, Lord Montague went sheet-white. Her own heart cheered loudly at the sight, feeling that there was now a chance that the ton might believe that Lord Williamson was not the guilty party in all of this, that the stain might be removed from him.
“What of Lady Burton?” Lord Montague hissed, trying to keep his expression scornful but failing terribly. “There is nothing that—”
“Lord Townend has spoken to me at length, Lord Montague.” Lady Burton rose from her chair, her face rather white and her fingers twisting together. “I would not have two lots of happiness ruined, for I am not as cold-hearted as you might believe.” Drawing in a long breath, she turned to the rest of the gentlemen and ladies, seeing how they watched her. This was, Louisa knew, taking a good deal of courage and for that, she was greatly appreciative.
“Lord Montague sought me out and begged me to interrupt Lord Williamson and Miss Smallwood as they walked in the park, under the pretense that Lord Williamson had made an arrangement to walk with me. This was merely to confuse Miss Smallwood and to ensure that she was no longer interested in being accompanied by Lord Williamson.” Lady Burton’s chin lifted, her eyes flashing as she turned her gaze back to Lord Montague, who seemed to be slowly sinking into the floor. “If I did not do as he asked, then there would be consequences for me.”
Another ripple of shock ran around the room.
“What consequences, I will not say,” Lady Burton finished, her face now a little grey. “But they were of the most dire sort and I felt such a fear over it that I knew I had very little choice but to obey.” Her voice trembled as she looked towards Lord Williamson. “I am sorry for my part in this, Lord Williamson, but I felt as though I had very little choice. It was not until Lord Townend came to me and told me what he knew of Lord Montague’s involvement in other matters that I felt safe enough to speak the truth.”
“That is quite all right,” Lord Williamson replied gently. “You may sit down, Lady Burton. I am sorry for the burden you have had to carry, but be assured it is gone from you now.”
Louisa watched Lord Montague as Lady Burton sat, seeing how his eyes flashed but how the arrogance was draining from his expression. He was slowly coming undone and there was nothing that he could do.
“You have tried to separate Lord Williamson from Miss Smallwood, Lord Montague,” Lord Townend began as the rest of the crowd stared, fixedly, at the gentleman in question. “By your own statement, you have confirmed it. It was you who spoke to Lady Burton, you who made the bet in White’s, and you who then supposedly saw Lord Williamson in the bawdy house.”
Lord Montague tried to scoff at this, although there was no certainty in his words. “I have no reason to do so.”
“That is not at all true.”
Much to Louisa’s surprise, Miss Martin got to her feet and spoke loudly, making Lord Montague swing around to face her. His expression was one of shock, as though he had not even noticed her presence before.
“You spoke to my cousin about courting me, did you not?” she continued, rising from her chair and taking a step closer to him. “My cousin being the very man you have now accused of being found in the bawdy house. The one whose potential happiness you have tried to ruin, all for the sake of gaining some sort of revenge upon him for refusing you.”
The sense of shock that ran about the room was, to Louisa’s ears, practically audible, for only in that moment did people realize that Miss Martin was speaking of Lord Williamson. She looked at every face, seeing the open mouths, the widened eyes, and the bright expressions on one or two faces as they considered what gossip they might be able to chew upon next.
“You deny this?” Miss Martin asked as she took another step closer, her back rigid with both tension and anger. “You deny any of this?”
Lord Montague swallowed hard, his chin lifting. “I wanted to court you, Miss Martin,” he stated darkly. “But he refused me.” He jerked his head towards Lord Williamson, a furious expression rippling across his face. “And then he sent you to some young woman as her companion!” The word ripped from his mouth with force, making it slam about the room, burning into Louisa’s mind like a fiery dart. “He took you from this place and forced you to become something you are not worthy of.”
For a long moment, Miss Martin said nothing. She merely looked back steadily at Lord Montague, her chin lifted and her gaze fixed.
Then, she spoke.
“You are mistaken, Lord Montague,” she began, her voice soft and yet filled with such determination that Louisa felt the weight of her words settle on her shoulders. “Lord Williamson did not send me away. I chose to leave.” She glanced behind her towards Louisa, who could only give her the smallest of smiles, such was the tension that ran through every sinew. “I need not go into my reasons for such a decision, but I did so without even a thought directed towards you, Lord Montague.”
