Page 108 of The Dangerous Lord

Jordan shrugged. “Lies ... rumors ... idiocy. I thought you should know.”

“What lies?” Ian asked firmly.

Jordan’s gaze shot to Felicity. “Perhaps we should speak privately, Ian.”

“I have no secrets from her,” Ian retorted. “Tell me.”

“As you wish. He’s claiming you forced yourself on his wife, then left England to avoid the scandal of her suicide. He says you took advantage of both Felicity and your friend Miss Greenaway. He paints you out to be the worst debaucher who ever lived.”

As Ian jerked away from her to go stand with his fists braced against the stone rails, anger slammed into Felicity. Ian’s wretched uncle hadn’t even had the decency to wait until he was sure Ian had sired an heir before he attacked. What a sniveling coward—to air his grievances in this despicable manner!

“Is that all?” she snapped at Jordan. “Why doesn’t he just accuse Ian of drinking the blood of virgins and torturing women in his dungeon?”

“I warned you this might happen,” Ian said in a low voice meant only for her. “I just didn’t expect it so soon.”

“He won’t get away with it. I won’t let him.”

“If you try to deny his tales,” Jordan put in, “it’ll only make matters worse. They’ll think Ian is forcing you to defend him. Ian’s always been so mysterious about his past they’ll believe anything his uncle says. And the sudden wedding surprised everyone. The best thing for both of you is to brazen it out, say nothing about it. Emily and I will be at your side, as well as Sara and Gideon⁠—”

“No!” Ian whirled to face them. “My uncle’s quarrel is with me. I don’t want the rest of you involved. You and Emily and the others should disassociate yourselves from me until this is over. And Felicity, you’re going home.”

“The devil I am! Run from that weasel’s accusations? Never!”

“I agree, Lady St. Clair.” Jordan crossed his arms over his chest, daring Ian to contradict him. “I’m not ‘disassociating’ myself from anyone.”

Ian shot his friend a dark look. “We’ll discuss that in a moment. But first I need a word in private with my wife.”

“Of course.” Jordan retreated up the stairs a short distance, still looking affronted.

Ian turned his glittering gaze on her. “I won’t have you harmed by this. I won’t let my uncle hurt you.”

“And I won’t let him hurt you. These rumors involve us both, so I have as much right to fight this battle as you. Besides, I know precisely how to deal with his sort of vermin.” When Ian started to protest, she added softly, “You promised me a chance to prove myself this evening. Well, this is my chance and I’m taking it.”

“Damn it, querida, you’ve never been the subject of vicious rumor. I have, and I tell you, you won’t like it. I won’t put you through that. You don’t know how cruel people can be!”

“I don’t know? Have you forgotten who you’re talking to? The best way to fight gossip is with gossip, and as you know, that’s my forte. Give me a chance to thwart him. I can do it. I know I can.” Well, she thought she could, anyway. She’d had all afternoon to think about what to do if some of Ian’s fears came to pass, and she’d formed a plan. It was risky and might not work, but she had to try.

“You needn’t sacrifice your reputation to prove you love me.”

“I don’t care about my reputation. Besides, I’m not trying to prove I love you. I’m trying to prove you can trust me. Always. Have faith in me. I won’t betray your darkest secrets.”

“I know that, damn it! But I don’t want you involved. I should never have dragged you into this marriage in the first place⁠—”

“Stop! You’ve lived so long with this guilt that you think you deserve punishment, and you plan to exact it by denying yourself the pleasures of our love. Well, I’m in this marriage, too. If you punish yourself, you punish me, remember? I won’t let you salve your conscience by forcing me from this marriage to live in misery without you. I’m afraid I intend to be very firm on this subject.”

That brought him up short. He regarded her thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t want you to live in misery, my love.” He brushed his thumb over her chin, then sighed. “Very well. When you put it that way, I have little choice.”

Her heart soaring, she grabbed his palm and kissed it, then glanced up to where Jordan paced the top of the stairs, shooting them long, exasperated glances. “That goes for your friends, too, Ian. They believe in you as I do, and they don’t want to lose your friendship. They want to help. You need their help, whether you admit it or not. It’s one thing for Edgar Lennard to libel his nephew. It’s quite another for him to libel the Viscount St. Clair, the Earl and Countess of Blackmore, and the Earl and Countess of Worthing. If you let them stand beside you, it will only help your case.”

He groaned. “You’re asking me to let them suffer on my account. At least you have a full knowledge of why this is happening; they don’t. I have no right to ask for their help when they don’t know the truth.”

“Then tell them the truth. You can trust them, you know. They’re good people. They’ll only think better of you for your honesty. I promise they won’t disappoint you.” Clasping his lapels, she gave him a reassuring smile. “Nor will I.”

The light of the gas lamps flickered over his torn expression. Slowly he swept his hand along her cheek in a gentle caress. “You couldn’t disappoint me if you walked into that ballroom, stripped yourself naked, and stuck your tongue out at everyone.”

Some of the tension left her. Perhaps there was hope for her husband after all. “I suppose that might work,” she quipped, “but it’s much too cold this evening. I think I’ll try my plan first, if you don’t mind.”

“My God,” he said hoarsely, “what did I do to deserve you?”