Louisa caught her breath, aware that every eye was fixed upon Miss Martin. Her every muscle seemed frozen in place as she waited for her to continue.
“I would not have accepted you even if you had wished it of me,” Miss Martin continued. “You may have thought you cared for me, may have believed that you wanted me for your own, but I knew the gentleman you were and the gentleman you still are today.” She shook her head. “You would not have given up your pleasures, Lord Montague. You would not have given up your flirtations, your coy smiles, and your delights taken at your leisure. You would have wanted a marriage where you could go about as you had always done, whilst knowing that I remained at home, waiting for your return.” Again, she shook her head, before turning back towards Louisa. “I warned Miss Smallwood away from you, Lord Montague, and would have continued to do so had you shown any continued interest in her. You have no true consideration for others. Instead, you seek only your own pleasures and for that, I would have had no consideration for your desires, such as they were. I would have refused you and am more than glad that my cousin and guardian sought to do the same.”
“He should not have refused me! He deserves the consequences!”
The words shot from Lord Montague’s mouth before he could stop himself. His hands were curled into fists, his mouth one hard, angry line, and his face whiter than Louisa had ever seen it before. The way he glared at Miss Martin suggested that he almost hated her, hated her with more passion than he had ever thought he had for her. Miss Martin remained standing steadfastly before him, whilst Louisa put one hand to her throat, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. With her considerable courage, Miss Martin had unmasked Lord Montague entirely, had proven to them without doubt that he had been attempting to stain Lord Williamson’s reputation and remove any chance of happiness from him.
“I believe, Lord Montague, that you have shown your true colors to us all,” Miss Martin murmured, her voice cutting through the air and making Louisa’s heart clamor all the more. “You have lied and manipulated and done all you can to ruin Lord Williamson—but not because you care for me. It is because he has slighted you, because you believe that he is guilty of treating you poorly, and because, to your mind, you deserve better than such treatment. Lord Williamson needs to be punished because he has slighted you by refusing to accept your courtship of me, is that not so?” She waited but Lord Montague said nothing, clearly aware that what he had said had revealed too much already. “There is nothing more to be said, Lord Montague. Lord Williamson bears none of the stains you have tried to throw at him. These ladies and gentlemen present this evening are witnesses.”
The first gentleman who had spoken at the very
start now cleared his throat and stepped forward.
“We are indeed,” he agreed, his bushy brows low over his eyes. “Lord Montague, you shall have no escaping from this. The beau monde shall not be enticed to give Lord Williamson the cut direct, nor remove him from our society. Instead, it shall be you who will find yourself rejected. Your plan has failed, sir. You are no longer welcome in our company.”
Louisa closed her eyes against the swell of tears that rushed to her eyes, hearing the hurried footsteps and the sudden slamming of a door. Lord Montague, she knew, was gone. It was at an end. Lord Williamson would not be pulled from her any longer.
“And might I announce,” Lord Townend cried, before the hubbub could begin in earnest, “that Miss Martin and I are now engaged! We are to be married within the month.”
Louisa began to laugh with the sheer delight of it, looking out across the crowd that was now swarming around Miss Martin, only to see Lord Williamson looking back at her. His face was alive with happiness, his eyes warm and fixed upon her own. Her heart swelled with love, knowing that there was nothing now to hold her back. All she had to do was go to him.
Epilogue
“It is at an end.”
Louisa practically melted into Lord Williamson’s arms as he stepped out onto the terrace, reaching for her at once. They had managed to escape the hubbub for a few minutes, knowing that no one would miss them and that they would have all the opportunity they needed to speak in private. She let out a long breath, leaning into him and settling her head on his shoulder. It was more intimate than she had ever been before, but it felt right, felt as though she belonged right here, safe in his arms.
Lord Williamson sighed contentedly, his arms about her waist as he held her close.
“You do not fear me now, I think.”
Louisa looked up in surprise. “I have never feared you,” she said honestly. “I did not understand, did not know what everything meant or whether I could trust my own heart.”